Point Differential of 36

[imnKOgnito]

I've become convinced over the years that Carroll intentionally plays games close to the vest specifically to build that kind of resiliency, even at the expense of losing a couple early on. Get them used to dealing with the pressure early, so that when it really matters later, it's just another day at the office.

 

[loafoftatupu]

I don't think the differential has ANY connection to a team's strength. There are many reasons that the final scores in these wins are what they are and most of them do not reflect on the actual play of the game. There have been fluke plays in so many of the games, John Ross to start the season, the crazy first half finish with the Rams at home that was a big points swing, Ifedi grabbing the ball and standing only to be stripped costing 8 points, against the Vikings with a RW tip drill fail AND blown coverage costing 14 points. Then there is the Carroll Method, whenever a two score lead is present in the 4th quarter, play the odds and leave the middle of the field open to burn clock and create the need for Defib devices across the NW. (Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Philly) All that stuff adds up and can make games look something other than they were.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well, 10-2 is really the only thing that matters. It truly doesn't matter how it looks and/or how big they win. You either win or you don't. And you certainly don't apologize for it. Sure it would be nice to see them thump a team and/or not give up a big lead. But they are winning. Many of their games are not NEARLY as close as the score shows imo. It's too easy just to look at a final score and call it way too close etc.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

We've been like this virtually every year Pete's been coach.

We play tight games. Defense and running the ball heavily. Philosophically, we want to be the tougher team and that includes performing in the clutch.

Consider our PD for Pete's tenure here:

2019 +3.0 (10th in league)
2018 +4.6 (9)
2017 +2.1 (12)
2016 +3.7 (6)
2015 +7.8 (6)
2014 +8.9 (2)
2013 +11.1 (2)
2012 +9.7 (3)
2011 +0.4 (18)
2010 -5.7 (28)

Seattle hasn't had many blowout wins. Generally, they are a team that is more apt to sit on a lead and suffocate opponents when that opportunity arises. But as we all know, it's far more likely that we start slow and have to come back in the 2nd half to win. I don't think we are essentially different in approach from any of these other seasons. It's just that in 2012/13/14 we had such a great defense that our deficits from our slow offensive starts was either small or not deficits to begin with.

What is troubling is just how predictive PD is in terms of which teams play in their conference championship games:

2018:

NO/Rams (2, 4)
KC/NE (1, 5)

2017

Phi/Min (1,6)
NE/JaX (2,3)

2016

Atl/GB (2,8)
NE/Pitt (1,5)

2015

Car/Ari (1,3)
NE/Den (2,9)

2014

Sea/GB (2,3)
NE/Ind (1,9)

2013

Sea/SF (2,3)
Den/NE (1,6)


So we can see that point differential in terms of rating among the league, does appear to have a strong predictive quality for those teams that make it to the conference championship. It also has the effect of eliminating NE's general skewing of SB champion results, since their situation playing in an epically bad division serves to skew the numbers disproportionately.

The only team in the last 6 seasons to have a PD less than 4 make it to the CC game is Green Bay in 2016. Seattle is sitting at +3.0 which would definitely be far below other CC participants.

There have been quite a few playoff teams with a modest PD for the season. But usually those teams get sorted in the WC/Div rounds. Seattle's ranking is not likely to climb much as we play LA (+2.8), SF (+13.8), Car (-3.3), Ari (-8.0). The two teams close to us (Tenn/GB) play significantly worse teams in the next 4 weeks.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Shannon Sharp said something about what makes us dangerous is not everyone has the stomach to win those kind of games. Its true not everyone thrives under pressure. I would love some blowouts though.

This is what makes the Seahawks so dangerous: built confidence. By now, the team has been in so many down-to-the-wire contests that it's becoming second nature. They know they can win and they won't fold under the pressure.

 

[justafan]

We've been like this virtually every year Pete's been coach.

We play tight games. Defense and running the ball heavily. Philosophically, we want to be the tougher team and that includes performing in the clutch.

Consider our PD for Pete's tenure here:

2019 +3.0 (10th in league)
2018 +4.6 (9)
2017 +2.1 (12)
2016 +3.7 (6)
2015 +7.8 (6)
2014 +8.9 (2)
2013 +11.1 (2)
2012 +9.7 (3)
2011 +0.4 (18)
2010 -5.7 (28)

Seattle hasn't had many blowout wins. Generally, they are a team that is more apt to sit on a lead and suffocate opponents when that opportunity arises. But as we all know, it's far more likely that we start slow and have to come back in the 2nd half to win. I don't think we are essentially different in approach from any of these other seasons. It's just that in 2012/13/14 we had such a great defense that our deficits from our slow offensive starts was either small or not deficits to begin with.

What is troubling is just how predictive PD is in terms of which teams play in their conference championship games:

2018:

NO/Rams (2, 4)
KC/NE (1, 5)

2017

Phi/Min (1,6)
NE/JaX (2,3)

2016

Atl/GB (2,8)
NE/Pitt (1,5)

2015

Car/Ari (1,3)
NE/Den (2,9)

2014

Sea/GB (2,3)
NE/Ind (1,9)

2013

Sea/SF (2,3)
Den/NE (1,6)


So we can see that point differential in terms of rating among the league, does appear to have a strong predictive quality for those teams that make it to the conference championship. It also has the effect of eliminating NE's general skewing of SB champion results, since their situation playing in an epically bad division serves to skew the numbers disproportionately.

The only team in the last 6 seasons to have a PD less than 4 make it to the CC game is Green Bay in 2016. Seattle is sitting at +3.0 which would definitely be far below other CC participants.

There have been quite a few playoff teams with a modest PD for the season. But usually those teams get sorted in the WC/Div rounds. Seattle's ranking is not likely to climb much as we play LA (+2.8), SF (+13.8), Car (-3.3), Ari (-8.0). The two teams close to us (Tenn/GB) play significantly worse teams in the next 4 weeks.

Nice write up. I appreciate the time you took to do that.

The results shouldnt surprise me they really did. I wouldnt have thought the final 4 was that consistent.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

My favorite differential is the +8 in the win column :lol:

 

[sutz]

My favorite differential is the +8 in the win column :lol:

:2thumbs: Anything to do with points is pretty low on the tiebreaker table. First tiebreaker is always W/L/T percentage. :twisted:

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Funny thing on Monday night was when the Hawks were up 17 and it felt like it was a done deal etc. Someone a few rows back says "This is the Hawks, 17 is too much"

Classic, but kind of true in a strange way.