This isn't a team built to be the bus driver.
This team is a bunch of misfits and outcasts destined with the Underdog mentality.
Losing to the Rams was bad, but the way this team fought back from Wilson's 420 yard, 3 TD Offensive output to the defense not only forcing that final 3 and out, only to lose it on the fake, but take it back with a force fumble.
The sleeping giant has finally woke up from its Superbowl hangover.
Take away the ST follies and what you really have is the Seahawks most dominant game of the season thus far...
On a day where the Seahawks:
Traded a big time football superstar the day before.
Started Robert Turbin at FB, bc Coleman broke his foot in warm-ups.
Started its what you can say its 4th TE in Cooper Helfet (Miller, Willson, McCoy-I.R.)
Not to mention Max Unger being out and Okung still playing hurt.
Defensively,
The Seahawks was out is best defender this season in Bobby Wagner who was playing at an All-Pro level before he came back injured in the Cowboys game. KJ Wight is not having a good year at least coverage-wise and I think that is being felt to a greater extent because Chanchellor is also having a so-so year due to ankle problems.
And Simon while bringing much needed energy to the defensive backfield field, made bone-headed decisions that extended two Rams drives, once he came out, the Seahawks settled down and got into a rhythm on that side of the ball. Burley finally had an extremely bad game which just shows how much the Seahawks really need Maxwell and Lane in the secondary.
The 2ndary shut down Aaron Rodgers when it had its full complement of players... and I think that is what has been missing... just the trust and confidence each other to be where they need to be.
Losing Lane wasn't that bad but Burley been in the system all of two weeks. That's a downgrade.
And then Kam being like 75% of himself really hurts more than anything.
All of a sudden teams are avoiding Thomas and Sherman as much as possible = reduce Ints.
They're challenging Maxwell and Burley with their best WRs, exploiting the Zone areas of Kam, Burley, and Wright.
With teams finding weaknesses in our Scheme through poor play or injury it has taken its toll and magnified when the offense hasn't been able to sustain drives and put up points in RZ opportunities.
Right now until the 2ndary can get back to full-strength and Quinn can shake up a pass rush then best defense is going to be a time consuming ball control offense that's on the same page.
That's why the Seahawks traded Harvin.
The offensive chemistry was just off with him in the line-up, too many boom or bust plays, not enough smash mouth football of getting as much positive yardage as possible.
And I think that is what we saw in the 2nd half of the Rams game, an offense that will be able to carry this defense until it can get healthy enough to get back that trust and confidence.
So, even if the Rams loss sucks and it hurts, one cannot say just because the Seahawks lost that game the season is over.
Winning or losing had no affect in the momentum and strides Seahawks made in that game from a team perspective. Winning wouldn't have made the the rest of the schedule any easier. But getting on the same page, coming together as a team and playing selfless football like we saw in the 2nd half... that will make the schedule easier.
Again, vs the Cowboys take away the ST teams magic and that is the Seahawks worst game in a long-time.
Now take away the Rams ST magic, and it becomes the Seahawks most dominant no gimmicks performance all season.
I think the Seahawks will start to play their brand of football and they'll get right back into the thick of it.
If they can get to 7-3. They can go 4-2 and still win the West by beating Cards twice, 49ers twice. Destiny is in their hands, and they know they're the underdogs once again and everyone is doubting them.