Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks took a little while to get going, but once they put their foot on the gas there was no hope for the Atlanta Falcons. It was a sensational second half for Seattle to turn a 6-6 game into a 37-9 walloping, securing a second straight 10-win season under Mike Macdonald. Unlike last year, Seattle should be pushing for more than 10 wins and getting into the playoffs, if not potentially as the No. 1 overall seed. Remember when these games would come down to the wire? Now we’ve seen Drew Lock in mop-up duty in half of Seattle’s victories.
It’s time for Winners and Losers!
Have a day, Nick Emmanwori!
If he doesn’t win NFC Defensive Player of the Week then that’s a shame and a robbery. He blocked a field goal after Sam Darnold’s interception, he picked off Kirk Cousins on a deflected pass, he brought Cousins down for Seattle’s only sack of the game, and recorded two tackles for loss. This rookie provided all of the excitement and then some, much like Devon Witherspoon did on that memorable Monday night against the New York Giants.
Devon Witherspoon shines again
There’s no denying Devon Witherspoon’s impact and outsized role on the Seahawks defense; he just hasn’t had the stats to show it. I’d say an interception, a fumble recovery, two passes defensed, and seven total tackles is an all-around masterpiece for the third-year cornerback.
Jarran Reed goes clubbing
Any slim hope of a comeback for the Falcons realistically ended when Reed had his surgically repaired wrist/hand come crashing down on Bijan Robinson for the forced fumble. Imagine the Seahawks having this deep a defensive line and now they get Reed back.
Screw the penalty, Riq Woolen is playing outstanding football
Woolen picked up another taunting penalty in garbage time and I know that will irk people—it sort of irked me since he should know the stupid rule by now—but Riq has been terrific for two months. He recorded two passes defensed and has been a lockdown corner for a good while.
Rashid Shaheed has arrived
Maybe Shaheed just needed to play an NFC South rival to really get going. This was his first NFC South opponent since he was acquired by the Seahawks at the trade deadline, and he had his breakout game with the Seahawks. His 100-yard kick return for a touchdown was awesome, but I was more encouraged by his four catches for 67 yards, providing the type of spark Seattle has not really had from a second receiving option since Tory Horton went on injured reserve.
Was that the start of something promising brewing? We’ll find out soon, but I’m hoping that was the start of Shaheed having a greater role as a receiver in this offense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba logs back on
After a slow start, JSN turned it up in the second half. Four catches for 26 yards turned into seven catches for 92 yards and two...
