Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson May Have to Carry the Load

It has been a somewhat trying year for the defending NFC champions. Are the Seattle Seahawks ready to make another late-season run?

Nov 29, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) catches a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 39-30. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

We have seen both the best and the worst of the Seattle Seahawks this season.

At least we think we have.

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Fantasy Football: 5 Must Starts for Week 13 and Why

At 6-5, the defending NFC West champions are three full games behind the 9-2 Arizona Cardinals and have already dropped a home game to Bruce Arians’ club this year.

Still, there’s ample opportunity for the Super Bowl champions of two years ago to make a stand and head into the playoffs on a high note, if recent history is any indication. Last season, the Seahawks won their final six regular-season games following a 6-4 start and then didn’t lose again until Super Bowl XLIX.

Of course, these are not you Seahawks of recent vintage, especially on the defensive side of the football. The team that allowed the fewest points in the league three consecutive years from 2012-14 currently ranks eighth in the league in opponents points scored. Seattle has surrendered 222 points in 11 contests this season, just 32 less than they allowed in 16 games a year ago.

Pete Carroll’s team just completed a three-game home stand in which the club allowed 39 points in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals and 30 points in a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seahawks have given up 30-plus points three times this season: One year ago, Carroll’s squad have up 30-plus points in 19 games (including playoffs).

Now the good news is that over the last two weeks, quarterback Russell Wilson has caught fire when it comes to the passing game. In fact, the Seattle offense has awoken following a troubling start in which the changes on the offensive line led to the team allowing 31 sacks in their first seven games.

More from NFL Spin Zone

But back to the recent wins over the past two weeks. The Seahawks have scored a combined 68 points in defeating the San Francisco 49ers and Steelers and in those contests, Wilson completed a combined 76.3 percent of his passes for 605 yards, eight scores and zero interceptions.

Consider that during the team’s 4-5 start, the fourth-year signal-caller threw just 10 touchdown passes while being picked off seven times.

A healthy set of legs in the backfield has helped as well. While running back Marshawn Lynch has had his ups and downs with health this season, the team has turned to undrafted Thomas Rawls and he’s responded. The Central Michigan University product leads the club 685 yards rushing and has run for three scores, with 209 of those yards and two of those touchdowns coming in the last two games on a combined 51 carries.

Nov 29, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) rushes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Even with tight end Jimmy Graham now out for the season, Wilson still has Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and rookie Tyler Lockett at his disposal. Over the past three weeks, Baldwin has responded with 19 receptions for 339 yards and four scores, totaling 100-plus receiving yards in two of those contests.

Finally, the offensive line has seemingly gotten its act together after the aforementioned slow start. Wilson has been sacked just six times in his last four games.

Hey, the cupboard is not bare on defense. The team still has standouts such as cornerback Richard Sherman, safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, linebackers K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner and defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril (that duo combining for 14 of the team’s 27 sacks). But the great moments have been few and far between.

Next: Fantasy Football: Top 10 Sleepers for Week 13

The bottom line here is that the Seahawks, who have made the playoffs three straight years, are more than capable of causing a little havoc in the postseason. But will it indeed be Wilson and the offense this time around that sparks a championship run over the next few weeks?

Home/Seattle Seahawks