Seattle Seahawks: Studs and duds vs. Eagles in Wild Card Round
By Samuel Teets
Stud: Russell Wilson, QB
With all of their injuries, the Seahawks desperately need Wilson. Without him, this team isn’t worthy of the playoffs. He serves as the nucleus of the offense the same way Marshawn Lynch did when Wilson initially entered the NFL. However, Seattle’s defense played a more significant role in the team’s success back then. Now, it’s all on Wilson.
Over the final four weeks of the regular season, Seattle lost the top three running backs on their depth chart. Seattle, a team that heavily focuses on the running game, compensated by bringing in Lynch and Robert Turbin. However, the running game became crippled, and the offense once again fell squarely on Wilson’s shoulders.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
After suffering a decline in play during the second half of the regular season, Wilson flashed moments of near-MVP form against the Eagles. He completed 18 of his 30 pass attempts for 325 and a touchdown. He also led Seattle in rushing, racking up 45 yards on nine carries. Wilson finished the game with a 108.3 passer rating.
For Seattle’s sake, Wilson needs to play like this when the Seahawks face the Packers. If he doesn’t, the offense will stagnate and put the game on Seattle’s defense. That isn’t a great option, especially against Aaron Jones and Aaron Rodgers.
Dud: The running game
As a team, the Seahawks rushed for 64 yards against the Eagles. Philadelphia’s defensive line is stout against the run, but Seattle couldn’t get anything going. The other NFC playoff teams aren’t bad against the run either. The ground game needs some adjustments before the Divisional Round.
Of the 64 rushing yards Seattle put up, Wilson contributed 45. Travis Homer and Lynch combined for 19 yards on 17 carries, which translates to just over 1.1 yards per carry.
Obviously, Seattle cannot replace Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise in a matter of weeks. Losing those three running backs crippled Seattle’s ground game, but the Seahawks cannot become one dimensional. It’s time to make adjustments and prepare for the Divisional Round.