Simply outstanding to see this team play it's game, on both sides, on the big stage. Well deserved and Seattle to get full credit for the win.
I do not put this on Manning soley. That does not give the proper credit to the defense of Seattle. Seattle did EXACTLY as it's done on defense all year, and why the defense has singlehandedly won 7 or 8 regular season games this year. That is dominate the line, put pressure of the QB to make a throw, and with the aggressive, athletic LB and secondary, it's a risky proposition. With the added pass rush over last year, its forced QB's into throwing into the secondary and getting them out of their comfort zone.
The first throw Manning made to Thomas, on one of those crossing and rub routes that was hyped leading up to the game, Kam Chancellor planted him. That set the tone for the rest of the game.
Manning continued to make those quick throws on in-routes, but the yards after catch those first twenty minutes were probably in single digits, as two guys were on the receiver right away. The Denver running game was done after one quarter as well due to the score and the ineffectiveness of it.
I was surprised to see Manning forcing both of those 1st half INT throws....but he knew he had to make plays and there just wasn't ever the separation to make those plays he's used to seeing develop.
On offense, that was the Wilson that carried this team to within 30 seconds of the NFC Championship game last year and the best he's played since halfway through the regular season. After the first nervous throw, he called planned runs, and rolled out and found his guys. Without getting sacked, and being mobile, and that's what he needs to do to loosen up the defense, and his smart, yet unspectacular receivers were able to find those soft sports and out run or out fight the coverage.
Harvin the big X factor with his first half runs. Lynch was a non factor, Denver was ready for him, but he got his TD to kick things off.
With the Harvin TD on the 2nd half kickoff, this game was certainly over by halfway through the third quarter, even though I wasn't comfortable with a Manning lead team until midway through the 4th.
This was a complete game for Seattle, like they put together often over this year, and the past two years. They are that complete as I allude to week to week here, but until you can prove that statement it in the playoffs, its all an interesting sidebar...but I didn't see anything that I haven't seen from this defense tonight than they showed week in and week out this year.
Anyways, great feeling to see this team get what it's looked like they deserve. Without stepping too far back into the mid 90's and Rick Mirer, this team was average in the late 90' and early 2000s. The Superbowl team of 2005/06 was a good team, nowhere near this calibre. The fallout from that SB XL disaster had Hasslebeck hang around longer than he was useful, though he wouldn't admit it....along with Holmgren who made some bad decisions as GM.
Then the one year Jim Mora disaster.
Carroll and Schneider coming in and bringing the enthusiasm made it fun to be a fan again, because they were clear with what they were doing, even though it was going to be a few years away. Ditching Hasslebeck, (and 900-something transactions in the past 4 years) but then drafting/bringing in guys like Thomas, Wagner, Wright, Wilson, Baldwin, Browner. Trades of Lynch, etc.
Sticking with Tavares Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst as 16 game placeholders (missing out on Kolb that year to Arizona), waiting for that next franchise QB. Seattle was fortunate for Flynn to get hurt in preseason the next year, opening the door for Wilson (who Schneider wanted earlier than the third round)....but this team was always on the right track with those guys getting the talent, and then coaching them up in a unique way into players to get to this level.
Anyways, fantastic to have the team you've supported as long as one has, finally become the NFL Champions for the year.
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