Top 5 Seahawks Games of the 2016 Season

It is unfortunately now time to reflect back on the season that was. The season for the Seattle Seahawks is over after a divisional round loss in Atlanta.

However, no one can deny that the Seahawks had some fun moments and games this season. Here is a look back at the top five games of the Seahawks’ 2016 season.

5. Week 13 vs. Carolina Panthers (40-7)

The Panthers and Seahawks have formed a bit of a rivalry over the past few seasons. In fact, they have faced off seven times in the last five seasons, including two playoff matchups. This game was the featured Sunday Night Football game in Week 13. The Panthers had struggled but the Seahawks knew better than to take Carolina lightly.

What occurred was the best offensive game the Seahawks turned in all year. Russell Wilson threw for 277 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Rawls ran for 106 yards and two scores while Tyler Lockett was the second-leading rusher with his 75 yard end-around touchdown run. The Seahawks had a 23-7 halftime lead and it never got close again. The Hawks beat up on Cam Newton as he completed just 44% of his passes. The Seahawks won 40-7.

4. Week 6 vs. Atlanta Falcons (26-24)

This one is bitter-sweet. The Seahawks played the Falcons early in the season and Atlanta would eventually be the team to show the Seahawks the door in the playoffs. This was a good game. The Falcons out-gained Seattle but it was thanks to two Falcons turnovers and some key defensive plays that the Seahawks came out victorious in the regular season matchup.

Christine Michael had one of his best games as  Seahawk, rushing for 64 yards and two scores. Russell Wilson played mistake-free on his way to 270 yards passing. Cliff Avril was disruptive all day to the tune of two sacks and a fumble forced. Thanks to a late defensive play by Richard Sherman, the Seahawks survived the onslaught of the Falcons offense and won 26-24.

3. Week 9  vs. Buffalo Bills (31-25)

This was a Monday Night Showdown between the Seahawks and Rex Ryan’s Buffalo Bills. The 12s were on full blast for a primetime home game. Seattle was coming off of a tough two game stretch where they had a tie in Arizona and lost to New Orleans. They needed this one and they played like it. Russell Wilson ran for his only rushing touchdown of the season to tie the game up early in the 1st quarter. It was a great back-and-forth battle.

Thanks to two, uh, interesting calls by the officials late in the first half, the Bills were unable to capitalize on being in field goal range to end the half. There was a flurry of heated discussions on the Bills sidelines with the officials. Jimmy Graham also made sure his presence was felt as he made some fabulous catches on his way to 103 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks had to hold on tight due to a late surge by the Bills. With an interception by Richard Sherman and some key sacks, the Hawks held on to a 31-25 win.

2. Wild Card Round vs. Detroit Lions (26-6)

This could arguably be the best game just by the fact that it was in the playoffs. This was one of the most complete games the Seahawks played all year and it came in the postseason at home. The score was only 10-3 Seattle at the half, but the lead felt bigger than that due to the defense clamping down on Detroit. The Lions only had 49 rushing yards all game.

Thomas Rawls broke Marshawn Lynch‘s postseason rushing record with 161 yards and a touchdown. Seattle accumulated 177 yards on the ground. It was easy to see that running the ball and playing defense was still the way to win in the playoffs. The Lions looked helpless as Seattle’s lead went from 10-6 to 26-6 in about 18 football minutes. Russell Wilson played one of his best games all year, going 23 for 30, 224 yards and two touchdowns as the Seahawks advanced in the playoffs for the fifth year in a row after a 26-6 win.

1. Week 10 @ New England Patriots

It was hard to argue against this game being the best of the season. It was a Super Bowl XLIX rematch. With what the Seahawks went up against and with all the adversity they have faced this season, this could be one of the best regular season wins in the Pete Carroll era. The Patriots came in 7-1, playing at home in a Sunday Night Football matchup. All things pointed to a Patriots win. Then the game started.

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The two titans of the 2010s decade traded blows in the first half. The Seahawks took a halftime lead 19-14 thanks to a gutsy throw by Wilson to Doug Baldwin with hardly any time on the clock. One of the most memorable moments was when Rob Gronkowski came over the middle to try to make a catch, but Earl Thomas was having none of that. The hit that Thomas put on Gronk deflated (pun intended) Gillette Stadium in its entirety. Gronk would never fully recover from that hit as he sat for most of the rest of the game.

The Patriots took the lead back in the 3rd quarter, 21-19. The tide turned to Seattle as they took a 25-24 lead late. Thanks to a fumble, the Seahawks got the ball back and made the Patriots pay with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to take a 31-24 lead. The two point conversion failed but the Seahawks defense made one of the most memorable goal line stands in the last few years as time expired. They stunned the Patriots in New England. What made this win so great was the fact that the Seahawks overall were a pretty bad road team. They overcame a lot to beat a Patriots team that could very well win the Super Bowl this year.

Next: Seahawks Same Ol' Song in Loss

Remember these moments fondly, Seahawks fans, as head into the offseason.