Seattle Seahawks: Monday night could decide playoff fate
By Ed Stein
Hold the Line
Last week, an aggressive Denver Broncos defense got six sacks on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Other times Denver defenders were in Wilson’s backfield like they had a copy of the Seahawks playbook. Orange jerseys came at him from anywhere and everywhere.
In addition, Seattle’s running game was spotty at best, Chris Carson had one good run and was off to a possible second when he was stripped by Denver linebacker Von Miller. First-round draft pick Rashaad Penny couldn’t find an opening to run through and had eight yards on seven carries. It’s probably why the Hawks only handed off 14 times all game.
Seattle was without starting right guard D.J. Fluker in Denver, but his replacement J.R. Sweezy is a veteran. Even so, he played sub-par. Add to it that right tackle Germain Ifadi didn’t have a good game either, means that the right side is weak.
An opportunist like Bears linebacker Khalil Mack can exploit the weakness Seattle has on the right side of their line and blow up plays before they get started. That spells disaster for the Seahawks.
If Chicago’s defense does the same thing as Denver’s did last week, then the blueprint to beat the Seahawks will go league-wide. Russell Wilson will have defensive linemen, and linebackers flying at him all season because his offensive line can’t handle blitzes. Even if Wilson does occasionally beat those blitzes, he will still take some nasty hits in the backfield.