Two weeks in a row the Seattle Seahawks have narrowly managed to escape a loss, pulling off game-winning touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter. Today’s victory came on the road against the Tennessee Titans, by the same score as last Monday night’s home win over the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-17. It was far from a pretty win, but there are at least a few players who deserve recognition for a strong game.
Here are our studs and duds from Seattle’s huge holiday win.
Stud: Seahawks pass rush
The Titans had one more chance to score after Geno Smith’s clutch scoring drive, but Seattle’s pass rush snuffed them out, courtesy of a clutch sack from defensive end Dre’Mont Jones. Boye Mafe was the most-productive of the bunch with two sacks. However, this was a team effort by the front seven. Bobby Wagner, Mario Edwards and Jarran Reed also got involved, all together totaling six sacks and eight quarterback hits against Ryan Tannehill.
Dud: Seattle's run defense
While they consistently got to the quarterback, their efforts against the run were not quite so successful. Derrick Henry had a get-right game courtesy of Seattle’s once-again horrific tackling, totaling 88 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. As a team the Titans averaged 5.2 yards per attempt.
Stud: QB Geno Smith
Geno Smith didn’t get a ton of help from his offensive line or his offensive coordinator today. He also wasn’t his sharpest, but when it mattered most he raised his game and got the Seahawks the points they needed, leading two touchdown drives and going 25/36 for 227 passing yards, no picks and a 104.7 passer rating.
Dud: The offensive line
Geno Smith’s exploits were especially impressive when you consider his pass protection, which was awful – especially in the first half. The Titans only got to Smith for three sacks, but that doesn’t reflect just how much pressure Smith was under for most of the game. Seattle also did a bad job blocking for the run – as a team they averaged less than three yards per carry.
Stud: The wide receivers
They didn’t get a ton of opportunities, but the Seahawks wide receivers came through when their numbers were called. DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all had clutch catches. Together they caught 18 of 25 targets, racking up 198 receiving yards and one score.
Dud: Penalties
Amazingly, the penalty problem did not cost the Seahawks this game – but it sure put in a hell of an effort. Flags were once again a massive issue for Seattle this week, which came in leading the league in yards lost to penalty. They lost another 47 yards on six flags – a few of them coming at a critical point in the game on the Titans’ go-ahead drive. The worst offender may be wide receiver DK Metcalf, but this is a team-wide issue, which puts it on head coach Pete Carroll.
Stud: Playoff position
Today’s win against the Titans, combined with the Vikings’ loss to the Lions, will move the Seahawks up one spot in the NFC standings from No. 8 to No. 7. That puts them back on pace for the last Wild Card spot.
More Seahawks Wire stories
Best and worst PFF grades for the Seahawks in Week 16
Watch: Post-game comments from Pete Carroll, Seahawks
12 of the top individual PFF grades for Seattle this week
6 takeaways from Seattle’s 20-17 win over Tennessee
5 highlights for the Seahawks from Christmas Even win
