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Week 9 - Sunday 6th November 2005 |
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That would be grease as in lightning and to the application of a lubricant similar to an oily rag of which more later.
I don't know Clark Judge but it's reasonable to assume that you don't get to be a senior writer with CBS without a little knowledge of the game so how do you explain his pre-season NFC West prediction?
"The Cardinals could make their first trip to the playoffs since 1998 -- and maybe they should, given the condition of this division"
"Then there's defending division champ Seattle, I'm afraid the outlook is as gloomy as the weather in January."
We're only half way through the season but the Cardinals have already been exposed as the trendy pick weaklings of the West, whilst the Seahawks have revised Judge's 'gloomy' forecast to one of 'brighter, later, longer"
Going in to the game the Cards confirmed that Kurt Warner would return as their starting quarterback, a decision that I heartily approved of. In the end he put up some decent throwing stats in terms of yardage but he was also sacked, intercepted and hurried in a way that the Hawks can be very satisfied with. You may want to sit down before you read the next bit but the Seahawks lead the NFL in sacks!
There was a very good showing in the chat room with 17 at one point to set a new record and I also reckon there must have been 20 individuals during the course of the game albeit not all logged in at the same time.
It wasn't quite a cruise but I have noticed a correlation between the tenseness of the game and the amount of swearing that goes on. The fact that 'damn' was about as blue as it got said it all about how easy it was.
After exchanging field goals the Seahawks capitalised on a Marcus Trufant interception to bang the ball in on a completion to Jurevicius. JJ now has 5 TD's for the season and the way he sustained the team through the injuries to Engram and Jackson has been fantastic. Engram was back on Sunday but had a relatively quiet night as he eased back in.
Jerheme Urban took over some of the load with a 46 yard reception late in the 2nd quarter to the Cards 13. A TD was signalled on a pass to Mo Morris but it was reversed on a replay and placed at the one from where Hass peeled off and trotted in for 17-6 at the half.
So where was Alexander? In the locker room that's where, seeking relief from a stomach upset. My blind love and appreciation for SA knows no bounds so whilst some were suggesting his return was questionable I said he was just being rubbed down with an oily rag for the second half.
They proved to be quite apt words as on the first play of the second half he broke right through the line as Cards slipped off him, cut back to the left as if sliding on oil into open field and then it was a case of greased lightning as he ran the rest of the way 88 yards for a touchdown. He outpaced 3 or 4 chasing Cardinals all of the way and just as it looked like he would be caught he cut back and a flailing hand grabbed but couldn't hold and he was in.
A field goal put the hawks up 27-9 for what should have been game over but Warner put together an 80 yard TD drive and then almost scored again as another Cards TD was called back on a penalty and they had to settle for a field goal. Even so it was 27-19 and getting a little worrying.
Cue 4th quarter, 93 yard, 7 minute touchdown drive finished off in fine style by that man SA from 14 yards. If you're still sat down after the sack stats, the Seahawks lead the NFL in TD drives of 80 yards +.
Josh Brown missed his first extra point in certainly the last 2 seasons to make it 33-19 at the end.
Whilst it wasn't a perfect performance from the Seahawks it was still a convincing way to play on the road against a team with a tough defense. Matt Hasselbeck threw 4 less interceptions and Shaun Alexander ran for 116 yards more than in Arizona in 2004 all of which must have come as a shock to Mr Judge who concluded his Seahawks season preview thus:
"I don't think they're better than they were at the end of last season, and I know of at least two clubs -- St. Louis and Arizona -- that are"
Since the opening day defeat in Jacksonville, the Seahawks have gone a long way to proving the doubters wrong. If they continue playing like this down the stretch then they'll be exceeding the expectations of even the wildly optimistic.
Andrew Robinson
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