January 11, 2014

Seahawks Stymie Saints: Marshawn Lynch carried 28 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Seattle's defense flustered Drew Brees and New Orleans in a 23-15 victory Saturday in the NFC divisional playoff game. "I don't run to get tackled," Lynch said.

posted by rcade to football at 04:13 PM - 21 comments

How can you not root for the Seahawks? Don't know about that spread though.

posted by phaedon at 05:01 PM on January 11, 2014

The spread can be partly explained because, but for that holding call on the Turbin run, they'd be up 20-0 in the 2nd.

posted by hincandenza at 05:32 PM on January 11, 2014

Wilson is really starting to heat up here... should have left my spread call in the pick 'em higher.

posted by hincandenza at 05:44 PM on January 11, 2014

That was a huge mistake not challenging the fumble, and the ensuing unnecessary roughness call on the ref ffs. I felt the momentum change.

posted by phaedon at 06:51 PM on January 11, 2014

Haven't watched a lot of Seahawks games, but I'll say that they generally seem play boring, to be honest.

posted by Bonkers at 07:15 PM on January 11, 2014

Really hoping the Saints score here, it'll close the gap on the spread and get me another point in the Pick 'Em!

posted by hincandenza at 07:35 PM on January 11, 2014

I think weather has a lot to do with how boring Seattle looked in that game. Russell Wilson didn't throw or run the ball much, and Seattle has the best secondary in the NFL, but Brees didn't really throw the ball down there. Which is ridiculous, I don't know what's wrong with him. But I mean you haven't heard Sherman's name on a single play.

You basically just saw one running back carry an entire offense.

posted by phaedon at 07:36 PM on January 11, 2014

but Brees didn't really throw the ball down there. Which is ridiculous, I don't know what's wrong with him.

I didn't watch too much of the game, but the announcers were talking something about Brees wearing a glove and maybe that messing with his throws (they were replaying a total duck at the time). He doesn't normally wear a glove, right?

posted by LionIndex at 07:44 PM on January 11, 2014

What in the actual fuck was Colston doing there?

posted by Etrigan at 07:46 PM on January 11, 2014

Awww, man. We were cheated out of a Hail Mary attempt.

Edit: 'We' being viewers. Love Hail Marys.

posted by tron7 at 07:46 PM on January 11, 2014

What in the actual fuck was Colston doing there?

Hit the wrong button on the controller.

posted by tron7 at 07:47 PM on January 11, 2014

He does not normally wear gloves. I just think Seattle's secondary coverage must have been unbelievable, and/or Brees was really uncomfortable throwing in the wind.

It's not like Russell Wilson threw lights out, it's just that the Saints don't have a Skittles-eating beast to fall back on.

posted by phaedon at 07:47 PM on January 11, 2014

I'm happy for it- I could have sworn Sherman got that 2nd quarter fumble, but other than that I had a good start to the weekend Pick 'Em with two points on the game, just covering the spread when I shifted my pick a little before the game due to the heavy rain.

posted by hincandenza at 07:51 PM on January 11, 2014

I'm guessing that Colston was told to attempt a lateral if he caught the ball (regardless of the time remaining when he caught it).

His execution may be the most forward "backward lateral" I have ever seen. I think it went ahead four yards.

I was ticked off when Lynch ran in for the last touchdown. I was hoping they'd get stopped by the Saints, and kick the field goal to go up by 11.

I'm not sure if my 11 point spread gets me the extra point.

posted by grum@work at 07:56 PM on January 11, 2014

posted by etagloh at 08:02 PM on January 11, 2014

posted by phaedon at 08:06 PM on January 11, 2014

As currently constructed, the Saints as a team really need to at least be a #2 seed to have a shot at sniffing the title. They have consistently shown that they can't compete from a less advantageous position. What teams like the Steelers and Giants have been able to do on the road under adverse conditions in the playoffs, the Saints simply have not.

They took a step forward this year by winning in Philly and hanging tough for a while in Seattle today, but that's not nearly enough progress, especially at this stage of Brees' career.

posted by beaverboard at 08:29 PM on January 11, 2014

What teams like the Steelers and Giants have been able to do on the road under adverse conditions in the playoffs, the Saints simply have not.

Just because I was curious...

During the regular seasons of the last four years (2010-2013), here are the road records for these three teams:

NYG: 16-16
NO: 17-15
PIT: 18-14

posted by grum@work at 12:23 AM on January 12, 2014

Since I was also curious, Saints' non-divisional road schedule, in order:

2010: 49ers, Cardinals, Bengals, Ravens
2011: Packers, Jaguars, Rams, Titans, Vikings
2012: Packers, Broncos, Raiders, Giants, Cowboys
2013: Bears, Patriots, Jets, Seahawks, Rams

There's actually not much room to get "adverse conditions" experience in the NFC South, unless they get sent to London on a damp Sunday in October.

posted by etagloh at 12:38 AM on January 12, 2014

Haven't watched a lot of Seahawks games, but I'll say that they generally seem play boring, to be honest.

A dominant defense, great special teams, field position, and a conservative, run-based offense that doesn't make mistakes. Let me tell you how strange it is to be a transplanted Buckeye in Seattle, rooting for a Pete Carroll-led team that wins by playing Tresselball.

posted by fumblerooski at 01:15 AM on January 12, 2014

Haven't watched a lot of Seahawks games, but I'll say that they generally seem play boring, to be honest.

Their defense is aggressive and exciting, but their offense has been so one-dimensional this season with Lynch's running and not much else. Russell Wilson needs some more weapons, although I think having Percy Harvin healthy for a full season would have made a huge difference. I feel bad for Harvin, because you could just see how badly he wanted to play yesterday but it's just not in the cards for him this year. Golden Tate has come on to some extent, but I have never seen him as a number 1 guy for a receiving corp.

posted by dyams at 01:27 PM on January 12, 2014

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