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Week 13 - J-E-T-S L-O-S-E
27 Plays10 months ago
Tristan and Miles talk about the play of the year, a defense that scores, and how long it takes to have nine losing seasons.
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Transcript
Seahawks' Emotional Ties to Meadowlands
00:00:00
Tristan Amundson
Miles, there's something about being in the Meadowlands. What is it? What is it? what What is it about that stadium? It feels like home. It feels like a warm blanket. there' There's something, I mean, it doesn't make any sense. We're a West Coast team and yet every time we play there, it just reminds me. Miles, um am I missing something? what what what What do I love about this stadium so much?
00:00:27
M dub
Tristan, it's a pleasure to be with you this week talking about the Seahawks. I actually recall a game that the Seahawks played in this Meadowland Stadium and neither the Jets nor the Giants were on the field.
00:00:37
Tristan Amundson
Okay.
00:00:41
Tristan Amundson
That doesn't make any sense.
00:00:43
M dub
It doesn't make a lot of sense, but actually another team from the the rugged west of the United States. The Denver Broncos was actually in the stadium.
00:00:53
Tristan Amundson
Mmm.
00:00:54
M dub
And the Seahawks and the Denver Broncos both flew to New York City because the Super Bowl is hosted on a neutral site. And after a 2013 regular season, I know this knows is new info for you.
00:01:05
Tristan Amundson
That's right.
00:01:10
M dub
After a 2013 regular season, that went pretty well. The Seahawks went into New York City, came out as Super Bowl champions, and this game was just as dominant. No questions, beginning to end. ah A win is a win, right? A win is a win.
00:01:26
Tristan Amundson
and Oh, listen, the they all count the same. Thank you for reminding me of ah one of the best days of my entire life, a day I will never forget. um I mean, anyone who's listening just for a second, bask in the glory of the Super Bowl win at the Meadowlands. And you reminded me, I actually kind of forgot about it. We blew out the Giants last year in the Meadowlands. So it is a place that the Seahawks seem to like to play. We got another nice one. um You want to give your your quick little recap? I feel like you do a nice recap of of the game and the action.
Seahawks vs. Jets Game Recap
00:02:01
M dub
Tristan the Seahawks beat Aaron Rodgers. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers in the New York Jets 26 to 21. We signed off last time with me saying this game was going to be psychological warfare.
00:02:18
M dub
And um this, the first half of this football game was, I mean, I like to think that keep things pretty level headed with my analysis over here, bringing in the numbers. I was hooting and hollering. I mean, it was it was wild. It was that we're not going to get to every crucial touchdown, creating touchdown erasing play. It was a total bloop fest. Second half, things really settled down. And even though the Jets got 21 points on the board, this was still a game that was won for the third week in a row.
00:02:54
M dub
by a completely dominant Seattle defense. I know if you're if you're just cruising around Red Zone or something, you see the Seahawks give up 21 points to the Jets. ah By the middle of the second quarter, you're thinking, an oh no, defensive meltdown. I really don't think that's how it happened. Just to recap how the Jets scored their three touchdowns. Touchdown number one, it only happens because A man playing some incredible football right now, Mr. Leo Williams, the big cat, he gets a sack on Aaron Rodgers on a crucial third down, ah kind of at the edge of field goal range. And it is the right call. He does commit a face mask. It's not intentional. It's it's just such a little accident. It felt like an accident to me. I feel like an accident to you.
00:03:38
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, you know it's one of those plays where he's he's going around, um I guess, with his right arm. And it as as you watch it on your couch, you want to say something dumb like, whoa, why didn't you just grab his shoulder or something like that? But in the moment, he's cruising around.
00:03:58
Tristan Amundson
Guys like, and by the way, I'm loving Leo Williams. I think I might change to Leo. um Big Cat and Leo. Guys like him. And what when I say guys like him, I mean...
00:04:09
Tristan Amundson
professional veterans in this league that have been playing as long as him, been playing at as high of a level as as Williams plays, but also, and I don't say this lightly with the kind of class that he plays with. He's obviously not trying to face, it's ah it's ah accidental contact, but to your point, 100% the right call. It was a face mask, but yeah, keep going.
00:04:31
M dub
Anyway, so the the the Jets drive stays alive only because of this penalty. They're kind of pushed out of field goal range a little bit, at least to the edge, the the far reaches of field goal range. um if it If the sack stood with no penalty, as it is, the drive stays alive, pushes New York into the red zone.
Seattle Defense and Trust Building
00:04:50
M dub
They score a touchdown there. Okay.
00:04:52
M dub
So already something has to kind of something odd kind of has to happen for the Jets to get into the end zone. ah Then immediately ah the kickoff goes to Dee Williams, he fumbles it, and the Jets start their next drive on the 27. That goes in for a touchdown a few plays later. So it's a 14-0.
00:05:09
M dub
That's tough, but that's not real. I mean, even a great defense, it's hard to stop a professional NFL offense when they get to start 27 yards from the end zone. I mean, they're right on the doorstep. And then the third touchdown was one of the many special teams fiasco's that the Seahawks had on this day, giving up a kick return touchdown. So defense wasn't even on the field for that. So when the Seattle defense was on the field,
00:05:36
M dub
They scored one touchdown, the Jets scored two touchdowns. And and after this, in the kind of the Jets returned their kickoff for the touchdown towards the beginning of the second quarter. It's a shutout from there on out. it's It's a total shutout even though the Jets have all the momentum. This defense is, it's i I really trust it. I really trust it. And made my expectations are so different. i i I kind of expect the offense to struggle along a little bit, but I'm happy as a clam right there. When when the team was down 21-7, I actually felt they had a really good shot to win the ballgame because I felt though the Jets touchdowns were coming in fluky ways, and i i I just really trust that defense, and sure enough, it got done bit by bit.
00:06:24
Tristan Amundson
No, absolutely, man. it's you know What's interesting to me about this defense is it just seems as though week by week they're stacking, I think familiarity is just the word and and maybe it's it's familiarity and also a trust that these defensive calls are gonna work. And I heard a few of the guys the other day talking about how they're trusting that their teammates are going to be in the right position, right? So that we know, hey, i can I can fill this gap. I can stay in my spot because I trust my teammate, which we heard a lot during the Legion of boone ah Boom years as well, that um defense is all about trust. It's about being able to play your position correctly, knowing that your teammate is going to play his. And it seemed kind of incredible
00:07:17
Tristan Amundson
over the last few weeks. and And let's call it since the Rams game. And I think that's kind of the first time we saw this this turn. And then coming back from the bye. And I believe this is correct. Since the Rams game, this defense is giving up about 83 yards a game in the running the football. So our run defense is greatly improved.
00:07:42
Tristan Amundson
um i I believe that's absolutely correct from the San Francisco game, but I think it's directionally correct um since the Rams game. We're seeing such a better commitment to stopping the run. And now we're it's as if now we're just starting to see these playmakers kind of coming out of their shells because they're in the right spot to make the interception or in the right spot to get the sack, whatever it happens to be. ah To your point, though, it's it's just been a pleasure to watch. It's incredible.
00:08:11
M dub
I acquired some years ago for like $4 a DVD of the Seahawks three playoff games culminating in that Super Bowl win over the Denver Broncos. And I remember but this is, ah you know, probably about 2020 ish right where I get this DVD and find a DVD player and get it going. First round game against the Saints comes up. And I was really astonished by what I saw wind when that Legion of Boom defense is out there.
00:08:39
M dub
you can see them playing with the attitude and the confidence that it's going to be about 50-50, who ends up possessing the ball at the end of this possession.
00:08:48
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:08:48
M dub
The defense is out there with the attitude that yeah the offense is going to have to fight to hold on, just hold on to the ball. And it's it's starting to feel that same way. Two massive force turnovers in this game, one from Leonard Williams, which we'll get into.
00:09:03
M dub
Another great force fumble by Julian Love in the second half. It's a huge play. It kind of feels hidden. among a lot of huge plays of this game. But it's starting to feel that same way, that that they are expecting to take the ball from you. They are expecting to score. And it it's really enjoyable to see. It's it's great, yeah.
00:09:23
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, they're they're playing fast. I think that's that's just the way I would break that down. They're playing fast and free and easy. um Now, certainly, we don't want to make too much of it. This is a Jets team that certainly has had its struggles. And yet, this is a Jets team, and this has been true all year with a lot of talent. I mean, you know, let me, Breece Hall is a great example. He is a good, I mean, a great NFL running back.
00:09:48
Tristan Amundson
Similar to James Connor last week, do you know how many yards Breece Hall got on the ground ah on Sunday?
00:09:56
M dub
I'm going to guess in the 50s. Would that be a fair guess?
00:09:58
Tristan Amundson
you're You're so close, 60, 60 on the nose. um That's a feat. And you know I think the next running back, in fact, I don't think I know, the next running back got 11 yards after that. So in total, they gave up right around 80 something yards in this game.
00:10:16
Tristan Amundson
It's really cool to see these things come together and and defense is the ultimate fun, interesting thing to watch where it's kind of like a Lego set where you have to build this foundation and one thing stacks on another. And by the time you're done, everything's kind of where it needs to be. um But it doesn't happen unless everyone's just doing their job. And so seeing this run defense to me specifically come to life has just been, it's been really fun.
Red Zone Challenges and Offensive Strategies
00:10:47
M dub
ah Speaking about the offense, ah so in the third quarter of this game, the Seahawks are trailing 21-16 when they start their first drive of the third quarter. And they get down to ah first and goal on the Jets 4. And that begins this incredible sequence where they get off eight plays. ah Two of them are Jets penalties to keep the drive alive. so so So those are penalties, but those still count you can decline the penalty if you score a touchdown. It's eight consecutive plays where they do not get into the red zone and end up getting negative yards when Gino has a tremendous ah sack for a lot of lost yardage on the fourth down. And it got me thinking because of this great defense and because of what we've talked about with the offensive line struggles,
00:11:41
M dub
So this team's going to play some some crucial games in December. Everyone's a big one. Everyone's ah a pretty tough opponent. And I really hope that this drive here where they got completely stonewalled and nothing really got close to scoring in the end zone, you know, it really made me hope that this was a a learning a learning moment that we that we can learn from and change. So when the analytics staff or the coaches or whatever are looking at those fourth down percentages or when the cool graphic you know Amazon says 72% to go for it. you know What that really is, is that's looking at every how it's worked for every other team in NFL history. And that includes the 2024 Raiders, that includes the 2007 Patriots,
00:12:30
M dub
the 2013 Seahawks, it's it's everything all wrapped in there. It's not, there are outliers circumstances, you know, the Eagles with the tush push, they're much more likely to get in. I think for the Seahawks, when they're in the red zone, I would not say this normally for normal teams. I do think it's helpful to go for it. But I think for the Seahawks in 2024, you need to take the chip shot field goal for a few reasons.
00:12:59
M dub
We've talked about the offensive line, how, you know, it's tough for them to run the ball down there. And then also what got me, I was thinking about it between Jackson Smith and jig, bud, Tyler, lock it. Great receivers. Those are two shorter fellas that the red zone is not really their area. So it's almost like, you know, ah a lot of offensive weapons are kind of getting taken away. Pro football reference takes about a day to get ah like, uh, some of the advanced stats up on their site. So I looked immediately after this game.
00:13:29
M dub
And here are the numbers the coaching staff would have been looking at like before this Jets game to go into it. So we're looking at Seahawks plays on this year within 10 yards of the end zone within 10 yards of scoring. There's been 22 rush plays pro football reference ads. Hopefully there's been an average of 3.9 yards to go. So 22 rush plays trying to get on average 3.9 yards on each play.
00:13:56
M dub
They have gotten 1.3 yards on those 22 rushing plays. 18 passing plays. We've got six completions. ah The problem is that two of those completions were to the other team.
00:14:08
M dub
So that's four of 18 passes to the Seahawks, two to the opponent.
00:14:11
Tristan Amundson
Ouch.
00:14:13
M dub
um And by the way, so that's under 25% completion. And on all plays in the other half of the field, like 50 plus yards away from the end zone, which is a lot of plays, Gino is at 72%.
00:14:29
M dub
passing accuracy on those plays. So really getting to down to that red zone, especially the like deep into the deeper, the deeper it is, the kind of worse it gets for the team.
00:14:41
M dub
So I really hope it didn't, it didn't end up burning the team in this game, but I just hope in the future with how suffocating the defense is and how weak the offense is in the red zone compared to other areas.
00:14:54
M dub
I really hope there's situations where they just take the field goal and don't, um,
00:14:57
Tristan Amundson
Take the points. Yeah.
00:14:59
M dub
and And that can completely change for the 2025. I do think that there has to be like several compounding circumstances like this team faces for that to be good advice. But I think that's where the team is right now, honestly.
00:15:15
Tristan Amundson
You know, it's funny because I'm, well, I shouldn't say it's funny. I probably every fan in that moment was thinking the same thing, which when they decide to go for it on fourth down, my first thought was I kind of liked the play because, Hey, they're the other team.
00:15:32
Tristan Amundson
If we don't get it, they'll, they're going to get it on the one, right? So that's going to be terrible field position. So that's the first thought.
00:15:39
M dub
Which is a big reason to do it, yeah.
00:15:41
Tristan Amundson
Yeah. So, okay. Not the worst thing in the world. It is funny that Gino, a veteran quarterback that we love, makes this really weird, bad mistake of deciding to give them an extra 18 yards or so on that play, which suddenly changes the economics of going for it on fourth down quite a bit.
00:16:02
Tristan Amundson
But I was having the exact same thought with with all of the shenanigans that had gone on in this game. You just think to yourself, man, three points looks awful nice right now. I mean, three points looks pretty great just to kind of get us a little closer.
00:16:16
Tristan Amundson
um ah yeah I love opportunities to learn a lesson without having to pay a consequence. And that is what the Seahawks got on that play. We learned a lesson about the team, right? I think that's exactly what you're saying. We learned a lesson about what not to do. And at the same time, we still got off scot-free with a win. So so i I hope that, to your point, we can we can just take that take that as a learning and move on. um I'm glad you shared those analytics, because I didn't know It was that bad.
00:16:47
Tristan Amundson
I mean, I, you know, I test, I know it's bad. That's really rough.
00:16:53
M dub
Yeah, and we got to give a big ups to Jason Myers for once again bailing the team out because that's another reason that I kind of want these field goals to happen just to give the man some easy kicks.
00:16:58
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:17:03
M dub
He made another from 40 plus and another from 50 plus.
00:17:07
Tristan Amundson
He's having a great year.
00:17:07
M dub
I believe he has tied or broken the Seahawks record for most 50 plus yard field goals in a season with seven. He makes it look routine. You don't really notice it, but those are pretty rare plays. I mean, Kaimi Fairbairn set the all-time record. It's like 12 in a year is is the the all-time record for most field goals outside of 50. And yeah, let's let's get Myers a little little closer. just ah Just help those percentages out. Help every percentage out.
00:17:35
Tristan Amundson
He's doing such a good job and and it is something worth talking about because next year might not be his year, right? Kickers are a little bit like relievers in baseball. They have good years, they have bad years. It's a tough job. I bet goalies are similar and in hockey where you're going to have good years, bad years in soccer, good years, bad years.
00:17:57
Tristan Amundson
Jamie's having a great year and it is something we should talk about and celebrate because listen, in every walk of life and every profession, you don't always have your best year. He's having one of his best and and we should really be appreciative of
Key Players: JSN and DK Highlights
00:18:10
Tristan Amundson
it. Can we talk a little bit, Miles, about JSN? Because this has been a story that continues to grow week after week Again, I mean, the magic phrase for us has been since the Rams game, right? I mean, a lot has changed. The Rams game was an interesting moment for the Seahawks. We see a massive defensive change and we see kind of a um ah swagger. Is that what I'm looking for? I mean, there was there was something palpable that changed with the Seahawks at the Rams or or when they came up.
00:18:47
Tristan Amundson
And JSN was definitely one of those things. JSN had a ah career day that day. a career you know what oh I think I remember us talking, he would have had 250 yards if it wasn't for a couple of holding penalties that that brought it back. i mean he He absolutely killed it. um JSN had another great game. So the the thing that stood out to me, and this is all I'll say about it, three plays of more than 20 yards is massively impactful. I mean, to to be able to flip the field three times the the way he did,
00:19:23
Tristan Amundson
It's unbelievable to watch Jackson just continue to take on the mantle as, I mean, what what it really feels like is 1A and 1B, that we just have two really great top line receivers that have ah ah extremely different skill sets at the top of this receiver room.
00:19:41
Tristan Amundson
um yeah him having a bit of a slow start to last year and and even a slow start to this year. Really fun to see him involved the way he is. um Before you answer, I just want to say one other thing that I loved in JSN's game.
00:19:55
Tristan Amundson
We saw an end around. Yeah. I think this running game, we could use a little bit more, um, diversity and to see an end around, which is not a play that the Seahawks team has done a lot this year. And to see GSN doing it's like, yeah, let's, let's get GSN involved any way we can. So, so those are my thoughts. Number one, uh, three plays of more than 20 yards. Number two. Yeah. Let's get them in this run game. Why not?
00:20:23
M dub
um I have a diabolical idea for the Run game that I don't really take. I'm not sure how seriously I'm taking it. we We'll get to that just a little bit. But um i think I think you said it very well with saying 1A and 1B between JSN and DK. it's its like it It really does feel like that. One, because they're so different and complementary. And then it's not that DK is playing poorly at all. it We're on ah a bit of a streak here with JSN being the the team leader in yardage. um it's It's a pretty awesome situation. And I did want to say AJ Barnor scores the first touchdown ah for the Seahawks in the first half, and DK is throwing an absolute textbook teaching tape block in the end zone to... Barnor maybe gets in anyway, but he certainly gets in because DK is throwing just, yeah, a textbook block in the end zone. Bobo's doing it a little bit deeper as well.
00:21:21
M dub
And that's special. that special to have you know either I'm not sure not sure if every number one wide receiver is doing that it and and really just completely sealing that block. It it was pretty cool.
00:21:34
Tristan Amundson
No, you it's it makes you proud when you see DK do something like that because to your point, it's super um ah atypical to see a wide receiver take on that blocking role. And beyond that, to see a number one guy like DK do that is is really, really cool.
00:21:52
Tristan Amundson
um There wasn't any really big impactful change the entire game. You'd be crazy if you didn't talk about a tight play in this game that we should cover. Was there, Miles? i ah To me, it just seemed all like just kind of typical, you know, first down, second down stuff, right? I mean.
Special Teams and Game-Changing Plays
00:22:10
M dub
Well, Tristan, there were, um I think we're choosing, I think we've both, we this has been unspoken between us, but we've chosen to ignore seven or eight ah special teams Fiasco's.
00:22:22
Tristan Amundson
power
00:22:22
M dub
I mean, there were a lot of, leaving his aside the kick return for a touchdown, there were several deep returns. that I was kind of wondering, can Myers just not get the leg totally underneath that?
00:22:34
M dub
I mean, these kickoffs need to go out the back of the end zone. We just need to kind of call it ah for today. I think we both decided to leave those special teams plays behind. There actually was a pretty massive play. And you know what's funny is this play is going to go down. I think the world, you know, when when this popped in into red zone or something, I think, I think everybody looked at it as a novelty. This play saved the season.
00:23:03
M dub
It absolutely saved the season. ah The situation, the Jets are up 21-7. They've just returned that kick for a touchdown. Kickoff fumbled by Chenault in what is unfortunately his one of his last moments as as a Seahawks. He's no longer on the team.
00:23:23
M dub
um And the Jets are are starting right outside the red zone again and threatening to make it 28 to seven um and towards the end of the second half. and And they're marching into the red zone and things look pretty dire. They look, they're really dire. And then you're going, oh gosh, okay. they be Six and six and ah. But then something happened.
00:23:48
Tristan Amundson
Something happened. um
00:23:52
Tristan Amundson
Man, we should just sit here for a second and just and just think about how beautiful the interception was. um So to your point, it's we're in a bad spot.
00:24:06
Tristan Amundson
Listen, I'll just share something with you and the audience that I'm not proud of. Garrett Wilson's on my fantasy team and I had a moment
00:24:13
M dub
ah
00:24:15
Tristan Amundson
when Rodgers, the play before the interception, he hit he doesn't hit Garrett Wilson. And so my first thought, I'm a Seahawks fan, so my first thought is like, okay, good. But then my second thought is, well, if they're gonna get a touchdown anyway, it might as well go to Garrett Wilson, right?
00:24:31
Tristan Amundson
I mean, you know, this if we if it's gonna happen, you know, why not help help me out a little bit? I was so much happier with this play.
00:24:38
M dub
Oh, haha.
00:24:39
Tristan Amundson
So let me ask you the first question. And I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I just want another pair of eyes on it. Did, did Devin get a hand on this ball before it got to big cat and or did Leo do all of this by himself? I couldn't quite tell when I watched this about 15 times. I couldn't tell.
00:25:01
M dub
It's a very good question. There is a lot happening on this play. Just for the record, Leonard Williams, it's third down.
00:25:07
Tristan Amundson
They're down.
00:25:07
M dub
It's like third and medium. Leonard Williams is about there.
00:25:11
Tristan Amundson
on what, on what the 15 about.
00:25:15
M dub
Yeah, we're we're in the red zone for sure.
00:25:15
Tristan Amundson
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:16
M dub
And Leonard Williams. ah He's dropping back in coverage. um That's his assignment on the play. We'll get to that. But he kind of smacks it up in the air, corrals it.
00:25:28
M dub
And then he read I heard from Rich Eisen, um not personal correspondence, but he told me through his nationally televised show that it is the longest touchdown ever scored ah by a 300-pounder.
00:25:43
Tristan Amundson
It's incredible.
00:25:43
M dub
Maybe on the interception. Maybe there's a fumble recovery that was ah
00:25:46
Tristan Amundson
Sure. No, it's unbelievable. Think about.
00:25:48
M dub
it's It's kind of a historic play. and um But unlike other you know very lighthearted, fun moments in NFL history where a guy is kind of stumbling, bumbling, and rumbling down the field, this is my idea for the running games.
00:26:05
M dub
Leonard looked good ah with with that ball.
00:26:07
Tristan Amundson
You look great.
00:26:08
M dub
And I will say, sorry, you asked about whether it's good. ah Right after he catches it, there's a Jets wide receiver, Xavier Gibson, who who is right. He's on the spot.
00:26:18
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:26:18
M dub
He's right where he needs to be. And um he bounces off Williams. There's there's about, there's ah over a hundred pounds between them and Williams may or may not have noticed him underneath his feet before he really started taking off.
00:26:25
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:26:31
M dub
So um my my thought was is Leo that red zone package. Do we get Leo in there? I mean, the,
00:26:41
Tristan Amundson
Is it possible that he could be, yeah, a quick, full back type handoff
00:26:45
M dub
there's been crazier There's been crazier plans in NFL history.
00:26:48
Tristan Amundson
I mean, yeah, could he get under center and just do a quick quarterback sneak for us? And and now we're our red zone issues are no more for on the one yard line. um So so answer answer the question though, Spoon, do do you feel did he get in there?
00:27:00
M dub
yeah Yes, sorry. i don't so So Spoon boone sees the play developing.
00:27:03
Tristan Amundson
I don't think so.
00:27:06
M dub
I don't think he gets there. It's very close. I think Spoon actually might have even sensed that Leo was in the vicinity. It kind of backs off a little bit.
00:27:17
M dub
But um I think this is 100% Leo. Spoon backs off, kind of sensing Leo's in better position to catch the ball. And then sure enough, he's part of that convoy taking it home.
00:27:28
M dub
um It was a pretty serious convoy. with Which is part of that gang defense mentality that that was was pretty obvious.
00:27:33
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:27:36
M dub
once he Once he gets his hand on this ball, there's four or five guys and and they're they're ensuring this thing gets home.
00:27:45
Tristan Amundson
So um I always think when I see a play like this tipping it to yourself and catching it. as a defensive tackle it to me, it seems like the ultimate dream. Like as, as a high schooler going to sleep at night before a football game, I imagine on a Thursday night before those sweet Friday night lights that Leo sat in his bed multiple nights and just pictured and imagined and dreamed. What if tomorrow I can tip a ball, catch it and run it back for a touchdown. You know what I mean? That it's just, it seems like the absolute dream of a defensive tackle, defensive lineman.
00:28:22
Tristan Amundson
In fact, you might say it's really more of a defensive end type dream because at least I had the speed to make it happen. Um, we had our research department, um, get out there and, and, and do kind of some, some really advanced analytics. And the best we can tell Leo got up to about 17 miles an hour on that run, which is just unbelievable to think about 300 pound man. He might be 310 pounds.
00:28:50
Tristan Amundson
can get his body running like a rhinoceros down the field. to your point, the convoy is real, right? Instantly, EJ gets right in front of him and he's running alongside him. You get the big boys that just kind of run behind him. And then I just, I love the play cause it's actually pretty smart. Instead of like trying to block the guy behind you, you can hear him like breathing right behind you. And they just kind of slow down a little bit and just kind of screw up the offensive linemen are trying to chase to make the tackle just kind of
00:29:22
Tristan Amundson
hey man Sorry, I'm just going to slow down here. I love that. My favorite part of the return. And and now we've seen this two weeks in a row where Devin runs so hard.
00:29:36
Tristan Amundson
to get in position. And then I love the seriousness of his of his body language. Did you notice how his head was just on a swivel? He's like looking back and forth and back and forth and back and forth until he realizes, oh, he's good. Like this guy's going in for a touchdown. I love the Is attention to detail what I mean by that? I don't even know what I mean to say. I love the awareness, I guess that the he's awake. That's what I mean to say. Devin Witherspoon is wide awake in that play. He's not taking it for granted. He's not just goofing off running with his buddy. He is running with a purpose. He's yeah he's there thinking if anyone gets close to him, I'm taking him out. And I just I love that dog mentality that that Witherspoon has.
00:30:21
M dub
I think you're right. I think awareness is is a great way to describe it. I think everybody in that convoy understood that this is the best chance to score the ball right here. Like we got to do it right here.
00:30:29
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, let's get it done.
00:30:30
M dub
like just the i'm I'm sure they were doing the Amazon analytics in their head. My favorite part of this play was this was something from the diabolical depths of the Mike McDonald playbook.
00:30:43
M dub
I think he waited till this third down in the red zone to pull something up that was completely insane. for the wreck like It looks like it's a blitz. It looks like there's five men who are going to rush the quarterback. The ball is snapped. The play, in fact, is for three men to rush the quarterback. But it's so disorienting that even on the broadcast,
00:31:08
M dub
Uh, he says, here comes the rush. There's only three guys rushing because the call is for both Jaron Reed and Leonard Williams, the two interior guys to drop back in coverage. And even more than that, Williams lines up kind of on the defensive right side of the formation, but he's dropping back to the defensive left side, which is where he ends up intercepting the ball. So it is a, it.
00:31:35
M dub
And and we we see Rogers is completely locked into Wilson just as his number one option. And if Williams is not there, that ball is getting to Wilson and then Devontae Adams is ready to block his way into the end zone. it It's a touchdown and Rogers is just completely locked in. So for McDonald to be just so clearly one step ahead with the play call with that. It's a completely insane call and it was the complete right call. I just absolutely loved it now.
00:32:06
M dub
It almost didn't work because also on the defensive right side of the formation, ah we have Reek Wolan up against the tight end, Tyler Conklin bump on the line of scrimmage. Wolan just ends up falling on the ground. If Rogers is just looking up and he isn't so locked into like, well he's ah he's locked into one option. It is a wide open. It's a completely wide open touchdown to Conklin if Rogers can just kind of hold onto on to it for just a second. But the disorientation at the line of scrimmage, the the one step ahead thinking it was it was really beautiful. It's a 14 point swing right there. It was, and and it really did save the season. I mean, it really did. I mean, yes it was great. I loved it.
00:32:51
Tristan Amundson
it It was such an important play emotionally for the team. I know for the fans. I shouldn't speak for the team. I'll speak for the fans. It was an emotional moment because you really did feel as though everything's going the wrong way in this game, right? We're not catching any breaks. We are, I mean, to your point, listen, we We decided just to walk over all of the special special teams, ah ah snafus going on in this game because we wanted to talk about some of these fun plays. But it's worth noting at this point in the game, it's really been nothing but heartache and nothing but consternation.
00:33:32
Tristan Amundson
And to have the the point flip the way that it was, you know there was potential to get a um a touchdown, if anything, a field goal certainly at that point in the in the ball game. um They're already up 21-7.
00:33:46
Tristan Amundson
The idea that, you know, it went from potentially 24 seven, let's be kind and say that it would just be 24 seven to 21 14. And now you're going in with some momentum and it feels like we're actually churning this game around. Unbelievable moment. And listen, man, like, you know, we we talk through these small moments in these games and and all these small moments add up to the way a season turns out.
00:34:16
Tristan Amundson
It's a big game for the season. it It just is. I mean, now you go in, we have sole possession of ah first place. You've put yourself in position to to win this season and to do it the right way.
Looking Ahead: Seahawks' Season Outlook
00:34:29
Tristan Amundson
I don't say that in any way to ah to um to celebrate victories that haven't happened yet, right? We still got to play Arizona. There's still a Rams game in front of us. There's plenty of plenty a heartache in front of us potentially.
00:34:43
M dub
And the Vikings are the Packers, yeah.
00:34:44
Tristan Amundson
and the Vikings and the Packers. And yet you can't get to those games until you take care of business on Sunday. So for them to win this game against the Jets, it sets up for a really cool ending potential, right? We're we're not going to win every one of those games, I don't think. um But it sets yourself up for for a really cool end of the season. So um I think the last note is Leonard Williams is playing out of his mind. I mean, you stack now two weeks in a row where, is there any other, listen, you know a couple of words in the English language, Miles. Is there any other way to describe Leonard Williams than dominant? Do you have any other synonyms you want to throw my way besides complete domination?
00:35:29
M dub
Oh, I didn't have a question for you, but just so we got it on the record, Leonard Williams on Sunday, one interception for 92 yards and a touchdown, like we talked about, uh, two sacks, three tackles for loss, um, out of four total tackles.
00:35:38
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:35:48
M dub
That is really crazy.
00:35:48
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, but but but listen, hey, hey, listen, he did nothing last week, right?
00:35:48
M dub
now
00:35:52
M dub
Now.
00:35:52
Tristan Amundson
Last week, he was a complete joke. So it's unreal.
00:35:56
M dub
Aside from the interception, the numbers are better last week, if I remember. Tristan, you have told me that in a lifetime of Seahawks watching, your if yeah if you had to pick one Seahawks that you enjoyed watching the most, and folks, this is how you know he's a real one, because it's not going where you think it's going right now. You named Cortez Kennedy, the interior D lineman who held it down throughout the 90s,
00:36:25
M dub
Tristan, how is this stretch from Leonard Williams compare to the peak of Seahawks football in your connoisseurs estimation, that that that decade of destruction from Cortez in the middle?
00:36:33
Tristan Amundson
man
00:36:40
M dub
what What are we looking at between Leonard and Cortez right now? i That's how good Leonard is.
00:36:45
Tristan Amundson
like
00:36:46
M dub
We have to bring up a a player who made eight Pro Bowls in 11 years and is in the Hall of Fame. that's that's Aside from Domina, that's the only kind of way we can go right now.
00:36:59
Tristan Amundson
Man. Man, that is so hard because because Cortez is such a legend, and to your point, a Hall of Famer, um and someone that, anyone listening to this podcast that's a longtime Seahawks fan, he is, he's in our, you know, obviously he's in our Hall of Fame, but he's also kind of in our like, our Hall of Reverence. Does that make sense? I mean, Cortez is like in ah in a place in his own, he has his own little section in the house, at least as far as I'm concerned.
00:37:29
Tristan Amundson
so that that it's a But it's a good comparison because they're both doing the thing that makes great defensive tackles great, which is beating double teams, right? that is what That's when you know that you're a great defensive tackle and you are consistently demanding doubles and you're beating them and you're just making people look foolish. I'll say, and now this feels weird to say,
00:37:55
Tristan Amundson
Would you mind looking this up? i'll I'll meander and talk for a little bit. How heavy was Cortez Kennedy? Can you look up and and maybe see his weight um over the years or or you know maybe just what the weight was average? or I don't know how you'd do that from year to year.
00:38:10
M dub
A member from our research team is flying in from, uh, the world's only Seahawks podcast libraries to let me know that Cortez Kennedy was six foot three and 305 pounds.
00:38:10
Tristan Amundson
but
00:38:21
Tristan Amundson
So what's weird about that flies in the face of what I was about to say, which is my, my eye test would have told me Cortez is much bigger than Leonard, which is hilarious to say.
00:38:23
M dub
listed I would have thought the same thing.
00:38:33
Tristan Amundson
Right. Cause I just told you.
00:38:35
M dub
Yeah.
00:38:35
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, Leonard's 310 pounds. Cortez just seemed like one of those guys that was larger than life. It's so huge out there that you know if you didn't double team him, you were crazy because he's just his his sheer size. um Listen, I'm just going to keep dancing around this because I can't answer the question. that they're They're both too good.
00:38:56
Tristan Amundson
um The best estimation I could make is that Leonard Williams lands somewhere between Brandon Mibane and Cortez Kennedy. And by the way, i I don't know if I could give someone a better compliment. If if I'm saying Brandon Mibane's to the floor and Cortez Kennedy's the ceiling and you are right in between those two players, you're playing out of your mind. You're you you know you're you're one of the best.
00:39:26
M dub
Tristan, as this game concluded, a graphic went up on the broadcast that really ignited my imagination. ah this This loss moved the Jets to three and nine, which confirms that they will officially have a losing season this year. And the graphic said that this will make it the ninth straight losing year for the Jets, which is the longest current streak in the NFL. So if we were to ask, what was nine losing seasons ago for the Jets?
00:39:55
M dub
we would say 2016. It's the earliest possible answer. So here's my question for you. Just the show, I hope this shows how different, how, what a but a privileged wooded mountain we stand on in Seattle. here's Here's my question. You don't have to take too, it's an impossible question to answer, but don't have to think too long about it. But if nine losing seasons ago for the Jets is 2016, what was nine losing seasons ago for the Seattle Seahawks?
00:40:24
Tristan Amundson
ah That would be the year of the Beastquake, I believe. That year we were seven and nine. um And let's see, let me think, let me think, let me think. Oh my gosh.
00:40:39
Tristan Amundson
um
00:40:40
M dub
so So we're asking, so so like, yeah, so that was a losing year. So we're we're looking for nine back in the Seahawks history. there Yeah.
00:40:48
Tristan Amundson
Is that, am I correct? Is that the last losing season?
00:40:51
M dub
ah ah theyre Okay, so the...
00:40:54
Tristan Amundson
or die overshoot, I might have overshot.
00:40:56
M dub
No, no, no. you but So we're looking for nine losing seasons ago.
00:41:00
Tristan Amundson
Nine, oh my gosh, nine, oh my, okay, yeah, it isn't impossible.
00:41:00
M dub
Because the Jets have had nine in a row. So so the jets not nine the Jets have had nine out of nine. And I'm asking, when was nothing to go for the Seahawks?
00:41:10
Tristan Amundson
Sorry, yeah, that's impossible.
00:41:11
M dub
So they they s sneak one in there in 2021.
00:41:12
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, I was, yeah, I guess I was thinking of a very different question. When was the last losing season, which it probably wasn't actually that one anyway, but yeah.
00:41:21
M dub
But yeah, yeah.
00:41:21
Tristan Amundson
Okay. There you go. Yeah. Fair enough. i I forget. I'm a positive guy. I forget the bad one. Yeah. Nine. Yeah. So, okay. When was it then? What nine losing seasons?
00:41:30
M dub
yeah so Yeah, and so for the Jets, it's happened as as quickly as possible, 2016.
00:41:32
Tristan Amundson
Oh my gosh.
00:41:36
M dub
Nine losing seasons ago for the Seahawks takes you all the way back to 1994.
00:41:41
Tristan Amundson
Okay.
00:41:42
M dub
that That's how long it's been. 30 years and only 9 losing seasons. So the Seahawks run a 21-8 heater here. I mean that's 21 winning seasons when he season out of 30. I mean there was ah there was a lot of hand-wringing and you know ah dissection of Pete Carroll last year when the team Just stumbled to an eight and nine finish, but ultimately was nine and eight. And, uh, I mean, that's pretty good to have the only nine losing seasons in 30 years, going going back to 1994. Um, so for the record, Pete Carroll had three losing years, uh, including the beast quake year at the very beginning.
00:42:21
Tristan Amundson
That was 2009, I believe, was the beefquake year.
00:42:24
M dub
The one year with Mora was a losing year. Holmgren had three losing years.
00:42:27
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:42:30
M dub
ah We had one losing year with Denix Erickson and 1994 was the last year of Tom Flores. This is going...
00:42:37
M dub
so and
00:42:37
Tristan Amundson
Listen, things have not been perfect in Seahawks land, but that sounds pretty like, sign me up for that. That does not sound terrible compared to imagine being a Jets fan. ah Imagine should being in a Jacksonville fan or a Titans fan. I mean, things have been pretty doggone good in Seattle.
00:42:52
M dub
Yeah, it's pretty crazy. so the i The Jets have only had one 12-win season in their history. They've been around for 60 years. Only one of those years have they won twelve at least 12 games, and it was 12 exactly. That was 1998 with a head coach named Bill Parcells and a defensive coordinator named Bill Belichick, which is probably why he feels comfortable taking so many shots because he is he was there at the time they actually um had their best ever season.
00:43:21
M dub
now I do wanna make my opinion on this clear. So we talked a little bit last week about Fireman Ed. And Fireman Ed, I looked it up. He started these chants in the year 1986 and he's hung in there.
00:43:37
Tristan Amundson
Whoa.
00:43:38
M dub
I wanted fireman, which was just amazing. And then, uh, to hang in there for that long and to have one 12 win season since 1986 and to be on a ah decade now of losing years.
00:43:51
Tristan Amundson
That's incredible.
00:43:55
M dub
What a champ for hanging in there.
00:43:57
Tristan Amundson
he He is hanging in there with a lot of bravado.
00:43:57
M dub
Win it for fireman ed.
00:44:00
Tristan Amundson
He is hanging in there. Um, man, what a great game next week. We go on to Arizona. Um, a playoffs are in the air. Do you hold on.
00:44:10
Tristan Amundson
Do you feel it miles? Do you do you feel, do you smell it? no do Do you feel the playoffs are in the air?
00:44:17
M dub
i I honestly felt the see that the playoffs started two weeks ago.
00:44:22
Tristan Amundson
And that's yeah.
00:44:22
M dub
that the The backs were up against the wall. So when ah if January, if we are fortunate enough to have January come and the Seahawks are still playing games ah into the postseason, it's not going to feel that different to me.
00:44:38
M dub
every Everyone's a playoff game. The schedule from here on out is absolutely brutal. ah It's really crazy. um Yes, it's starting with this next one.
00:44:48
M dub
So yeah, the the playoffs could continue. you We got seven or eight weeks of playoffs here, for sure.
00:44:53
Tristan Amundson
Well, and you might argue this next game is the biggest game of the regular season for us. I mean, it's not necessarily against the best best team, but Arizona is a great team that the ones closest to us and in the division.
00:45:08
Tristan Amundson
This next game might decide the whole thing, man. This might be the whole shooting match, playing Arizona and seeing what we can do. Going down to Arizona, um we'll be playing in the desert. So, um excited to break that one down for you, my friend. Until the next time, go Hawks.
00:45:27
M dub
Hey, go Hawks!