Transcript
Tristan Amundson: Miles, let me... Let me go deep here for a second with you. It's an age -old question. And I think it is the foundation from which we need to examine.
Tristan Amundson: The game with the 49ers. And it's a question we've all heard. we've all wrestled wrestled with and we We will continue to. What came first? The chicken.
Tristan Amundson: Or the egg. And. When I'm watching the Seahawks and 49ers game. I'm looking. I'm looking at these fumbles and I'm thinking to myself.
Tristan Amundson: Every time my team. creates a fumble. We created that fumble, right? it's it that We did that. Every time my team fumbles.
Tristan Amundson: i think well that's a problem we can fix that's self -inflicted wound And. That is the thing that was bothering me and I was thinking about the most. during this game.
Tristan Amundson: What is a fumble? is it Is it something that I did wrong or is it something that the other team created? And that's what I'm wrestling with. how what are you wrestling with and how are you doing today my friend
M dub: Tristan great to be with you. This is a very funny question because I was genuinely wrestling with the same thing. i And I really did. I actually was planning on mentioning that. It did feel like the Seahawks had.
M dub: giveaways in this game and then they also created turnovers. So I think this is. This is why the questions are the classics, why why we we just can't shake them. ah I can't think of any other of the classic rhetorical questions right now, but this is why they're the classics.
M dub: ah hard Hard to pin down the answer because, yes, it felt like. Seahawks were fumbling and creating takeaways. Yeah, it's really funny. Yeah.
Tristan Amundson: it's It feels to me at least as though it's like a ah question that has to do with pride, right? like like the the the prideful. Side of me wants it.
Tristan Amundson: to be all about the Seahawks. And like we are, we are simultaneously creating fumbles and then also any fumble that we happen to. be involved in. is like our own fault that we can fix immediately. And you don't want to give any.
Tristan Amundson: Um, any benefit to the competition right you you don't want to do that and yet when i think about Um, When I think about that goal line fumble with Helani that resulted in that. that really quick touchdown for them or immediate touchdown for them.
Tristan Amundson: I like that one to me feels like a great example. ah of of like this question and how hard it is because and and i think is the unfortunate terrible answer is that both things are true at the same time which is not. Doesn't feel good in this scenario to say whatsoever.
Tristan Amundson: um But I have to say, and I feel like this is where I have to tip the cap a bit to the other team and give them their respect. um The way. the defense specifically on that play just drove the line of scrimmage.
Tristan Amundson: Right into. um right into the play as if they knew they are going to run this direction we're going to push them this direction push our center right into the, you know, right into our running back. And then Bam, that punch.
Tristan Amundson: And. um you know simultaneously Well. maybe he could have been holding it a little tighter. But to me, that one is a great example of. I literally think we're seeing both things happening at the same time.
Tristan Amundson: Poor ball security. And simultaneously. Um, Just an unbelievable play by the 49ers.
M dub: Is that the answer, the chicken and the egg arrived at the same time?
Tristan Amundson: they they They arrived at the train station at the same time. And I think the egg. got ran over by the train at the same time the chicken did for us at least on On that play. I will say. um I was listening to coach talk about this. with that when he was doing his his interview with with Brock and Salk.
Tristan Amundson: And. he i was wrestling with the question and i feel like he kind of answered it for me When it came to the fumbles, he had zero. patience for the fumbles he basically said like If we're running the ball, that should not that should never result in a fumble. Like, we should always be able to run the football. period and he kind of gave no room for
Tristan Amundson: Like the that the other team could do a good thing. And he was talking about it with other plays. Like there's other plays where like. the team the other team can just be in the right spot and just beat you.
Tristan Amundson: He kind of had zero, I shouldn't say kind of, he had zero patience for the concept of are running backs fumbling when we're running the football?
M dub: um i i tend to agree with it the numbers are pretty tough well i think Uh... Okay. The a - I don't think there's any secret about this game. I think even incredibly sharp, insightful podcasters like ourselves, we had the exact same insight as...
M dub: Maybe anybody watching this game for the first time, the Seahawks gave up the ball too much. And and that's why they lost the game. I mean, there's no. I don't think there's very... much deep anything deep to say about it really but This Helani play that you bring up. to close out the first half. I...
M dub: I think that is the worst play in the Mike McDonald era. First off, there is just absolutely no reason to be. ah I mean, you're attempting a run play from, like, your three your own three -yard line with about 15 seconds left in the half. I mean.
M dub: Sorry, that's a kneel -out situation. That that just is. I almost... I was watching this game on tape. I almost just blasted right through halftime because I was like, well... We're just going to kneel this one out. And then I was like, well. Let me be thorough. I'm on the world's own. I'm co -hosting the world's only Seahawks podcast for the sake of thoroughness. Let me see every darn snap here while this clock is running. I could not believe.
M dub: but They weren't kneeling out meling it out at first. And then to actually see it result in an up. been a touchdown for the 49ers. I mean there there were some really big fumble mistakes.
M dub: There were some really big strategic mistakes from the coaching staff in this game as well. which which I think kind of slid under the radar a little bit. but I just couldn't believe. to They were running a play there. That's just the situation. it It doesn't feel very good to just kneel it out going into halftime. but With that field position, that punt.
M dub: pinning you that far back that's just what that's just what you got to do right
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, I mean, that was I mean, again, it's it's one of those things where you got to give the other team credit. <unk> to your point i mean that was one of the best Um, pinning situations where the the gunner got down there. I love what he did, like that little kind of booped it to to his teammate and.
Tristan Amundson: you know you're you're screwed here on the five you know if that to your point if that goes into the end zone and now we're talking you know what you get it at the 20 is that correct or whatever they're doing these days
M dub: Yeah, yeah, on the pine.
Tristan Amundson: Like. yeah net now like now there's a conversation you could have right i mean hey let's see yeah let's see if we can get 30 or 40 yards and get a getting field goal range.
M dub: Sure, sure.
Tristan Amundson: But beyond that, I, I agree with you. What's funny is if coach was on this podcast, he would say. No. like he would completely and that's why i think he was so strong on it like completely disagree with the concept. And he basically would say that should be a zero risk play. Like the way that we do, the way we handle the football.
Tristan Amundson: That should be zero risk, which. I think. Your answer, not to speak for my co -host, would be Let's underline the word should in that sentence. And like there is risk whenever you whenever you. touch the football unless you're doing something like kneeling it.
Tristan Amundson: um And yeah, I tend to agree with you. I was a little surprised to see them run it. um which Kind of brings me to my first point, Miles, and don't let me get ahead of us. If if if we should we do a recap before I kind of give my first little.
Tristan Amundson: thought on on the feel of this game or do is this a game where we need to do the recap? i i I'll leave it to your good judgment.
M dub: you You know what? I feel like for the third consecutive week, this game is a little unrecapable. It just flew off any type of normal rhythm. Seahawks lose this. I don't even remember the final score, which it seems a little irrelevant, actually.
Tristan Amundson: 32 -29.
M dub: Seahawks.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah.
M dub: Yeah, Seahawks turned the ball over four times. and um including three times ah with San Francisco getting the ball either in their end zone or in their red zone.
M dub: I mean... the Credit to the Seahawks for clawing back. I think there's... a lot of underlying signs of uh good health but Man, he I mean, just like the Washington game and ah this.
M dub: Three and two on the year, two losses, and you just say. Okay, we would have destroyed these two teams if we just didn't turn the ball over. a bajillion times.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. Or just like in this case, like this game, like. And I hate to do it to George, but like that one turnover, like there was one turnover that really destroyed you in this game. you
M dub: That's number one, yeah.
Tristan Amundson: I mean, like Again, though, like they made the play. But. I can't help but to say you gave them. a touchdown like you like you handed it on a silver platter form which is just is so tough but but i think it does kind of speak to and this is what i'm curious about so So two points here that I want to make. One, as you know, and as I've mentioned, I love watching the red zone, right? I'm watching a lot of games a lot of times.
Tristan Amundson: I'm watching the game in real time. um But, you know, kind of through red zone. And then I will, but you know. like last night. I will watch the entire game. but I'll do the condensed version, right? So I don't need to sit there for three hours and I'll watch every play.
Tristan Amundson: This game, Miles, is a perfect example why I personally have to be careful when doing that because. Luckily for me, this is a game that I watched from start to finish in real time, you know, got the whole broadcast, the whole, you know, kit and caboodle, the classic experience.
Tristan Amundson: If I hadn't done that, if I had done one of those. red zone days. And then I'm going to watch all of the the plays, you know, the next day. I would have completely missed.
Tristan Amundson: The chippiness and the tenor of this game. I mean, I like. And that's kind of the first thing I want to almost call out myself here a little bit. This was one of those games where you had to experience like going to an IMAX theater. You had to experience the entire thing like this was.
Tristan Amundson: objectively a really fun game to watch if you're just, you know, Joe Schmo. And again, ah you know, I love saying this, right? If you're ah a Buffalo fan or if you're a New York fan and you just happen to be watching this game.
Tristan Amundson: This had all the things right. This was like a riveting, fun game to watch and the chippiness, the whole thing. But the chippiness you would have missed. which I want to talk about a little bit more.
Tristan Amundson: The other thing, though, that you would have missed on this game or I would have missed if I didn't. like kind of watch the classic. This is the first time. In the Mike McDonald era, I don't think this is hype.
Tristan Amundson: hyperbole at all. This is the first time I've ever felt fear. as as a Seahawks fan. under Mike's leadership, meaning this. I didn't feel fear when we were on defense. I felt great the whole time.
Tristan Amundson: I... was legitimately like there was a moment where i was like can Like, can we not go back on offense? Like I'm like every time we're touching the ball, it seems like bad things are just happening. And obviously, you know, that's stupid and you just got to keep playing.
Tristan Amundson: But like. Again, I think. if ah if we go back to the original kind of thesis question of this podcast. Chicken egg. you know Are you causing the fumbles or are you just fumbling?
Tristan Amundson: Man, like that? That. 49ers D line was causing trouble and getting penetration and like. i i think i know in my heart that a lot of it was what they were doing because I had that moment of fear. Like I had the moment the moment. About halfway through this game where I felt trepidation every time. we were possessing the ball did you did you feel that at all like during this game where you're like no moss
M dub: i got I gotta say I didn't. Because this type of game has happened. a lot with the Seahawks in the last two years where. Funny enough, for a Super Bowl champion, we have this recurring... It's just such...
M dub: A silly issue. for a Super Bowl winning. You know, oh ah hopefully back, to you know, an extended Super Bowl nucleus team to have.
M dub: which is turning the ball over, a hallmark of... The worst teams in the NFL. The Seahawks have had this game a lot where they're turning the ball over. And then chaos breaks out in the second half. They claw their way back into it. And then it's a one possession game at the end. so I kind of sensed we were going to be.
M dub: in that situation and it did feel the whole time like this game would end exactly as it did, that the Seahawks would be on the wrong end of that one possession thing. So I didn't feel fear because... You know.
M dub: this This is now... All 2025 and the first five games of 2026. The Seahawks have never been out of a game in the last moments. which is...
M dub: Incredible. to to just there's There hasn't been a single game they just lost by 10 points in the last four or five minutes. are We're just like running out the clock here. they are They are in the game at the very end.
M dub: But. um Man. such's It's just. I wrote some numbers down on the fumble. Well, here's the thing about the fumbles. It's such a crazy problem to have. It's a little bit of an embarrassing thing to. have going on in your house as the defending super bowl champions The good news that I was thinking is this is an issue that the team has overcome and actually won the Super Bowl with. So here's here's some of the numbers between last year and this year. This year we've got nine total fumbles.
M dub: uh including six from the running backs that's two a piece from all three of the main running backs Only lost four of the fumbles. You would expect it to be about 50 -50. So Seahawks. Actually getting a little bit lucky with losing the amount of fumbles they're putting on the ground.
M dub: We're going to add in five interceptions, all from Sam Darnold. That gives us nine total turnovers. which is the fifth most in the league. Last year, there was 28 turnovers in 17 games. it's a very slight uptick in the number of turnovers per game And also last year, the Seahawks were three and two and had eight turnovers in their first five games. We've just added. a single ninth turnover this game. so
M dub: I really thought we saw December, January last year. This team controlled the ball in a different way. They really took care of the ball. They didn't take chances. Isn't it the only Super Bowl winner to never turn the ball over in the playoffs? I really thought we had turned the page.
M dub: It's pretty bizarre to be back here. But again, I was comforted by the thought of. that This is a problem they've overcome. Is is that coming? It's just so weird. it's so weird
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, and would you say, am I right in my memory when I say the Smiles, that it was the game at the Rams? Like that was kind of the last. game where the fumbles were like a massive, massive problem for us where it's like, man, we're turning the ball over too much to me.
Tristan Amundson: and maybe this is just in fact i specifically only mean this about sam's play to me that was the game where sam basically said like even in a loss like man Like if I just. Don't put the ball in harm's way. We're going to win. basically every game.
Tristan Amundson: And that's kind of, I feel like. That was kind of his turning point moment last season. do you it does your memory kind of look at it the same way that that game was was when we turned the corner.
M dub: Yes, it does. And I also think of Ernest Jones postgame press conference where he really defended Sam Darnold exactly after that game at the very low point.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah.
M dub: because that that game was four interceptions all by Sam Darnold. You lose that away game to the Rams by one in November. As time goes on, because I was thinking about that game as well, because that was a turning point.
M dub: And that Ernest Jones press conference where he just decides to defend Sam Darnold. I really do think it is the greatest weaponization. of a press conference, maybe in football history. It really...
M dub: It really galvanized the Super Bowl win from there. So I don't think you can recreate it again in 2026. I think that moment had its own magic and you you just can't recreate it like that. Unfortunately, I think Ernest would if he could.
M dub: But... um Yeah, but but between that game, getting so close, and Ernest saying that afterwards, that definitely was a turning point. It's really crazy. We've turned we've turned the page back. We turned the page to a new chapter, and now we've turned the page back.
M dub: Again, the numbers are so similar. Also had a week five loss by like three points to the Buccaneers last year. such a similar situation. Yeah, here we are again. so it's It's so weird to be back again, but... ah I... I know I'm repeating myself now, but it is an issue the team has overcome before. So it's hard to be that concerned about it, I guess.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, and and... Like we don't have enough data with. with Mike to to make. the um to To make the correlation that I'm about to try to make, which.
Tristan Amundson: I don't know. I kind of just want to call that out on its face, but it could be. I guess what I'm saying is it could be that this is a pattern with a Mike McDonald team that, hey, you know, the the way that we're going to approach problems, the way that we're going to fix problems.
Tristan Amundson: That. And maybe maybe anyone would say, well. man, this is just life in the NFL, that that teams are really trying to find themselves in the first. let's call it, you know, September, October.
Tristan Amundson: And that really November is when teams. fully become who they're supposed to be. for good or for bad. And OK, now we're moving forward. So and and again, maybe that's not even a mic thing. Maybe that's just a universal thing. So maybe maybe you could make the correlation.
Tristan Amundson: uh specifically the last year and it is in some ways encouraging if you're telling me Hey, like remember, Tristan, that game against the Rams was in November. um i I think it was kind of mid -November, even if I'm remembering right, because we had, ah similar to this year, kind of a... a heavy back end of of games with the rams and so Maybe there's something to be said for that. that Yeah, like it's just going to take some time. to work through some of these things. I admittedly did think that.
Tristan Amundson: Like. Sam's from Sam's perspective, that it's kind of like, like that lesson just would be completely like. a one -time learning thing where it's like, hey. I'm going to...
Tristan Amundson: play a less aggressive version of football. Because I have. this defense like period like i just this defense is so good I'm just I play less aggressive than I could. period like instead of you know the dial being to 10 the dial's always at six and Like we can take it up to nine or 10 if we need to, but. like in general we're just going to keep it at six and call it a day i kind of thought that We were just there.
Tristan Amundson: um But I mean, maybe that's just oversimplifying football too. Maybe it's just, you know. Maybe it's just not that simple to say play less aggressive. um And. I mean I don't know. to talk in circles here.
Tristan Amundson: I also do want to see those big chunk plays and I do want to see. those those spectacular moments and and so there is certainly a a cost of doing business i suppose
M dub: I agree with you, though. It did seem like Sam had that dial at six, like for the Super Bowl. If you look at the Super Bowl, he has like maybe 202 yards passing. And it was like. it was like a perfect game you know like he didn't it was just exactly in the rhythm of the game so I do agree with you there I think but we're going to talk about the offense.
M dub: I think for the majority of this podcast here, just a quick shout out to the defense. So last year.
Tristan Amundson: Oh yeah.
M dub: A Super Bowl winning defense, one of the few nicknamed defensive units in NFL history. Last year winning the Super Bowl doing everything They allow 4 .6 yards per play.
M dub: This year. this So this is how big the turnovers are because a lot of points have been put on the board. right but that's because all these short fields This year. 4 .1 yards per play that is a huge chunk out of out of last year's average That is the best in the league. And just to put it in perspective.
M dub: The worst offense that we have is it is the Tennessee Titans. They're at 4 .5 yards per play. So when an offense comes in to face the Seahawks. They are a chunk worse. than the Tennessee Titans in terms of yards per play.
M dub: You got to look past the points on the board. This defense really is better than ever.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. No, I mean. Yeah. There's so many cool pieces to talk about with the defense. should Should we, before we jump back into the offense, should we just spend a little time here?
Tristan Amundson: um and just talk through some of some of the big performers and what we saw on the on the defensive side. Does that make sense?
M dub: yeah There were a lot of great performers. There also was an issue as well that I think the people noticed also. But for the most part, it was a truly outstanding game.
Tristan Amundson: Yes.
Tristan Amundson: Um... ah Let's just start with the obvious, but it just it has to be mentioned because. again, he When I think of this podcast, I think of this player being foundational to everything that the Seahawks have done, starting with the moment they drafted him and everything having to come together. Right. And, and it's the marriage of. Spoon and Bee Murph.
Tristan Amundson: And. Like we've seen some great games from Byron Murphy. We've like, we've already seen that. This was one of those like jaw dropping. Byron Murphy is...
Tristan Amundson: a problem. on the defensive line he was living in their backfield tackles for loss two sacks um just in general, incredibly disruptive. How fun was it just to watch Byron Murphy?
Tristan Amundson: This felt like one of those like. coming out of the cocoon games and he's had plenty of them i'm not saying this is like the first time we've seen him perform well he's a great great player He was.
Tristan Amundson: like an A -plus dominant player on Sunday.
M dub: Totally agree with you. He was the Seahawks' best player in this game. and Let me, let me. say a name that was talked about a lot, but not so much anymore. How about Layatu Latu of the Indianapolis c Colts? A lot of discussion. Oh.
M dub: You know, should the Seahawks have taken – you know, do the Colts get the – right next to Murphy in the draft. A lot of discussion at that time that the Seahawks didn't get the best defensive player or whatnot. That. That conversation is. Over.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah.
M dub: I mean, it was a long time ago, but just just to... just to take us back to those days.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, no, absolutely. And I mean... it It took, I mean, I kind of love. I love the story of Byron Murphy from a standpoint. And again, I just I like it when we can look at these stories and understand them kind of from from our own professional perspectives and and the way that we approach life.
Tristan Amundson: That. your Your first year on the job. or your first year doing anything or you know and whatever that means for what you happen to be doing your first time learning a thing does not define who you are. for the course of your career, that there's a lot of room for growth. And Byron Murphy is the greatest example that I've seen in a while of Like.
Tristan Amundson: It got better. got better. got better and just kept kind of stacking getting better over and over again until you have you know this version of him where it's like Um...
Tristan Amundson: of pure domination, right? I mean, he was he went from... Like last year with Byron was, all right, Byron, like we got to see something. And he showed us he's a great player. and like showed us he's a core player.
Tristan Amundson: And now he's taking that next step. He's going, I think, from good to great. um and that's just it's an incredible thing to see we got to mention it And it was really fun to see him. just absolutely dominate.
M dub: Shout out also Nehemiah Pritchett, another person improved ah tremendously from the first year. He's only in this game for about 20 snaps between just a handful on defense and special teams, creates two turnovers, the only turnovers on the day.
M dub: by the Seahawks, and it really did feel like he created those. When he makes that tackle. in punt coverage to force that fumble. I... couldn't believe what i was seeing i thought It just felt wrong because you're going like.
M dub: Surely this Niners guy called for a fair catch and we just didn't see it. like he he Because he just, it was, it was. Even for an NFL game, it was shocking what happened.
M dub: And... Great, that's A -plus play. by pritchett he didn't call for a fair catch i'm not sure what the heck was going on And just another situation where the Seahawks special teams. Helps get an incredibly crucial win over the opponent who...
M dub: doesn't focus on that unit as much.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, and I... um For me... And I'm assuming most people kind of thought this while they're watching this happen. How in the world do you time it up that perfectly? Like, it's not as though he's running down the field as fast as he can.
Tristan Amundson: it's not as though he's looking over his shoulder to be like, Oh, the ball's right there. I'm going to hit him right now. Like I. I would love to sit down with the special teams coach, with Jay and with Pritchett and be like.
Tristan Amundson: All right. like Talk me through exactly. how you did this, Nehemiah, because like this is. It's just unbelievable the timing of that to make that hit. perfectly.
Tristan Amundson: And obviously, I mean. It's a devastating it's. If you wanted to. show someone like this is what football is right like Someone had never seen football before.
Tristan Amundson: You show them that play. It's like, this is why people watch the NFL. Like this is, this is a football play.
M dub: oh but it was really it's still It still felt wrong, though, you know, that fair catch. I mean. I... If he just waves for a fair catch, that's saving a touchdown. And this game looks very different than than how it ended up.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah.
M dub: but he didn't and this this happens a lot of times with the seahawks
Tristan Amundson: and
M dub: on special teams.
Tristan Amundson: No, 100%. And I love that you bring up his snap count specifically. He had. Four snaps on defense. Obviously, you know, that he he just he made such a... big impact on one of those snaps but actually he A couple of times in coverage, like I would have been shocked.
Tristan Amundson: to know that it was four snaps total for Nehemiah Pritchett on defense. It felt like he was out there a lot more than four snaps because he had such a great impact. I just, I wonder if we're going to see his snap count increase a little bit, obviously.
Tristan Amundson: You know, we don't want to. overblow things like, you know, it could just be that, you know, everything came together at the right time but fun to see his progression, which Miles.
Tristan Amundson: Takes me to... Um, you know, something we talked about before we started recording. It's the best nickname. In. the entire well It's the best nickname on the team, I think, so far. I was so happy to hear Coach McDonald refer to Nehemiah Pritchett as, quote,
Tristan Amundson: Mighty. Mighty had a really good play there on special teams. I i love it. I think it's an incredible nickname.
M dub: that That's good. That'll stick. Hopefully it's just Mighty Pritchett in a couple years. and we just but Nobody knows Nehemiah anymore.
Tristan Amundson: Oh, I mean, Nehemiah is a really cool name. um And I just yeah, I love I love the. ah I love it. Mighty. what a cool What a cool nickname. Good for him. Another young player that is ascending on this defense. One of many.
Tristan Amundson: i mean listen this looked like a great nick and monroy game as well um obviously that Um, that massive sack that he had that created the intentional grounding call. um Two things. One, that was just perfection. nick eamon rory just destroying a football game and just being the disrupted this disruptive player that he is. Secondly, And we had this conversation when we were watching the game.
Tristan Amundson: I love, and this is not a Seahawks thing. This is an NFL thing. I love the way the NFL globally right now. is calling intentional grounding. I think they're calling it much more to the spirit of the law versus the letter. And we're seeing this is not again, it's not a Seahawks centric thing. I've seen this now a few times where. There'll be an intentional grounding and you could make the argument, well, this guy was in the area.
Tristan Amundson: And I think. Before in years past, the NFL has had a very binary. stance on intentional grounding. Well, this is what the rulebook says. So. you know sorry like even though we all know he was intentionally grounding it we can't call it It seems as though they've told the the refs like, hey.
Tristan Amundson: You can. if If you know it and you see it, you can just call it what it actually is and we can just tell the truth. um And I really love that. I love that the NFL is putting quarterbacks to task. when it comes to intentional grounding because it it seems like a really chintzy Cheap. It seems like a thing that's chintzy and cheapens the game.
Tristan Amundson: um because if you're If you're going to intentionally ground, then like there's not a lot of ah ah defense can do. So I kind of love that they're really like calling. Um,
Tristan Amundson: calling quarterbacks to task on it.
M dub: That's a great point. I can't, I'm thinking about how it doesn't show up on this. as a sack on Nicky Manwari's line. Wonder how he feels about that. Wonder how the team grades it internally, because... it is functionally a sack but he just doesn't get that number on the stat sheet
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, yeah, that's, yeah, that's, that's super, super interesting. um Yeah, so, I mean, in general, really fun game by by all those guys. um yeah Listen, one last thing on the defense, or at least and we can get into this. And this kind of goes into how chippy the game was as well. And and I would like to.
Tristan Amundson: Can't cover that subject with you also, but um going back to just being impressed by players miles um and you mentioned him before like how important ernest jones was to that Rams game and his messaging afterwards.
Tristan Amundson: Think about our whole conversation last week. Yet we need our leaders when they're having these players -only meetings. to be leaders we need we need like the leadership of this team to say this is the standard this is what we're going to do If I put myself, if I am in Ernest Jones's body. in that moment.
Tristan Amundson: on the sidelines. your like your dude just got like thrown to the bench i mean obviously like Obviously a penalty obviously was going to get called. And you're you're defending your guy. You're doing it the right way.
Tristan Amundson: um And you get head -butted. While someone's wearing a helmet and you're not. And I just. i it's something i would like i think it's really worthy of a conversation the fact that he He had the initial reaction like, dude, like you just headbutted me. I'm going to push you.
Tristan Amundson: And it's almost like in real time, you can see by or um Ernest Jones's brain. catch up to the situation and realize like realize where he is. realize I hope it's teaching tape, honestly, for the team.
Tristan Amundson: Ernest Jones in real time. Like it's so easy. when when you're put in a situation like that just to fly off the handle. And that's what... but Call it seven out of 10 NFL players, probably eight out of 10 NFL defenders will do. They will suddenly just fly off the handle.
Tristan Amundson: The fact that he. had the presence of mind to realize what had happened. to realize I've been wronged and to realize the best thing to do is put my hands up. and just walk away.
Tristan Amundson: And let the referees take care of it. Um, That's leadership, man. Like that's that's actual leadership where. The things you're saying are transating translating into your actions, not only into your actions in a moment of calm.
Tristan Amundson: But in. into your actions in like the highest moment of stress and frustration. he was able to The only way I can think to describe it is that like his brain was able to catch up to the situation. and outpace his emotion, right? His his brain ran faster than his emotions and the emotions had a head start.
Tristan Amundson: Um, I like I just I could not be more impressed. with the wherewithal that Ernest Jones displayed in that moment.
M dub: That's a perfect summary of it. I can't really add that much to it. i In that moment, though, which was such a bizarre moment on the sideline, but I was very impressed with... You don't see that every time in the NFL that...
M dub: Literally the entire sideline is just like converged on green law. you know and And he really didn't.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah.
M dub: I think the Seahawks kind of got that ejection and that suspension because. Nobody was doing anything. they Everybody just surrounded him. And there was it was just like, there was so many people around him. And I think he was, you know, it it really quieted him down. He didn't know what to do. And I think he kind of lashed out like that, you know.
M dub: ah But I think they i it was a good it was a good moment. of ah teamwork and togetherness by everybody on the side. It's a very active sideline compared to other teams in the NFL.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, very active, very engaged. which which I think is a good thing. And it's... But it can be a bad thing if you don't like marry that with. with really good self -control.
Tristan Amundson: And so, um yeah, so the the fact that they were able to do that and pull it off, I think honestly was.
M dub: Yeah. yeah
Tristan Amundson: um was incredible and I mean, Dude, this is, and I think this is a good thing. I think it's a good thing as a fan, but I think it's ah it's a good thing for the NFL.
Tristan Amundson: This. was a chippy game and this really did feel like the 49ers of old This really did feel like. peak 49ers, peak Legion of Boom.
Tristan Amundson: Um, Like who's going to win this game? these teams do not like each other and that was really clear to see like that was really interesting we've not seen that level of like it seemed like basically after every snap there was something going on over and over and over again again a good example of you got to watch these games live especially these divisional games because Like there's just there's going to be extra juice the whole time.
Tristan Amundson: um I just. ah I'm impressed with how the Seahawks. In. Actually, it's kind of two things, right? One, we had a ton of personal fouls um last week.
Tristan Amundson: Um, And. Instead of that compounding because. that Hey, this is an extra chippy game, and this is a divisional rival. They were able to fix that problem in one week.
Tristan Amundson: And like they were thrown right into the deep end of the pool and they did just fine as far as self -control. I just. Again, I think it's incredibly impressive. Just that aspect of the game. Obviously, it's frustrating we lost this one. But if you want to talk about an aspect of.
Tristan Amundson: um self -control again they did they did a great job in the chippiest game I've seen in a long, long time.
M dub: Tristan, can I take us to the flip side of the defense? We've we talked about the positives for a long time, which which were numerous, but in the first quarter of this game... In the first quarter of this game, I made a little note.
M dub: Josh Jobe versus Mike Evans could be a problem here. And unfortunately that turned out to be. a pretty major problem throughout the entire game. Mike Evans had 113 out of 269.
M dub: of San Francisco's total yards. Josh Jobe is 5 '11", and Mike Evans is 6 '5". I mean, in the NBA, that's a gigantic difference. And it is in the NFL as well.
M dub: I... Don't. No. If it's as simple as this. but you Niners. As in every game, the Niners are just bleeding starters lost to injury, which makes me ah a little it makes a little difficult to believe in them as a Super Bowl contender because another game, another two or three starters gone for them.
M dub: You're paying Devon Witherspoon. A lot more money than Josh Jobe. And it got down to the point where this was really the Niners' only offensive weapon. And you just I just wanted to see.
M dub: Seahawks best player. Versus Niners best player. and And let's see that battle one on one. I think this game a lot of that damage was done in the fourth quarter. The seeds were planted in the first quarter, though. I feel like if I could see it coming.
M dub: Coach Max certainly could see it coming. i i wasn't sure what was going on there and and i just wanted to see I think it was maybe just, it felt like an overthink here where it's like, god no, we don't stray from our principle you know principles or something, but.
M dub: some Sometimes this game is complicated. Sometimes it's simple. I wanted to see spoon against Evans.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, i have I have nothing to add. I have nothing to add. it's It's a tough one because. Yeah, I appreciate um I appreciate like sticking to what you're doing. And I also can appreciate the idea that like.
Tristan Amundson: witherspoon is like a superpower at nickel so you know you like if you take him out of nickel you're giving up other things. And so I i think that's another thing that has to be thought of as in the equation. but To your point, like.
Tristan Amundson: Maybe specifically like at the goal line. You know, maybe there's a moment where it's like, hey, we just. we cannot let Mike Evans beat us. um And, and maybe I look, listen, he would have a massive height advantage over spoon as well. So maybe. Maybe there's a similar thing that happens, but you would like to think that.
Tristan Amundson: Um, that spoon can can Can take care of that in the same way that he. you know really said thou you shall not pass during that that um rams playoff game right where he just continued over and over again to come up with the big stops in the in the end zone and and screw up their plans.
Tristan Amundson: um Yeah, that was a tough one, man. that That was a tough one. My biggest takeaway, and I just i have to say this out loud. Mike Evans. is ageless i mean it's unbelievable how long this guy's been in the league and how good he continues to be year after year after year um in fantasy football i've been not drafting mike evans for the last six years because i keep saying he's too old and for the last six seven years he keeps making me look like an idiot
Tristan Amundson: And I just I just got to kind of. Look at him right now and say it's. it It's incredible the career this guy's had. um And yeah, I have to have to give him credit also.
Tristan Amundson: ah Mike Evans with probably the greatest diss I've ever seen in real time in my entire life.
M dub: Very effective, yes.
Tristan Amundson: Um, when, uh, when digs comes up to him is talking trash. and he literally grabs Diggs and looks at the nameplate. Because. He has to know who are you and why are you talking to me, which I just like.
Tristan Amundson: I have no notes on that. I just it's it's a 10 out of 10. There's no room for improvement. It's the greatest disc I think I've ever seen with with my own eyes in real time.
M dub: yeah it was It was pretty tough. to ah but It was tough, but you also had to tip the cap, too. It was it was that effective.
Tristan Amundson: I mean, you have to be really, really good at your job to do that. And um and he pulled up.
M dub: Yeah, yeah. yeah yeah
Tristan Amundson: Hey, can I mention one other guy I really felt on this team from a defensive perspective? Ty Okada, man.
M dub: Oh yeah.
Tristan Amundson: Like, Ty Okada. was fun to watch. um like i that was just Kind of ah a quick takeaway, like having Ty back. on the team and healthy and doing all those things he's a difference maker there for us at safety
M dub: Absolutely. great Great to be fully healthy. That last touchdown, I feel like that was the moment where San Francisco was creating the touchdown because it's a small, Okada gave a really small window for that ball to get through. So I know he gives up the the kind of game deciding touchdown, but.
M dub: That was one of those rare moments where it just it just felt like... Absolutely outstanding offense and have to win the game another way.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, no, 100%, man. That was... It was tough. It was a tough one. um
M dub: Can I kind of say one more tough thing though that was absolutely driving me nuts? for It's very rare to talk about a strategic coaching error from this team. but JSN scores a touchdown in the second half, and the score becomes 22 -21.
M dub: Seahawks up. One point margin. And then the Seahawks go for one instead of going for two. ah We're at this point in the NFL where we got booths upon booths of staff members.
M dub: Crunching numbers. Looking at film, we got a whole NASA team here. And I... Think that's a letdown for everybody that nobody could pipe up and say. We need to go for two here.
M dub: we need to go for two and so it just had me my my the and the broadcast kind of skipped over it but i had a lump in my throat the rest of my game because i was like Funny enough, it didn't really have an impact on the final score.
M dub: But I think that was luck more than anything. I just. I couldn't believe. what i was seeing and i and i couldn't believe i mean you don't you don't need that many guys in the in the polo shirts and the headsets in order to make the right decision here But those guys are there, and yet the the wrong decision was made. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, agreed. That was a tough one. I mean, that was a. um'm I'm glad you brought it up because we should. like JSN really had a great game again. And that there is no better example of a JSN touchdown. than that touchdown, I think.
Tristan Amundson: if If I'm going to put on a list the the humans that can pull that off in the NFL. it feels like that's jsn and and ah the sun god Amun -Ra. um It seems like those are the two folks that can. they can pull that kind of a touchdown off. It's just the body control. It's all the things for JSN there. So incredible touchdown. But yeah, to your point, that was that was a heartbreaker.
Tristan Amundson: Um, That was an absolute heartbreaker to to not get the extra. The extra point that, you know, we we should have gone for, it's one of those foundational things that that the team should be getting. and for a team that seems to like approach things as intelligently as our team does it's it is a bit of a shocker i mean to your point like We don't see a lot of these mistakes from. ah from Coach.
M dub: Yeah, yeah. The good news is Myers drilled it. And the slump that I was pretty concerned about in the preseason, this this game absolutely changed that. So in the first four games, Myers... Only got one field goal attempt longer than 40 yards. Just coincidentally, that's a pretty long time, a whole month of play.
M dub: This game, five attempts, all of them beyond 40 yards, drills them all, absolutely keeps the team in the game. And on the season, he's 24 for 25 on all kicks. He missed a single extra point last week. but 24 for 25 on all kicks. and Five for five on 40 plus.
M dub: i bet that's I bet that's happened less than 10 times in NFL history, to be honest. I mean, that's that's pretty rare.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, you're right. And I mean, for me watching this game, and this just felt like the Super Bowl for Jason Myers, like like similar game, right? I mean, he was just keeping us in the game with his foot the entire time. Way more field goals than we would like our kicker to have to kick. But man, like they it just.
Tristan Amundson: He is, he's one of the good ones. and You know, you're talking, um in fact, I was on a tech stream with a bunch of Rams fans watching that Monday night game last night.
Tristan Amundson: And they were not. nearly as thrilled with their kicker as we are with ours and um and so yeah it's it's a good reminder we're we're rich in a lot of different a lot of different ways. um Miles, I want to...
Tristan Amundson: talk about just two more things and then whatever you have and then we can we can wrap this one up but
M dub: oh yeah
Tristan Amundson: I am. I... i feel like i just have to mention this we don't have to really sit on this very long but just how incredibly similar the offensive stats of these two teams were i mean this really was like defense versus defense is is kind of what it comes down to um If anyone's just not aware. Brock Purdy, 19 for 29 for 189 yards. Sam der sam Darnold. 18 for 29. 195 yards.
Tristan Amundson: um the biggest difference being you know sam had two interceptions brock had one Well, really, you can flip it. two touchdowns to one interception for Brock and and one touchdown to two interceptions for Sam, which I guess that's ah that's a pretty big flip.
Tristan Amundson: But if you just look at it, like. How? many incomplete how many incomplete balls happened to both um quarterbacks both like Quarterbacks that are known for their accuracy and and making pretty good decisions typically. Um, I just, I had to at least call it out. Like just how incredibly similar. the stats were for both of these teams, just from an offensive production perspective.
M dub: Yeah, neither team really put, it was because, the and and the broadcast did a good job of mentioning this, even though there were a lot of points on the board, the offenses weren't really putting together drives either way. They just were getting short fields as a result of turnovers and then cashing it in to their credit. but Yeah, both. both offenses had kind of a similar workload put on them.
Tristan Amundson: I mean, take it one step farther, rushing, right? I'll just give you the team totals. We won't go through through all of them. um 24 attempts for 94 yards for ah San Francisco.
Tristan Amundson: 26 attempts for 89 yards for the Seahawks I mean it's just it's crazy Just to see. Like both offenses could not figure it out at all. And these defenses were absolutely dominant.
M dub: Yeah, and you know what? Credit to the Niners. You don't want to see them doing something this intelligent, I guess. but Christian McCaffrey had 11 carries. Usually it's like 30 or 40, perhaps 50 a game. they But they they kept things under control and limited him to 11 carries.
M dub: I don't want to take it for granted. Another game, the Seahawks don't allow a hundred yard rusher. The streak is. Incredibly long now. And. ah Yeah, yeah, that doesn't happen too often with CMC and the Niners.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, no, 100%. Last thing for me that I think I just want to address because I like the culture of it. um is the way that coach handled uh after during the press conference he was asked about um That last play of the game, right? um Cooper Cup gets the pass.
Tristan Amundson: goes for the first down. I certainly thought it was a first down. um uh in real time and then you know obviously it it's it's not um because Because of a ah rule that I didn't know existed, which.
Tristan Amundson: I think is my favorite thing about sports. I don't like it. when it hurts us, but it is still an interesting thing when you've watched a sport as much as we have. And.
Tristan Amundson: Something like this surprises you. and for me it's it surprised me like i i thought that i had seen this play enough over the course of you know, my years watching the NFL that you extend the ball out and it's going to be where that ball was extended out to.
Tristan Amundson: And I didn't know that there was this concept of the ball has to be over green, not over white. which I kind of like how simply the the ref explained it after the game. The the ball has to be over green. So it's wherever the ball.
Tristan Amundson: is when it's over green is is what it's going to be so the fact that it was called um you know short on the field. There's no way to really overturn that because they they don't have an angle. Maybe they should now. um you know, kind of a eye in the sky right above. to see you know where it went in and out, where that ball was on the plane.
Tristan Amundson: um what I mentioned it, though. Not to... Not to like dig into the play and and to gnash our teeth. I mentioned it. Because I love the way.
Tristan Amundson: Mike handled it. They asked him about it. And he said. Well, they they called it short. And that that was his answer. Like they they called it short. That's... That's it. That's the whole thing. He didn't complain. He didn't say, yeah, you know, I really disagreed with that. He didn't say.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, you know, we got screwed. He just. He just called it what it was. They called it short. what What else do you want from me? And I just. Man, I really appreciate that. I appreciate the way that coach is just willing to.
Tristan Amundson: yeah not make excuses. I think NFL coaches have. typically a master's degree in how to make an excuse without it sounding totally like an excuse. They have they have mastered.
Tristan Amundson: the make excuses, but. talk about how you should never make excuses. And I just love that he just simply answered the question. The referees called it short. I personally don't feel like we got screwed over on it. I just feel like it it is what it is. we didn't make the play and, you know, we move on. So I just wanted to give coach a little credit there. I like the way he approaches. things like that.
M dub: that's a That's a great shout out. and And I appreciate that we also haven't brought up that play until the end because there is a temptation that like. That, you know, that that screwed the Seahawks out of a potential win.
M dub: Um, and And I don't think watching this entire game, I think the Seahawks really had their opportunities throughout. And this was. well at the play before jsn with that huge third down drop just just a shocker to see but But I think it's correct of coach and of us to just kind of turn the page on those plays and and just kind of say.
M dub: The Seahawks played a good game. that That type of situation just doesn't come up whatsoever. The Niners were not really moving the ball all day. Really?
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's a game that that we could have won. It was a I mean, honestly, again, big picture. It was a great game. um and i'll just say this i'm i'm very grateful specifically because this was such a chippy game to be able to flush this one quickly and and move on to a really fast turnaround. But they they play in two days.
M dub: Yeah, this is the team's only Thursday night game of the year. There's a Friday and a Saturday in December, but this is the only Thursday night game of the year. They will be in Denver playing the Broncos, another team that expected to be in the Super Bowl picture. I thought they would be there as well.
M dub: kind of in the mediocre playoff side of things, just like the Seahawks right now. Fun fact I saw looking at the schedule. Last time the Seahawks leave the Pacific time zone until December 19.
M dub: Usually the travel schedule is not favorable to the Seahawks, but how about that? That's a pretty long time. with only a couple of very short flights on the docket.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. Yeah, 100%. So it'll be fun. It'll be fun to get out there. um It's always an interesting game in Mile High. I think Mile High brings its own kind of quirks and it being a a Thursday night game makes it.
Tristan Amundson: a little more exciting and um Hopefully the boys just have a little extra vinegar in their system and they really want to. Um, you know. Cheers. Get it out.
M dub: Yeah, and we've we've got the the crazy kind of... um Obviously, we think the hatchet is buried, but this whole Sean Payton, Mike McDonald thing, their first matchup against each other since the... the cheating allegations in 2024.
M dub: Um... I think both of these guys have this circled on their calendar, and no no matter what they would say in the public.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. And I just I want to call out your your chuckle there, Miles. I i feel very strongly about this. I know the phrase has been in vigor. And yet I really think vinegar works because.
M dub: No, no, yeah yeah
Tristan Amundson: Listen, I mean, like, vint it's it's a bitter taste. um
M dub: you You want vinegar, yeah.
Tristan Amundson: um but You know, admittedly, it's kind of how I've always said it. um I'm going to continue to say it that way. I think I have the support of the podcast. um But.
M dub: Yes.
Tristan Amundson: ah um But I do have to call it out because I i did clearly say it wrong. But. know it's personal preference i i think um i think they got some vinegar in them right now They're they're not sweet.
Tristan Amundson: I'll say that. if If we're talking Sour Patch Kids. um It's definitely the sour version that that we're going to get, I think, on Thursday night.
M dub: I think I can picture actually the PowerPoint slide that Coach Mack would put in front of the team during these very quick team meetings in this short week. And and I think I know just the entirety of. ah of what that slide would say.
Tristan Amundson: wait i'm I'm trying to picture it. I can't. I can't really think. Can you help me out there?
M dub: I think you would read, go. Hawks.
Tristan Amundson: Go Hawks.
