Transcript
Tristan Amundson: What's in a name, Miles? You know, in the case of Seattle, a lot. In the early 1980s, the city needed, well, it needed a facelift to promote tourism.
Tristan Amundson: Crime had been a challenge as well as the economy, and the city decided to hold a contest. Who is going to give us our new nickname?
Tristan Amundson: And I think you'll agree the nicknames up until that point weren't going to get the job done. Queen City of the Pacific Northwest. I think we both cringe a little bit because we have such respect for the original Queen City of Charlotte.
Tristan Amundson: Gateway to Alaska. oh sure. Maybe true, but not exactly about the state of Washington. Gateway to the Orient. well Maybe true also, but maybe it won't age well. And you know what? It's still not about the city itself.
Tristan Amundson: It was also called Jet City. Okay, again, makes sense, but not great. Coffee capital of the world. All right, America's most livable city. Well, that seems a bit ambiguous.
Tristan Amundson: And of course, the rain city. But as we all know, the winner... was the Emerald City in 1982, submitted by a writer from California, no less, Sarah Sterling Franklin.
Tristan Amundson: She ended up winning two trips, a trip to Acapulco and a trip to the Emerald City. And I got to say, Miles, that on Saturday night, it seemed like nothing but green lights for the Seahawks playing against the 49ers. How are you doing, man?
M dub: Tristan, it's great to be with you. Good to be talking about the Emerald City and the Seahawks, those beautiful lime green accents on the uniform. Tristan, in this game, I was thinking about, I put a lot of thought in the preseason to the number of wins I thought the Seahawks would have this year. Las Vegas said eight.
M dub: And I said 11. And i thought that was really going out on a limb. I didn't want to look like a homer. Could have been eight. Seemed like it even could have been six or seven maybe. There was not a lot of confidence in the Seahawks offseason.
M dub: And throughout this game, I was thinking how funny it was. If I came out in the preseason... Again, the Vegas over under at eight. And if I said, Tristan, the Seahawks are going to win 14 regular season games and they're going to win their first playoff. They're going the first round by. They're going to win the divisional round by 35 points and just be cruising into the conference championship, sleeping in their own beds in the beautiful Emerald City the whole time.
M dub: that That would have been in nuts. That would have been nuts. And also, it would have been 100% accurate what a situation we find ourselves in here in January, the crucible of playoff football.
Tristan Amundson: What a game, man. What a fun game to watch. um It was interesting going into this game. I don't know how much you were listening to podcasts and and different broadcasts. I listened to a few local ones, and I was i was hearing a lot of hand-wringing, a lot of, man, you know this might not this might go really poorly, and here's all the reasons why. and And we can all imagine, right? Sam Darnold was top of that list with his newly injured oblique. And you could just, you could feel the angst and the nervousness. And i'm I want to know how nervous you were going into it yesterday specifically, how you felt throughout the day. i got to say, i just stopped listening. I'm not going to name any names, but there's a couple of podcasts, fairly well-known ones. I just stopped listening to because I just, I didn't relate. I didn't.
Tristan Amundson: I didn't feel the same level of angst that seemed like my brothers and sisters were feeling out there. How did you, you know, how'd you feel just say yesterday afternoon going into this game?
M dub: i was on the nervous side. In my quick solo preview of the game, I didn't even address the Sam Darnold injury. i had seen it being discussed. it It kind of popped up on Thursday, it seemed like at first.
M dub: And then it seemed like it kind of went away on Friday when I recorded. And then it seemed like he was back on Saturday. And it kind of seemed like it was a game time decision is what it seemed like to me.
M dub: um That they were going to all kind of get to the stadium, get in uniform, get warmed up, and and then kind of see if it was going to be Sam Darnold or Drew Locke. I still felt like the Seahawks had a chance with Drew Locke, much more than some teams do have with their backup quarterbacks.
M dub: There's a lot of defense and running going on with this team, but I felt nervous. It's a playoff game. It's a divisional opponent and really playoff games. The regular season, i mean, I really do believe that teams are zero and zero at the start of each playoff game.
M dub: You look at the strong regular season, all the numbers the Seahawks compiled. I really think as I grow older and watch more and more playoff football each year that That stuff does not matter as much as the competitive fire you bring throughout the 60 minutes of the football game.
Tristan Amundson: No, I mean, you're totally right that you start 0-0, right? You start, it's a fresh slate going into the playoffs. I texted this to you, and I think this is true, and it's going to be how I approach news on a Saturday, and and really most any news coming out of um major sports people. I won't name any names.
Tristan Amundson: except i like I will name one name cause I have to, to, to really make the point come true. And and I say this with all due respect, seems like a very smart, nice man. Adam Schefter gets literally gets paid by the character.
Tristan Amundson: And I think we really have to keep that in mind. he he is, he is a part of click bait, um, uh, kind of push that ESPN seems to be hell bent on. um it's It's fast news. It's, you know, hey, here it is. here's Here's the news as fast as we possibly can give it to you, which I guess is fine.
Tristan Amundson: But when someone's getting paid by the character and when someone's whole brand is based off of based off of that, and then when you actually read the report, and I did, like I clicked on it, like ah everyone on ESPN,
Tristan Amundson: And it really was just a repackaging of what they all said. And what they all said in the press conference was, yeah, i feel really good and i'm I'm planning on playing.
M dub: Thank you.
Tristan Amundson: There shouldn't be any issue. There really wasn't, there was no new news except for the fact that they weren't He wasn't like testing the oblique that much, which also makes sense because if you're injured, if you're if something's not feeling great, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to at that moment decide, hey, we're just going to put as much strain on this body part as possible. Like it's kind of obvious that, of course, he was going to be resting himself. I don't know. I just i I've been taking a lot that comes out of yeah ESPN with a grain of salt for a long time. And I think I'm just going to add a couple of extra grains from here on out because
Tristan Amundson: A lot of it is just kind of this um overhype, clickbait kind of culture, which which kind of makes me sad because there was a time when ESPN was the absolute best. And I personally feel like they've really lost their way. And um I think this is just a microcosm of it. And I know that's a bit of ah a soapbox, but that's just how I feel about the situation.
M dub: Here's the thing. As nervous as I was before the game, that all melted away quite quickly, as I'm sure it did for many people, on the very first... It's it's not even the first snap of the game. Because the ball was not snapped. The ball was kicked. The very first play of the game.
M dub: And the Rasheed Shaheed incredible kickoff return for the touchdown. 10-12 seconds into the game. i started thinking immediately. I wonder if you did as well.
M dub: And I know this was to start the second half of this game, but it did make me think of that Percy Harvin return touchdown to start the second half of the Victoria's Super Bowl over the Denver Broncos at the end of the 2013 season.
M dub: It really reminded me of that because much like that Super Bowl champion team of 2013, I think this told you, hey, the Seahawks are running on all cylinders in all three phases of the game here. This kickoff return was absolutely brilliant.
M dub: Fox shows kind of a a backwards angle of the play, a camera behind the play. And Rashid Shahid basically has has a hallway... The equivalent from hash mark to hash mark. He has about a 10-yard hallway to run into.
M dub: Everybody is blocking ah perfectly. I mean, I really think this play will be taught at high schools and colleges around the country in special teams rooms because it could not be more perfect than that.
M dub: That's how we get started. People have noted the Seahawks did not need to score any more points after Jason Myers scored the extra point. Seven to six would have won it because six is all the 49ers managed.
M dub: and And I mean, we're not going to go through every highlight like this, but it was a significant one. I even felt like Doug Baldwin was really contributing to the team. that Now that that's that's the the raising of the flag in a playoff game.
M dub: And getting the right guy to do it, I really think that adds something. Because everybody knew, the people knew, Doug Baldwin is the right choice for this. Maybe non-Seahawks fans think he's kind of an obscure Seahawk. But everybody knew, this is the right guy. i really felt like he played a big part in raising that flag and getting that first snap off. And it was electric to start. There was no easing into this game. And it was perfect.
Tristan Amundson: I love that point, man. Yeah. Angry Doug, right? Angry Doug. And he looked like Angry Doug. He brought the intensity. i love that the the the TV broadcast gave us that. They showed it. You know, you don't always get to see the the flag raising. So that was fun to see.
Tristan Amundson: And tone setting, right? Tone setting is how you have to describe that Rashid Shahid kick return. And it really did just kind of set the entire game up where you take that deep breath and think,
Tristan Amundson: man, you know, maybe everyone's overreacting just a little bit here. And obviously the Seahawks proved that out throughout the entire game. So it was it was really fun. It was it was a really fun game. i really loved coaches point.
Tristan Amundson: going into the press conference, I should say, his press conference point. There we go. Well said, Tristan. um
M dub: Thank
Tristan Amundson: He called Sam a high-powered game manager. um I think he said that game management was really high-powered. And then he, I know he I'm sure he cringed when he heard himself say game manager. So he had to preface it with, I mean, this is a massive compliment. And you really do have to think about how different of a game this is.
Tristan Amundson: If Sam doesn't show the precision, the discipline, he protects the ball, he distributed the ball, he really looked a lot like a point guard out there, which is ah a Pete Carrollism that I always loved.
Tristan Amundson: We need our quarterback to act like a point guard. Give us your best Steve Nash impression out there. And I think he really did. We possess the ball. Well, if you think about this game, I know it was an absolute blowout.
M dub: Thank you.
Tristan Amundson: But a lot of the reason why it wasn't is because of things like and a lot of the reasons why it was, frankly, is because of ball security. Right. ah Great ball security on our on our side. Not good ball security on their side.
Tristan Amundson: This could be a massively different game ah if Sam doesn't play within himself and with some discipline. um I think it's worth calling out because, you know, high powered game manager. It sounds funny, but I really think he he did it to a T. I mean, it really was a great example of the power of being the point guard of the offense.
M dub: I totally agree. The final stats for Darnold are so funny. It's 12 of 17 for 124 yards and the one passing touchdown. Very crucially, no interceptions.
M dub: it It kind of felt like a Russell Wilson game. that That's the kind of stat line Russell Wilson would put up when the when the ceo and when the team was really rolling and and they got some of their biggest playoff wins with barely any contribution in the passing game.
M dub: I do think this is actually how the 2025 Seahawks want to win playoff games. Throughout the year, ah we we talked about it a bunch of times, they broadcasters would say, hey, this is a run-first team, missing the fact that the the Seahawks were were just running the ball to finish out a lot of fourth quarters and not passing the ball as you normally would.
M dub: However, in the last month or so, i think we've all seen it really has evolved into a run-first team. and that the Seahawks want to win games with their defense first, their running game second, their special teams third, and then their passing game if they absolutely need to. it's It's really crazy that virtually the entire passing game, including the NFL's leading receiving yards person, it's a bit of a luxury, or it's a bit of it's it's almost dessert in the in the game plan. So
M dub: 12-17, 124 yards. I think the Seahawks want that. Ideally, that's going to happen next week in the NFC Championship game. I think that's a feature, and it's not a fluke, and it's not a sign of any type of limitation. It's it's more of a sign of just the team is winning in every possible facet of the game.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, I mean, complimentary complete football. You're 100% right. When you have someone like K9 go 19 for 116 yards, by the way, that's a 6.1 average, which is unbelievable. What's funny, and it kind of speaks to...
Tristan Amundson: um i't know. It's, it speaks to the nature of this game in particular. i would have thought if you asked me, i would have thought the canines long was 20, 25 yards.
Tristan Amundson: Canines longest run was 15 yards, which to me, it it didn't feel that way because, and I think it's because he had so many 10 yarders and 11 yarders and 15 and eight and seven, just really nice chunk plays that kept happening over and over again. um And, i you know, I wonder if this also is a good example of a game, quote, declaring itself, which is another Mike ism that I really like. And it's I think it's a really good way to look at football once the game declares itself the way this game had, which is we seem to be able to run the ball fairly well, like almost at will, like running the ball very well.
Tristan Amundson: um They're giving us some of these underneath routes and our defense is playing dominant. Okay. Yeah. I mean, we, we know we have the capability to stretch the field. We know that Rashid and and Jackson can really do some interesting things out there for us, deep routes and all that kind of stuff.
Tristan Amundson: But the the game declared itself. And when the game declares itself, You you can just kind of go along with that. And I think that's what we saw today. I think we saw a game really quickly. And I mean, again, that that massive kickoff return really helped set the stage for this game to declare itself early of the kind of game it could be.
Tristan Amundson: And then, you know, i I guess maybe the phrase that's coming to mind right now is don't fight it. Just go with the game. Go with what it wants to be. And obviously they did that to a tee. But you're you're totally right. I think the next game could be high flying offense if needed.
Tristan Amundson: um I think that's that's certainly an option. But it wasn't needed. So you don't push it.
M dub: I was really impressed by the K-9 game, and you're right. I am surprised to hear that his longest run was only 15 yards. the ah The other stat that surprised me about his game was 19 total rushes.
M dub: We saw Zach Charbonnet get knocked out of this game pretty early with an injury, and so instead of the 50-50 time split we've been raving about the last few weeks, it was K9 for the most part, and then Valus Jones from the from the practice squad stepping in here and there. So it also felt like to me, because the Seahawks were constantly possessing the ball and constantly giving it to K9 and not passing, it felt to me like a 30 attempt game.
M dub: It felt like they were really feeding him the rock. And wouldn't want to see K-9 get 30 attempts in a normal regular season game, I don't think. But this is the playoffs. There's only three games. If you win the championship game, there's a bye week after that.
M dub: I had no problem if he has a 30 attempt game in the playoffs, especially if Charbonnet is injured. So I was really surprised to see it was only 19. He just completely dominated this game. I really appreciate it I noted in the the quick game preview last Friday that Eric Saubert's really been playing more snaps in the last few games, and that's really helped the running game.
M dub: he had He got exactly to that magical 25-snap count number that I mentioned, and it was another 140-yard rushing game from the Seahawks. Robbie Outz out there as well, contributing a lot of great blocks.
M dub: in addition to the whole offensive line. The K-9 really tenacious with finishing off the runs and getting the extra, I think psychologically damaging extra yards. More psychologically damaging than actual valuable field position.
M dub: position And it was it was just a really phenomenal game from him. I think the best game I've seen him play all around.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, you know, what's startling to me, and it's just it's a it's a thing you don't see very often in modern football, and it's it's really beautiful to see. ah The total passes attempted, 17.
Tristan Amundson: seventeen Kenneth Walker, 19 carries. wait It's crazy to think one player, one running back, had more carries than we even had attempts at throwing the football, um which tells you just so much. And then if you want to open that aperture up just a little bit more, again, 17 attempts, passing the ball,
Tristan Amundson: The total rushes in the game, and and by the way, your quarterback didn't try to rush it once, so this is all other players besides your quarterback. Your total rushes for the game, 33. So you almost double up your passing attempts versus rushing attempts, or yeah I guess vice versa there, double up the rushing over the passing.
Tristan Amundson: That's, i mean... That is if you wanted to look at a stat sheet and understand, hey, who dominated this game, that will tell you everything you need to know, doesn't it? About who dominated. You only do that if you're playing from a lead and if you're able to just dictate terms. And that's what the Seahawks did, right? I mean, this was a game of dictating terms to the other team. And, you know, with all due respect to San Francisco, we, I think we'd be crazy if we didn't mention it.
Tristan Amundson: This was a great game by the Seahawks. This also was, and it's just the truth, right? A depleted a San Francisco team. They had a lot of injuries. It's been a rough year for them in general, injury wise. And, you know, one of those things that they, you they just weren't going to be able to keep this up all year. And and obviously, So, you know, this was kind of the final nail in the coffin.
M dub: With that being said, Dee Winters at linebacker played really exceptional game. I felt bad for him to play such a good game and to lose 41-6. And I was still impressed that the team did get a number of substantial tackle for losses in the running game all throughout. There were a lot of chunk gains as well, but they would still fight back with with some pretty strong tackles for loss that were upsetting to see because...
M dub: that Those never really fully turned off. ah Yeah, but you know you see the head coach arguing with the cornerback in the first quarter, and and you feel pretty good being on the other sideline.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, tell me if this stood out to you. And I want to say, man I wish I could give you an exact timestamp, but this was early in the game. It was maybe the second possession by the 49ers. And it was the last play of that possession, I believe, where um their fullback takes the ball.
Tristan Amundson: is running right as a sweep and it's basically an option play and he has the option to to pitch it out to McCaffrey, which he does eventually. And, you know, goes for a loss and McCaffrey's tackled out of bounds.
Tristan Amundson: And I believe that was a turnover on downs, if I'm not mistaken, that particular play.
M dub: That's correct, yeah, yeah.
Tristan Amundson: when When that happened, I was watching with my brother-in-law and we both just kind of looked at each other and kind of got that like look on our face. Like yeah this is a play you're pulling out right now. It seemed, did that, do you remember like watching that? I don't know if you had an emotional moment. For me, my emotional, like my feeling was, man, that seems like kind of a desperate um gimmicky play at this point in the game. Like you're already kind of looking deep in your playbook to figure out ways to change the tenor of this game.
M dub: That's funny. I didn't feel it on that play since Kyle Juszczyk is such an established Pro Bowl fullback. But I do think that the Seahawks' dominance on fourth down, we have this quirk in NFL statistics where we don't really count turnover on downs as turnovers. So the stat sheet would say that the Seahawks' defense forced three turnovers in this game.
M dub: Now, considering the offense didn't turn the ball over at all, a three turnover plus three turnover margin is of course, absolutely massive. But I think that the truth of this game and why it got really out of hand is it should be plus six because the Niners went over three on fourth downs.
M dub: And I think that is, you you know, I think the Seahawks don't, didn't really have a defensive player who stood out statistically in this game, but that's why I love the fourth down so much because they're,
M dub: that that really is where like complimentary football, the whole team being deep really comes into play because in order to get a fourth down, you have to be effective on those first three downs to get into that fourth down situation. Anyway, you also have to be far enough away that the team's not kicking a field goal. So to get, just to get a team into a fourth and short where they're going for it, it's kind of already a victory for the defense.
M dub: And then the defense stopped all three fourth and short plays. There's this fullback pitch that you're talking about, which now that you mention it, it does feel a little desperate.
Tristan Amundson: The on ESPN is not the man.
M dub: But what what's stood out to me even more, the other two fourth down attempts both had Brock Purdy and Shotgun, which i I can't believe it happens as often as it does One of those we saw Leo Williams come through for just an unbelievable sack. And the third play, it was when the game was already out of control.
M dub: But that that was kind of a jailbreak where we got three Seahawks chasing down Brock Purdy, and he's running around 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage and heaves something up there that falls incomplete.
M dub: i When you think about it as a plus six turnover margin, I think that really describes the game accurately.
Tristan Amundson: You know, what I love about that point is you saying the turnover on downs, it really, it points to the entire defense working well together. And I think that's my biggest takeaway defensively about this game. um You know, certainly Ernest Jones had an incredible game, right? I mean, he forced a fumble, got the, just just got such a cool interception. I mean, I'm picturing it right now. just Just the kind of interception where you take the ball away from somebody, you just get your...
Tristan Amundson: get yourself in front of their body and just take it away. I thought was so cool. um But my my bigger point in agreeing with you is that this really was from start to finish, just the entire defense working well together. You can't really point to one player. A good example of this, I thought Byron Murphy had a great game and I was kind of shocked to see on the stat sheet. It doesn't really show up at all. And yet I distinctly remember him I think maybe it counted as ah as a stop for ah for no yardage, but he got McCaffrey to me what felt like in the backfield and and for a little bit of a loss. And it just was one of those moments where you just see McCaffrey get completely enveloped by Byron Murphy and he's not going anywhere.
Tristan Amundson: And that didn't even show up on the statute. Byron Murphy, if you look at the statute, had a pretty ho-hum game. And yet I thought he had a great game. Obviously, Ernest Jones had a great game.
Tristan Amundson: Eman Rory had a great game. And i'm goingnna I'm going to stop because you could just keep going, right? There's so many guys that contributed To your point, that means they're winning on every down to get to those fourth down stops.
Tristan Amundson: um And it really did feel like that can complete um defensive performance, them working as one. um i don't know if you've heard Mike talk about this, Miles, um doing your job, but also doing kind of 1.09 of your job so that it it equals into 12 later on. and And just the idea of like, Everyone just worked doing a little extra.
Tristan Amundson: And to me, that that was um what this game was all about. Just just a little extra effort from everybody.
M dub: Yeah, i think I think that's a defining feature of this team. Also, with with these six different turnovers, that created, when the starters were in the game, so I'm leaving out a lot of the drives in the fourth quarter, but with the starters in the game, that meant that the Seahawks' offense received the ball, on average,
M dub: with just 52 yards to go into the end zone. They pretty much received the ball at midfield almost every time. One of their five touchdown drives was a proper 80-yard touchdown drive in the middle there, but for the most part, they are getting an incredibly short field to work with, which I think is how the the total yardage for the Seahawks doesn't really add up to that much because once the drive gets going, you're you're pretty much at the end zone already.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, no, no, 100%. Yeah, no, it's you're you're totally right. Man, what a fun game. I mean, really, what just a fun game to watch. um Can I ask you, what was your let me give you mine and I'll then tell me yours. Did you have one play that you just loved that just like stood out to you for me?
Tristan Amundson: It's really obvious. I was I was talking to my dad watching the game through a window, actually. And I watch this is the beginning of the second quarter. And I watch Big Cat get that massive sack at the very beginning of of that second half, I should say.
Tristan Amundson: And it just to me, when I saw Leonard get that sack to start the second half of the game, it seemed like to me that was the final nail in the coffin moment pretty early in the game, by the way. um was Was there ah a play that just put a smile on your face more than others? And I know there it was a great game. So there's probably lot to choose from. But that was I'm going to say my favorite play of the game.
M dub: There absolutely was a play. Is it all right if I go back to watching the game through a window?
Tristan Amundson: Oh, sure. Yeah, but feel free.
M dub: Yeah, sorry, sorry were you won who where was this window? And sorry, was it you watching the game through a window or your dad doing it? And ah how can we get this window out of the way for the conference championship game and and just get a ah nice full-focus broadcast?
M dub: Sorry to deviate us here, but I think the listeners need to know. I need to. Actually, I need to know.
Tristan Amundson: I had just stepped out. I wanted to be polite. I was giving my dad a phone call during halftime and the game started and I just, you know, I didn't wanna to be the guy talking on the phone.
M dub: Thank
Tristan Amundson: um and And my ah my brother-in-law and and sister-in-law, they have a lovely home with a very large miles, very, very large picture window um right in the front of their house.
Tristan Amundson: And so I was very easily able to go to their front porch and look through this gorgeous, beautiful window. I had an extremely clear line of sight to their TV, to their television. So it wasn't, it wasn't a hindrance. In fact, I could have enjoyed the entire game with, with very good. that They have very clean windows miles.
Tristan Amundson: Windex is in play at this house. There weren't a lot of fingerprints or anything like that. So so rest assured, I was able to to watch and I think enjoy that sack just as much if the window wasn't there. So I'll effort to have a window-free experience here on out. And yet if I didn't, um it really didn't affect my enjoyment whatsoever.
M dub: All right. Thank you for that update. I really appreciate it. On the other side of that, win if you were on the other side of that window for the whole game, though, it is worth noting, you would have missed out on a a shocking, um shocking might be the wrong word.
Tristan Amundson: Thank you.
M dub: Actually, it would have been the right word 12 months ago, but you would have missed out on, I think, a shockingly exceptional broadcast from Mr. Tom Brady with Kevin Burkhart.
M dub: I mean, This team is actually humming along now when they were kind of a punching bag a little bit last year. i was delighted to have them broadcasting this game, and I'm excited that they'll be back in Seattle next weekend.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, you know, there is something to be said about that number one crew, isn't there? I mean, ah and there's something to be said. Well, Kevin's great. He's a pro. There's something to be said about the authority that Tom can speak from just because he has um the ultimate resume for for all of us to to see. He is...
Tristan Amundson: the greatest quarterback that's ever lived. And because of that, there's really not much he can't say with authority when he's watching a football game. And even if every now and again, he annoys somebody, I think everyone kind of has to agree. It's like, well,
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, but he's the greatest of all time and he knows a lot more about this than than anybody else. So, yeah, just the the level of authoritative um and analysis that he can bring is is kind of second to none.
M dub: It felt like he was trying to get out of town and not just enjoy six or seven days around around the Emerald City, around Seattle. I'd be curious what he thinks of your your Port Townsend's or Whidbey Islands, but it sounded like he was looking to fly out and then fly back in.
M dub: I think that's a missed opportunity.
Tristan Amundson: He seems more like a Bellevue guy, i think, than a Port Townsend guy. And I say that with, you know, with no judgment. I just I just think that's kind of more more Tom's.
M dub: It's accurate. The scouting report's accurate.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, more Tom's vibe. Yeah. Yeah. Did you have a favorite play, by the way? I mean, I really do want to know.
M dub: I did. i did. and And it came quite late in this game when the result was already decided. But I was pretty shocked in the third quarter to see, and I touched on it a little bit previewing the game.
M dub: i was still shocked to see it actually happen. We saw Amari Kite, undrafted rookie. come in for Charles Cross. Again, a veteran of about 22 professional snaps.
M dub: And all of a sudden, um even though the Seahawks are totally control the game, but it's still a playoff game. You're in an absolute zoo of an atmosphere. And you're kind of coming in for your first real run on ah offense as a tackle.
M dub: And anything can happen in the playoffs. are There's still time on the clock, the game. was not over. The starters were still in on both sides. This was pretty much the only thing that was texted between the two of us for the majority of the game.
M dub: That's how locked in we were. i i kind of couldn't believe I was seeing it. So when Amari Kite was in the game, i was pretty much just watching him. I wanted to see how this would go.
M dub: And it was awesome to see that it actually went exceptionally well. And my play of the game is Kenneth Walker's second touchdown of the day.
M dub: and actually came pretty late in the game. He he scored his his second two touchdowns. He had three total, and two of them came in the second half. the The third one was the last score of the game when things were already out of control. But this is the second one.
M dub: It's still in the third quarter. And the play goes behind Kite. I think this had to be one of the 15-yard runs, his longest of the day. The run goes behind the left tackle.
M dub: We have a lot of the other blocking personnel on the field as well from the skill positions also doing a great job. But they they called the play to go left, to go behind Kite.
M dub: It's like his sixth or seventh snap maybe of the game. And K-9 Cruz is in there. And i i I'm just so moved to when when these players come up from the Seahawks practice squad, actually the ready squad.
M dub: Thank you.
Tristan Amundson: There you go Yes.
M dub: When they they are ready, they are actually ready. And I realized with Kite that most of these guys we've been talking about, it's becoming on the defensive side of the football. That's just kind of how – I think that's just how it's gone this year with with the injuries randomly.
M dub: And you kind of know that Coach Mack's side, you kind of would expect to have the defensive guys a little more ready to go. And it's kind of like, okay, is the same structure, same program going to work on offense?
M dub: You know, that's it's not his preferred side of the ball, but, you know, first-year offensive coordinator. So to see that work, and it wasn't the only play. it wasn't there was either he He passed protected well.
M dub: It wasn't the only play to go his direction. The third touchdown did go to the right, and he was kind of out of the play. But to see that touchdown go through and to have it behind Kite, I just thought that was – was very moved by it, honestly. I was genuinely moved by what I was seeing.
Tristan Amundson: I think it's a really, really good one. I noticed that as well. that I love when you mention a play and I can picture it instantly and I know exactly what you're talking about. And I had the same feeling because I was watching him rather closely. More so for me, it was the second go around. I watched the game again last night. And when I was watching it again, I really took note of the moment that that Charles went out and then ah you know, the the plays afterwards with Kite filling in so well.
Tristan Amundson: And that one was was really did jump out because to your point, he had a key block on it.
M dub: you
Tristan Amundson: It was a beautiful run by K9. i love it, man. I think it's a really, really good one to to point out because ah that play could have massive implications, the play of Kite in general going into next week. So I think it's a really, really, really good call out. um Can I give you a a little bit on Byron Murphy, Miles, and and kind of um a general thought about him and the defense?
M dub: I wish you would. wish you would.
Tristan Amundson: So B. Murph, I mean, I don't think it's any secret. I think he's my favorite Seahawk. ah He's the guy that I watch the most. There's no doubt about that. I think he's one of the absolutely most important Seahawks, and his role is is so massive on this defensive line.
Tristan Amundson: Would it surprise you? It surprised me to see that he played 53% of the snaps, a total of 32 snaps by Byron Murphy, not many more than ah not many more by Big Cat. Big Cat outpaced him by a couple. I think his was 36 37, something like that Um, it's, it's, ah I think it's ah an interesting note because they had this game in hand so early, they were able to rest these guys and give them just a lot of time off their feet.
M dub: Thank
Tristan Amundson: Um, and and that was true of basically the entire team. All of our key players were able to get off their feet early. um we were talking about this before, just how many of our key defensive players specifically just didn't have to play a lot.
Tristan Amundson: 32 snaps is kind of nothing for Byron Murphy. The idea that he gets that coming out of a bye week, it just doesn't happen very often how well we are set up for this game.
M dub: Thank
Tristan Amundson: And ah let me say this last thing, and then i'll I'll hand it back over to you for your thoughts and and and your point as well. um But when you think about how well this sets us up, man, the the Hawks are getting the extra day of rest.
Tristan Amundson: They played less snaps than they typically would. Oh, and by the way, to today, as we broadcast, while now let's see, it's 1222 right now. i would assume all of our Seahawks are are completely out of bed by now, but I hope they had a massive sleep in.
Tristan Amundson: And in what, three hours? the Rams are going to play in Chicago, the Rams and the bears will play. And it's going to be 17 degrees at game time.
Tristan Amundson: That's going to take toll on their body. I just, I think you put all of that together. The lack of snaps, the the low number of snaps for key players, including Byron Murphy in this game, the fact that we're getting an extra day's rest and the fact that in three hours from now,
Tristan Amundson: the the Rams and the bears, one of them's come to Seattle and they're going to come to Seattle after playing in 17 degree weather. I was telling you before the, the, the podcast recording today reminds me a lot of that Minnesota game that we played a few years ago and that cold, it took a toll on the Seahawks. We lost the next week and you kind of couldn't blame them. I mean, they just didn't look like the same team. Now it was much colder that day in Minnesota, believe it or not. I think it it was in the single digits. Still, 17 degrees is pretty doggone cold.
Tristan Amundson: um I just think it sets us up super well.
M dub: Yeah, it is pretty crazy how, well, in the in the in a close game, a fourth quarter just has so many snaps to it with clock management, you know, ball getting stopped, clock getting stopped. The snaps can really add up in the fourth quarter of a close game.
M dub: So when both teams are just running out the ball to just get this clock from 10 minutes to zero minutes, that's, that's not very many snaps. And you end with, I was looking at some other guys on the defensive line, 10 into Osu, 29 total snaps, DeMarcus Lawrence with 28, creating some absolute havoc.
M dub: Jaron Reed with 27 boy. Mafia with 27. That's,
M dub: that's That's about half, ah that's half of a big workload for them. I mean, I wonder, it just has to feel different for them coming off the field with with that few steps played. It's really 50 70% of a football game for them.
Tristan Amundson: It's pretty incredible. And yeah, I mean, it'll be interesting to see how that plays into next week. And obviously, we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We still got to see who who wins this game today. But no matter what, it does pretend, I think, to to good things for the Seahawks. It certainly is an advantage, right, that that we will take all day. We'll we' we'll have the the deck stacked in our favor as much as possible.
M dub: Absolutely. I mean, it it really did that. That week 18 game really set up a lot of stuff. I do want to talk about the one thing that I was looking at on the negative side. 14 to 6. Whoa.
M dub: Whoa. Sorry. 41 to 6. It's pretty darn close to perfect.
Tristan Amundson: There you go.
M dub: There we go. But we did we did know that this 49ers team with Nick Bosa injured for pretty much the entire year, they came into even that Week 18 game with by far the fewest sacks in the NFL.
M dub: Offensive line, despite an exceptional game, Running the ball. This was the second consecutive time against the Niners, allowing multiple sacks. And now it's it's actually four games in a row going back to the Rams Thursday night thriller with multiple sacks allowed.
M dub: It's something to clean up. And especially, at you know, and it's it's a I think it's the weak point right now just compared to everything else. Going so well.
M dub: And throughout the week, i think I think we'll both be monitoring very closely the health of both Charles Cross and Josh Jones. As moved as I was by Amari Kite, I think you do want the veterans in there for the conference championship game. Not exactly a hot take.
M dub: and Josh Jones, we didn't really talk about it. Josh Jones filled in very well for Charles Cross in the last two games of the regular season. Those were two very confident wins for the Seahawks when the running game was going well.
M dub: so i just I'm just kind of looking for one of them to get healthy. Maybe I should be prioritizing that it's Charles. you know If I'm um tossing a coin into a wishing well, I should be wishing for Charles and not just one of the two guys, but that That was, i don't really think you can look to anything else.
M dub: Well, you know, the Jason Myers kickoff penalty in his first kickoff was kind of funny. though that was beautiful
Tristan Amundson: That was weird.
M dub: That was a weird moment. And then you look at this with the offensive. And again, this is only a part of the offensive line game because they dominated the run so much. But we talked about how a few pass attempts that Darnold and the Seahawks attempted and to allow two sacks, even with that low number,
M dub: It wasn't a plus like literally just about everything else was.
Tristan Amundson: That's an interesting, you know, I hadn't thought about that, the the volume, right? I mean, only 17 attempts and you end up getting sacked twice. um That is interesting that they were able to to put that pressure on him. And I will say, and I did kind of hold my breath with each one of those sacks, because you imagine we have an injured oblique that's now getting driven into the ground. um You know, can't feel good for Sam. i'm I'm grateful that it seems that he got out of the the game hopefully no worse for the wear i suppose we'll we'll find out more on tuesday um but it is an interesting point the the volume i think is the most interesting point about that that that they didn't try to pass it that all that much and we were in play action quite a bit and yet um still a few of those uh sacks were able to be allowed so interesting thing to um to keep watching ah you know to your point
Tristan Amundson: yeah they're're I mean, of all the things to to not go perfectly in the game, so many things did go perfectly. um a place for them to improve on certainly going into the the next week and and we'll take that. But yeah, really, that is an interesting point.
M dub: And also, by the in the last three games total, says this playoff game and then the previous game against the Niners and the game against the Panthers, it is a total. This was about their season average.
M dub: But it's a total of 19 points allowed by the defense across those three across one month. the team The team is improving as we get deeper into the season.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah, no, totally agree. And I mean, you know, to that point, um something that a friend of mine pointed out today that I just I had to double check because I i i don't know if you knew that I had not really thought about this in the three losses that this team has had, Miles.
Tristan Amundson: It's been it by a total of nine points. I mean, the three losses the Seahawks have had has been by a total of nine points. it it I have, I guess, maybe just a really simple question to ask you. As I say that, and and what you just said about the last three games, are we underestimating? Like, is it possible? Is this a dumb question? or Is it possible that we're actually underestimating what the Seahawks team is? Are we are we not as fully bought in as we should be?
M dub: It's a great question. a simple a simple question and a great question. We very well could be underestimating this team. i think I think we're properly estimating them because for a great team, this Seahawks team has a very funny issue.
M dub: their main issue, which has been turning the ball over. And that's that's a problem that basically only really bad teams face. Basically, if if you have that problem, it makes you a bad team, and so only bad teams turn the ball over a lot. So the fact that this is a dominant regular season team and got off to a dominant start in the playoffs.
M dub: and And their main problem is turnovers, which is potentially the worst problem to have. i do think that i do think that's given us an appropriate amount of caution.
M dub: I think if you look at this playoff field, i think a neutral person would say that this the Seahawks are the most likely team to win the Super Bowl right now.
M dub: Not by a mile. Not like, I feel like 2013, it was maybe a feeling that it was the Seahawks to lose. We're not quite in that situation yet. I'm curious if you'd agree with that.
M dub: But I think the neutral person would say the Seahawks, especially with Bo Nix going down for the Denver Broncos, that that it it, I mean, never say never, but it does feel like that might eliminate the Broncos effectively.
M dub: With with with ah how the other playoff teams are looking, the Seahawks are the the most likely team to win it, but it it is a really funny flaw for a potentially great team to have.
M dub: what what What do you think? Is that how you would evaluate the playoff field right now?
Tristan Amundson: I think so. i i would say that over the last couple of games, right, it it seems as though we've really nipped in the bud the the turnover issues. and And certainly it seems like we've turned a corner um with specifically this style of play and maybe what was it, the last four to five weeks of the season, the running game really coming on, um which is going to be a good salve when when we talk about not turning the ball over and being able to rely on that game and hand the ball off and and all the things we know that does for an offense. And so i think to your point, maybe maybe here's, here's a counterpoint um or, or another question, however, we want to put this together.
Tristan Amundson: If, if they have effectively addressed, I'm not going to say eliminated because no team has eliminated turnovers, but if they have effectively and logically addressed their turnover issues,
Tristan Amundson: then this, from what you're saying, it makes this team incredibly dangerous. And maybe that's what we've seen the last three to four weeks where, man, the you know the turnovers haven't been an issue like they were earlier in the season. Maybe slightly different version of offense, but maybe this team is so good that this version just makes more sense anyway. Rely on the running game.
Tristan Amundson: If you've effectively taken care of the turnovers, this is a ah dangerous team, is it not?
M dub: Yeah, and you're right. it It hasn't been an issue for a while here. i is funny to think about how big. i don't think I don't think anybody in the Seahawks nest really cared about this because we've seen Sam Darnold all year.
M dub: But I think outside of our our nest, it still was a question, camps can Sam Darnold win in the playoffs? I mean, it's it's funny to think about now.
M dub: You know, mean, what a contrast 24 hours ago when
M dub: um Some people, including me, took the bait and and felt like he might have some injuries or some problems. um What a funny way to answer that question. Can he win in the playoffs?
M dub: Yeah, no problem. My first playoff win is a forty one to six blowout. um yeah
Tristan Amundson: Pretty great. Yeah, no, pretty great. It was super fun. ah Super fun game, man. Incredible to get this first game out of the way. um The next game is the conference championship. it's It's really fun. We haven't been here in a couple of years. What were you saying? Is it 2014? Was that the last conference championship for this team?
M dub: Yeah, you know, I did a little digging into playoff victory history for the Seattle Seahawks. So as we've been talking about all year, 50 years of the Seahawks, this is the 18th playoff win.
M dub: It's their first playoff win since 2019. kind of a long time ago, it was over the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card round. They won 17-9. And just to show how long ago that was, the Eagles started Carson Wentz at quarterback, and that was a game where he got knocked out in the first quarter, and Josh McCown took over the rest of the way.
M dub: That was just the wild card round. This is only the fifth year in franchise history getting to the conference championship game. It did last happen in 2014. Before that, 2013 and then 2005. And the very first one was actually when the team was still in the AFC back in 1983. But that does mean 2005, 2013, 2014.
M dub: mean, this doesn't mean anything about team, but it's kind of an interesting note. last three i mean this doesn't this doesn't mean anything about this team but just it's kind of an interesting note that The last three times the Seahawks have gone to this round, they have won and gone on to appear in the Super Bowl.
M dub: So, yeah, only the fifth time and in 50 years that that the team has gotten this far.
Tristan Amundson: And I think what what does speak to those other years, and I think that the crossover would just be the home field advantage, right? That that home field advantage for all playoff teams is a real thing. And we were just reminiscing about that 2014 game.
Tristan Amundson: And that is the ultimate game. if If you ever have felt discouraged, if you ever think to yourself, this game is over, we suck. We cannot win this game. We can't get out of our own way.
Tristan Amundson: You just go and watch that 2014 conference championship game. And even now, when you get to around seven or eight minutes to go in that game will be seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Tristan Amundson: You will even now say to yourself, I have no idea how the Seahawks win this game.
M dub: Thank
Tristan Amundson: This this game is over. And yet they do. um It's just a good reminder. Sports are magical. And, you know, it's never over until it's over.
M dub: Tristan, that is so true. I i knew how i watched the 2014 highlights of the 2014 and 2013 championship games, two very different games. I knew how those games ended because I saw the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl both of those years. So I knew they won. And what I saw in both games this morning completely shocked me. At one point in the 2014 game against the Packers,
M dub: And this is towards the end of the game. At one point, Russell Wilson's passing line is he's 8 out of 22 with four interceptions.
M dub: So two for his team, one for the other team. They win the game. They win the game when that's his passing line in the fourth quarter. And then the 2013 game against the 49ers, we know it for the Richard Sherman tip.
M dub: I recommend everybody go back and look at that. There's five or six completely jaw-dropping shifts in that game that that feel just as big as the Sherman tip to get us to that point.
M dub: But you know what? The Seahawks' very first play from scrimmage, Russell Wilson goes scrambling. He's just waggling that ball out there. One point of contact, no ball security. First play from scrimmage, Niners knock it loose and recover the ball basically in the red zone already to start. that That's just how it starts after like 20 seconds.
M dub: So you don't have to win them all pretty just like like happened this week, it could be an ugly victory. And then you just remember it as this beautiful moment in franchise history.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. And then, I mean, think about that. That game was such a nail biter. And a lot of people kind of say that was kind of the Super Bowl of that year because it was such a fun game and and so equally matched. And then the Seahawks go on to absolutely decimate um the the Broncos in the Super Bowl. So, yeah, to your point, that it's not always an easy or a clean path.
Tristan Amundson: um how you get to that destination. And sometimes the journey is a little more fun before the final destination as it was in 2013. Nothing sweeter than winning the Super Bowl, absolutely.
Tristan Amundson: But yeah, between the two games, obviously there was one, that game is the memorable one. And frankly, the Super Bowl wasn't very memorable. just because we dominated them so much. So um yeah, fun, fun thinking about those games and, and kind of the, um the anatomy of a season and enough playoff run and and how we get here, but I'm grateful for home field advantage, grateful that it's going to be 17 degrees in Chicago and we'll see what happens.
M dub: Yeah, absolutely. And speaking of that Super Bowl, 43 to 8, that was a 35-point margin of victory. The game last night, 41 to 6, also 35 points. Going through the 18 playoff victories, that is by far the most.
M dub: So another historic moment for the Seahawks in this playoff game.
Tristan Amundson: Very good.
M dub: Man, it was great. it was ah To be up 17-0 at the end of the first quarter, i mean, it it almost felt over at that point. it it did I can't believe this game felt like the the Saints blowout or the Cardinals blowout from earlier in the year in in a playoff game.
Tristan Amundson: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it it really is incredible that, um, that they were able to dominate at this level. I mean, no one, no one expects this in the playoffs. And ah yeah, to be able to dominate at this level is just, you got to pinch yourself. You got enjoy it, right? We've been saying it all year. You got to enjoy these moments because this isn't normal. This isn't normal football. um You typically don't go and win 14 games in the regular season. you You typically don't blow out a team in the divisional round of the playoffs. This isn't a wild card round. This was divisional round. um So yeah, you got to enjoy it and, and just pinch yourself.
M dub: Tristan, we mentioned Doug Baldwin raising the flag to start this game. Did you see what Doug Baldwin said in an interview kind of after the game talking about coming back to support to support the team?
Tristan Amundson: No, I didn't.
M dub: it was It was really profound. It was really interesting. I'd never heard him kind of talk about this subject before, but somebody asked him, you know, what's what's the motto by which you live your life now as there was a retired football player? And dude,
M dub: You know what his answer was?
Tristan Amundson: Man, I'm trying to think. I mean, doug Doug is a man of a lot of words. He he definitely has a lot of opinions. What what was it?
M dub: He looked straight in the camera and he said this. He said, go Hawks.
Tristan Amundson: Hawks.
