Blitzes do their job for Seahawks

CHICAGO – Two weeks ago, the New York Giants teed off on Jay Cutler, sacking the Chicago Bears quarterback nine times before knocking him out of the game with a concussion.

It’s safe to say the Seahawks took notice.

After missing last week’s game because of the concussion, Cutler was back in the lineup Sunday against Seattle, and quite frequently in the Seahawks’ 23-20 victory, he was back on his back.

Seattle blitzed early and often, sacking Cutler six times and hitting him three more, leading the way in a defensive effort that exceeded anything the Seahawks had been able to accomplish away from home this season.

“Obviously on tape we were licking our chops a little bit seeing the way the Giants had success,” said safety Lawyer Milloy, one of three defensive backs who recorded a sack.

“… We got them in third-and-long situations and we brought the kitchen sink.”

A year ago, the Seahawks were one of the league’s worst teams when it came to pressuring quarterbacks, and had just 28 sacks. After five games this season, they have 17.

In previous games this season, most of the pressure came from newly acquired defensive end Chris Clemons. But while Clemons did add a half sack Sunday, it was defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s game plan of blitzing defensive backs that did the most damage against the Bears.

“Gus called a great game and just kept moving guys around,” coach Pete Carroll said. “… The scheme really worked well…”