Time to leave doubts behind
SEATTLE – The doubters are shrinking in number, rightfully so, but they’re still out there. They look at what the Seattle Seahawks have done and they remain unconvinced.
They see the soft schedule, the rout of McNabb-less Philadelphia, the uprights that eluded New York Giants kicker Jay Feely, the late-game escape against the Dallas Cowboys. The latest win, 28-13 Saturday over the emotionally and physically depleted Indianapolis Colts, probably won’t change the minds of any fence-sitters.
Earlier this week, one newspaper listed Seattle at No. 5 in its ranking of the top teams in the NFL.
Fair enough. Let there be a smidgen of doubt.
But someday soon, the remaining naysayers will have to come to grips with this: Somebody in the NFC is going to have to come into raucous Qwest Field and try to beat a rested, confident Seattle team that didn’t lose a regular-season home game for the second time in three years.
Just who’s capable of doing that? One-dimensional Chicago? Would you take Carolina, Tampa Bay or Washington over the Hawks at home? Probably not. Two potential challengers – the Giants and Cowboys – have already lost to Seattle at Qwest Field this season.
“That’s fine, we’re not playing (for national recognition),” Seahawks center Robbie Tobeck said. “We’re playing for the guys in this locker room and the city of Seattle. Whatever happens nationally, that’s fine. If we keep doing our job, all that stuff will come.”
Seattle cemented home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs by defeating the Colts, who had little to play for after sealing up AFC home-field rights last week despite losing to San Diego. Several of the Colts’ marquee players made cameo appearances, if at all. Three more starters didn’t make the trip, including Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison.
The Colts also had to deal with the loss of head coach Tony Dungy’s son, James, who died of an apparent suicide earlier this week. One day after holding a memorial service in Indianapolis, the Colts came to Seattle with heavy hearts, but they didn’t give a half-hearted effort.
Indy’s lineup would barely compare to what would be on the field in February if the teams were to collide in the Super Bowl. Therefore, it would be foolish to read too much into Seattle’s victory.
Still, it’s worth noting that when Peyton Manning left after two possessions and Edgerrin James departed soon after surpassing 1,500 rushing yards for the season, Seattle led 14-3. Not that Seattle stymied the prolific Colts offense. Manning led the Colts downfield twice, but one drive resulted in a field goal and another ended with a blocked field-goal attempt.
That’s been Seattle’s method on defense most of the season. The Seahawks allow yardage, but they’re ranked third in the NFL in red-zone defense.
Throw out this win if you prefer, but consider the Seahawks’ body of the work. They haven’t blown games they were supposed to win. They have routed bad teams instead of letting them hang around. When they’ve let marginal opponents stay in games, they’ve come up with the clutch drive (Tennessee) or key stop (San Francisco, part I) to secure victory.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is the top-rated passer in the NFC. He’s completed 59 of his last 73 passes with nine touchdowns and one interception. Shaun Alexander is 193 yards away from a 2,000-yard season.
The defense has endured injuries to its top three cornerbacks. Marcus Trufant left Saturday with a back contusion, and Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon were previously sidelined. To the Colts’ credit, not to mention the Titans last week, they took advantage of those absences.
Seattle’s cornerbacks were Jordan Babineaux, who was on the practice squad most of 2004; Jimmy Williams, who was signed prior to the third game this season; and Michael Harden, who is on the active roster for the first time.
“Our team is a great example of a consummate team,” head coach Mike Holmgren said. “We have some well-known players on offense that are great players, but people would be hard-pressed, who don’t live in Seattle, to name a bunch of guys on our defense.
“But they play together very well. When guys have got hurt, the next guy has stepped up and performed. That’s as much fun for me about this season as anything. We’ve done it as a team.”
No doubt about it.