Clayton: Seahawks stack up positive signs heading into final week
Jan 3, 2022, 2:59 PM
DK Metcalf celebrates his touchdown catch with Seahawks teammates in the third quarter Sunday. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Even though the Seahawks season has been a disaster with only six wins, there were encouraging things in Sunday’s 51-29 victory over Detroit.
Rashaad Penny’s huge game shows Adrian Peterson’s influence
Running back Rashaad Penny has become one of the hottest running backs in the league. He keeps getting well over 100 yards, and not only is his 5.8 yards per carry great, but it would lead all NFL running backs if he had enough attempts to be eligible for the leaderboard. He’s broken more big runs than just about any back in the league in the second half of the season.
Also on Sunday, Russell Wilson finally got the ball to wide receiver DK Metcalf, who had three touchdown receptions against the Lions. You could see the improvement in his body language. After a bad few weeks, Metcalf was excited and energized.
The offensive line did a great job with run blocking and did a nice job protecting Wilson, and Wilson was in a groove. He looked natural throwing the football. He got into a good tempo and a good rhythm. Russell is back to looking like Russell, and that’s a good way to close out this bad season.
The defense continues to improve. It showed in short-yardage situations, plus Seattle had a great game creating turnovers in the victory.
Cornerback D.J. Reed had his best game of the season, making two of the Seahawks’ three interceptions and looking great in coverage. That’s important because of how thin the Seahawks have been at cornerback, something that only got worse with Sidney Jones landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.
Now it’s a matter of going to Arizona next Sunday and seeing if they can pull an upset against the 11-5 Cardinals, who are six-point favorites. You never know.
More Seahawks coverage from 710Sports.com
• Carroll responds to Russell Wilson trade rumors: “I know what’s going on”
• Heaps: ‘Real possibility’ Russell Wilson played final Seahawks home game
• Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner will miss Week 18 with knee sprains, per report
• Rost: What you can put stock into from Seahawks’ victory over two-win Lions
