Bumpus: Why Seahawks turned in their best game on defense
Oct 17, 2022, 3:19 PM
Darrell Taylor of the Seattle Seahawks forces a fumble against Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on October 16, 2022. (Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
(Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
The Seahawks got back to .500 and into a tie for first in the NFC West with their 19-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. And they did so in a very different way than we’ve grown accustomed to seeing this year.
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After allowing nearly 1,000 total yards between Weeks 4 and 5, Seattle’s defense turned in its best performance of the season, holding Arizona’s offense to 315 total yards and just three points in the 19-9 win (the Cardinals scored six points on a special teams touchdown).
So what changed this weekend for the Seahawks defensively? Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus broke it down during Monday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports 710 AM.
“What they did was they got pressure on the quarterback. They got six sacks from six different players, man,” Bumpus said. “We saw the interior linemen have three sacks on their own, something that we’re not used to seeing at all.”
Additionally, the Seahawks were able to do something else they haven’t done all year long.
“They only allowed five explosive plays. Over the season, they’ve allowed 42 explosive plays,” Bumpus said.
The Seahawks define explosive plays as runs of 12 yards or more and passes of at least 16 yards.
Seattle was also able to hold the Cardinals to just four third-down conversions on 16 tries and one fourth-down conversion on five tries. Arizona notable started the day 4 for 5 on third down.
Additionally, Seattle’s young secondary stepped up.
“You’ve got to look at the two rookies, man, doing their thing, Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen,” Bumpus said. “… Every week they seem to be around the football.”
Woolen picked up his fourth interception in as many weeks and recovered a fumble. That fumble was forced by Bryant, who now has four forced fumbles this season.
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“So it was getting pressure on the quarterback, taking advantage of some missing players that the Arizona Cardinals had and not letting that first drive just rattle you,” Bumpus said. “They bounced back and did what they were supposed to do. The Arizona Cardinals got aggressive and (the Seahawks) didn’t allow it on fourth down. I’m all for it. They needed this. The defense won this game. They needed to walk away from the game feeling like they were the ones who got it done.”
Listen to the second hour of Monday’s Bump and Stacy at this link or in the player below.
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