SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Instant reaction: 710 ESPN Seattle on Seahawks’ win over 49ers

Jan 1, 2017, 4:57 PM | Updated: 7:01 pm

Seattle Seahawks, Frank Clark...

The Seahawks will need a big year from DE Frank Clark after the departures of Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. (AP)

(AP)

As we do after every Seahawks games, we’ve polled the voices of 710 ESPN Seattle for their opinions on Seattle’s 25-23 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Here’s what they have to say:

Gee Scott of “The Gee Scott Show”

Is there a such thing as winning ugly? The Seahawks got the win and will play on Wild Card weekend. However, for the first time in the Pete Carroll era, the Seahawks are heading into the playoffs without a run game. Thomas Rawls had eight carries for just 14 yards against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, while Alex Collins led the team with 55 yards on the ground. Christine Michael is still the leading rusher for this team, and he’s been gone for a month. Going into next week’s playoff game, you really wanted to see the run game do well. When the run game is going well, the offense is able to control the flow of the game. How this team will get it done in the playoff on offense remains to be seen, but the slow starts will not help them get to Houston for Super Bowl 51.

Dave “The Groz” Grosby of “Bob, Groz and Tom”

The Seahawks continue to be a dilemma almost impossible to figure out. A nice comeback wiped out by the tension on the field? And there are still special teams issues. Bottom line, they simply don’t seem to be playing their best football. Next week would be a good time to start – and I would much rather see Detroit at CenturyLink Field than the Packers, for the record.

Mike Salk of “Brock and Salk”

The Seahawks secured the No. 3 seed, but it’s difficult to say they answered many questions about their future in this sloppy win. The defense was magnificent after a horrible start and the offense did just enough. That recipe can work. We’ve seen teams win ugly but consistently, but usually ugly winners find ways to make the special teams plays that are currently haunting the Hawks. As Pete said last week, they still have more work to do.

Jim Moore of “Danny, Dave and Moore”

It was strange the way it ended with Trevone Boykin leading the Seahawks’ last drive that ran out the clock. Whether the Seahawks play the Lions or the Packers at CenturyLink Field in the first game of the playoffs, there are reasons to be concerned. For what seems like an almost weekly occurrence, the Seahawks failed to generate much of a running game against a 49ers’ defense that was allowing 172 rushing yards a game. Forget whatever you saw Sunday as it applies to anything in the playoffs – the Seahawks were facing a San Francisco defense that allowed more touchdowns, points and rushing yards this season than any other 49ers’ team in its 70-year history. The Seahawks’ defense was very good after the first quarter, and the offense was efficient enough after gaining only 10 yards in the first 15 minutes. Encouraging sign: Michael Bennett looking like pre-knee surgery Michael Bennett for the second week in a row, two days after signing a contract extension. Discouraging sign: Stephen Hauschka having another extra point blocked, and Nolan Frese snapping the ball over Jon Ryan’s head, giving San Francisco a safety.

Danny O’Neil of “Danny, Dave and Moore”

It was awful in the beginning, encouraging the way Seattle rallied and ultimately puzzling when the Seahawks decided to rest Russell Wilson while holding only a nine-point lead. That game doesn’t mean Seattle’s fully recovered from this December skid, but let’s remember what happened the last time Seattle lost twice in the final month of the regular season: It won the Super Bowl.

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Instant reaction: 710 ESPN Seattle on Seahawks’ win over 49ers