Tag: dk metcalf

Watch: Russell Wilson finds DK Metcalf for opening touchdown

Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf combined to give Seattle an early advantage.

That didn’t take long. The Seattle Seahawks opened the scoring against the Arizona Cardinals with a 12-play, 75-yard march on their opening series Thursday.

Russell Wilson found DK Metcalf from 25 yards and the play was on their ordinarily spectacular variety.

After the PAT, Seattle was off and running, 7-0.

The TD reception was Metcalf’s ninth of the season.

Jalen Ramsey completely shut down DK Metcalf with stellar first half

Russell Wilson didn’t look Metcalf’s way once with Ramsey in coverage.

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All eyes were on Jalen Ramsey and DK Metcalf coming into this Rams-Seahawks battle, pitting one of the best corners in the league against an elite young receiver. We weren’t sure whether Ramsey would shadow Metcalf for the entire game, but we got our answer shortly after kickoff.

Ramsey followed Metcalf all over the field to begin the afternoon, and that continued throughout the game. It worked as well as the Rams could’ve hoped, too, with Metcalf seeing zero targets in the first half.

That’s right. Russell Wilson didn’t look Metcalf’s way once in the first 30 minutes of the game. Ramsey completely erased him from the game plan, locking him down in coverage.

Twitter took notice, too.

Chad Johnson can’t wait to watch Ramsey vs. Metcalf today

It’s as big an individual matchup as you’ll see this season.

One of the biggest games of Sunday’s slate in the NFL is undoubtedly Rams-Seahawks. First place in the NFC West is on the line and with a win, the Rams could bump Seattle from the No. 1 seed in the conference.

There’s going to be a ton of talent on the field at SoFi Stadium, making for some exciting matchups. None will be talked about more than Jalen Ramsey versus DK Metcalf, however.

Ramsey expects to cover all of Seattle’s receivers in the game, and he knows that will include the “undeniable talent” that is Metcalf.

Former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson can’t wait to watch Ramsey cover Metcalf, tweeting this ahead of Rams-Seahawks.

Ramsey hasn’t been traveling with No. 1 receivers this season, lining up all over the field in both man and zone coverage. Hopefully for entertainment purposes he and Metcalf match up often today.

Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf often discuss being the best QB-WR duo

Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf often discuss the concept of being the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in NFL history.

DK Metcalf has already blossomed into a superstar receiver in his second year in the NFL, and Russell Wilson has repeatedly trusted him with that in mind. The two have elevated each other this season to respectively reach remarkable numbers halfway through the year.

Metcalf currently has 43 receptions for 788 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, while Wilson has thrown 28 TDs. Through eight games, they are on pace to double their current totals. Wilson told reporters that he and Metcalf regularly talk about being the greatest duo in the history of quarterback-wide receiver tandems.

“We talk about it all the time, we don’t shy away from it,” Wilson said Thursday. “We talk about it almost every day. What it looks like, what it takes. All offseason, that’s what we’ve been striving for. I think anytime you want to be great in anything, anytime you want to be the best in the world at something, anytime that you have a vision, I think you have to communicate that vision. I think you have to have a plan for that vision.”

However, Wilson has found himself under scrutiny for several untimely turnovers in two separate games, one of which being Seattle’s most recent defeat against the Bills, in which he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles. The veteran signal-caller acknowledged that he and his team still need to execute on a more consistent basis.

“There’s a lot of great players that have played,” Wilson stated. “It’s great to have such a great player in DK but also the kind of character of guy that he is and just who he is as a person. He’s one of my best friends and we want to be great together.”

The Seahawks currently sit at 6-2 atop the NFC West, but their division lead is extremely precarious. Wilson and Metcalf continuing to click will be key for the offense moving forward.

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Seahawks expect Ramsey to shadow Metcalf, but Rams won’t reveal plan

Ramsey vs. Metcalf is what every fan is hoping to see.

Every week in the NFL, there are games within the game – individual matchups that help decide the outcome. When the Rams and Seahawks square off on Sunday afternoon, there will be plenty of those, but maybe none bigger than Jalen Ramsey against DK Metcalf.

It’s a matchup between two alphas with elite physical traits, with both guys playing at an extremely high level this season. Ramsey hasn’t been shadowing receivers much this season because of how often the Rams play zone coverage, but we could see them stick their No. 1 corner on Seattle’s No. 1 receiver.

That’s how the Seahawks are expecting it to play out, according to Brian Schottenheimer.

The Rams haven’t revealed what their plan for Metcalf is, however. Brandon Staley said on Wednesday that it’ll be a great matchup – if they line up across from each other. Based on his comments, it seems like the Rams are going to have Ramsey on Metcalf at times, but not for the entire game.

“This is going to be a great chess match between these two guys, if they line up near each other. This is why as a fan, or someone that covers the game or coaches the game – this is what gets you excited about pro sports, is to see two elite players square off against one another,” he said. “We all know it’s a team game, but there’s that game within the game and these two guys are as good as I think that I’m seeing right now in the NFL at their positions. You know, I think DK is playing as well at the receiver position as anybody. I think Jalen – you know the way I feel about him, I feel like he’s the best DB in the game. So, it’s going to be a great matchup. I think it’s a long game. So as a player, you can’t just do one thing the whole time. I mean, you’re going to have to mix it up, we’re going to try and mix our coverages up, move the hard downs around and play the way we normally play, but that game within the game this week is going to be an exciting one for everybody involved.”

What makes covering Metcalf especially difficult is the fact that Tyler Lockett is on the other side. He’s no slouch, either, and had arguably the best game by a wide receiver this season against the Cardinals when they stuck Patrick Peterson on Metcalf; Lockett went off for 15 catches, 200 yards and three touchdowns.

Expect a lot of different matchups throughout the game, but when No. 20 lines up across from No. 14, all eyes will be on that battle.

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How should the Rams go about covering DK Metcalf?

The Rams have Jalen Ramsey at their disposal, but will they stick him on DK Metcalf?

The Seattle Seahawks pose a number of threats to opposing defenses. At the forefront is Russell Wilson, who’s the lead candidate to win 2020 NFL MVP. His favorite target has been Tyler Lockett, but the most dangerous weapon on Seattle’s roster is undeniably DK Metcalf.

He’s been a terror for cornerbacks who have tried to cover him, dominating almost every single week this season. In seven of his eight games, he caught at least four passes for 92-plus yards. He’s scored eight touchdowns and racked up 788 yards thus far, making big play after big play.

Metcalf will most likely be at the top of the Rams’ mind when game planning for Seattle, and they have a few options when it comes to covering the second-year receiver.

Here are three potential methods for the Rams to take away Metcalf, which has proved challenging this year.

Instant analysis: Bills get their statement vs. Seahawks

Instant analysis of Buffalo Bills win over Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.

For the second time this season, the Buffalo Bills took on an NFC West opponent at Bills Stadium and started the game on fire. For the second time, things were a bit closer than they needed to be mid-game. Just like the matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, the Bills came away with a victory over an interconference rival, this time besting the Seattle Seahawks 44-34.

The opening kickoff started the excitement for the Bills. Kick returner Andre Roberts received the kick in the middle of the end zone. Instead of taking a knee, Roberts busted out with a 60-yard kick return. From there, it was apparent the Bills game plan on offense.

It took only three offensive plays for the Bills to find the end zone for the first time. Allen was perfect on three passes, culminating with a 25-yard pass to Isaiah McKenzie. Buffalo would go on to score on their next three possessions, as Tyler Kroft and Gabriel Davis were on the receiving end of Josh Allen passes. Tyler Bass added a field goal as well, and Buffalo went into halftime with a 24-10 lead.

Allen was stellar in the first half of the game, going 24-of-28 for 282 passing yards, and the aforementioned three touchdown passes. It was apparent that the aerial attack would be the focal point, as the Seahawks entered the game with the worst pass defense in the league. Still, it was surprising and somewhat refreshing, to see the Bills push the ball down the field through the air and only rush the ball three times in the first half.

The Bills had a bit of a second-half swoon, as the Seahawks produced some big plays through the air to keep the game close. However, Buffalo’s defense went blitz-heavy and ended up forcing four Seattle turnovers.

Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer picked off Willson. In addition, AJ Klei and Jerry Hughes forced fumbles from Wilson. AJ Klein had him most effective day as a Bill, sacking Wilson twice and recovering a fumble on a sack he forced. Hughes, Mario Addition, and Tremaine Edmunds added sacks on the day. The Bills also recorded 16 knockdowns of Wilson, a season-high for NFL teams.

It was impressive watching the Bills find their swag on offense again, as it seemed Allen and company had little problem finding receivers in open space. Stefon Diggs caught nine passes for 118 receiving yards, while John Brown had a big game reeling in eight passes for 99 receiving yards.

Isaiah McKenzie, Tyler Kroft, and Gabriel Davis were on the receiving end of passes from Allen. Zack Moss added a short touchdown on the ground as well. The depth of Buffalo overwhelmed the Seattle defense all game.

And while Buffalo’s defense gave up some sizable chunks of yards through the air, they were able to shut things down when it mattered the most. The four forced turnovers essentially kept Seattle from making this an even closer game.

Buffalo took another step closer to winning their first divisional crown in 25 years. They are 7-2 for the first time since 1993. At this point, the Bills should be thinking of moving out of the No. 4 spot in the playoff standings, as performances like this will have them trending toward the top of the conference.

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7 storylines to watch for during Bills vs. Seahawks

Storylines for Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.

It’s Wednesday so the Buffalo Bills are now turning their attention to their next opponent after two-straight wins over AFC East opponents, most recently against the New England Patriots, 24-21, last weekend.

En route next for the Bills is a tall task from out west as quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Seattle Seahawks (6-1) to Buffalo (6-2).

With that, here are seven storylines to follow as the Bills are set to face the Seahawks for the first time in 2020:

LeBron James calls DK Metcalf ‘Baby Bron’ after big game vs. 49ers

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James sees similarities between himself and the Seahawks star wide receiver.

LeBron James is a huge NFL fan and without any NBA games to play or practices for the first time in his NBA career during the month of November, James is able to enjoy mid-season football without any other work concerns. With that extra space, LeBron was able to see someone he sees a lot of himself in this past Sunday: Seattle Seahawks star receiver DK Metcalf.

Metcalf had yet another huge game for the Seahawks in Sunday’s 37-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers, with 12 catches, 161 yards, and two touchdowns. During the game, LeBron took to his Instagram to call Metcalf Baby Bron.

The easy comparisons are there in that both excelled at the pro level almost immediately after arriving and both players also have imposing physical physiques that help set them apart from the competition. Obviously, Metcalf has a long way to go to have a legacy like James but having LeBron’s admiration this early in a career is pretty cool, in addition to being one of the best receivers in the NFL.

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NFC West Roundup: How the rest of the division fared in Week 8

The Seattle Seahawks had a great Week 8 as they were the only team in the NFC West to win as Arizona hit their bye week and SF and LA lost.

Week 8 turned out extremely positive for the Seattle Seahawks, as they were the only team in the division to win with the Arizona Cardinals on their bye week and the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers losing their games. They have also claimed the top spot in the NFC for the moment and control their own destiny with half the season to go. Let’s see how the other teams in the division fared this week.

San Francisco 49ers 27, Seattle Seahawks 37

The Seahawks had a much-needed bounce-back victory over a bitter division rival and a fairly dominant win at that. They initially kept it close, but the Seahawks put their foot on the gas after gaining a 13-7 lead and pulled away, never relinquishing that lead. The 49ers suffered further injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle, forcing Nick Mullens to come in for the former to better results. Their defense had little to no answers for the Seahawks offense, particularly DK Metcalf, who set career highs in receptions and receiving yards with 12 and 161, respectively. San Francisco dropped to 4-4 on the season and they have a lot of ground to make up if they wish to stay in the playoff hunt, but it will be difficult to envision with all of the injuries they are currently struggling with.

Los Angeles Rams 17, Miami Dolphins 28

The Rams dropped to 5-3 with a loss on the road to Miami, which had quite a few things to note. Jared Goff had four turnovers in the first half with two interceptions and two lost fumbles, one of which Andrew Van Ginkel returned 78 yards for a Dolphins touchdown. He also threw a few passes that could have been additional interceptions. Despite the final score, the Rams defense limited Miami’s offense to 145 yards and two touchdowns. It was the offense and special teams that let the Rams down, and they have a tough schedule coming up with division rivals on the horizon.

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