Tag: dk metcalf

Instant analysis of Seattle’s 30-24 win over Carolina

The Seattle Seahawks finished the 2019 season with a 7-1 record on the road, the best in franchise history, with a win over the Panthers.

Despite being without four defensive starters, and losing Quandre Diggs for most of the second half, the Seattle Seahawks handled their business on both sides of the ball and earned themselves a 30-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

A 30-10 lead turned into a narrow 30-24 win after Seattle’s defense – without Bobby Wagner, who left the game with an ankle injury – gave up two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game.

Regardless, the Seahawks finish the season with a 7-1 record on the road, including going 5-0 in 10:00 a.m. starts.

After not scoring a touchdown against the Rams last week, the Seahawks wasted no time putting six on the board, scoring on their opening drive after Chris Carson ran it in from 16 yards out. It was clear right from the get-go that Seattle would be able to gain yards on the ground all game long, with Carson gaining 47 rushing yards on the opening drive.

He finished with 24 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Seattle also did plenty of damage through the air, with Russell Wilson finding DK Metcalf on the following drive for a touchdown to go up 13-0. After a strong drive from the Panthers, led almost exclusively by Christian McCaffrey, the Seahawks scored again on a connection from Wilson to Tyler Lockett, giving them a 20-7 lead heading into halftime.

Things got interesting late in the third quarter when linebacker K.J. Wright picked off Kyle Allen for Seattle’s second interception of the game. The Seahawks gave it right back after trying a trick play with receiver Josh Gordon throwing a deep pass to Metcalf that was picked off by Tre Boston.

However, on the next play, Wright picked off Allen yet again for the third interception in five plays – and the second by Wright. Seattle got a field goal out of it, to go up 23-10.

Seattle nearly had an interception on a third consecutive drive, with Ugo Amadi appearing to pick off Allen and take it in for a touchdown, but replay review overturned the call after the ball bounced.

The fourth quarter saw Seattle let Carolina right back into the game, as the team’s makeshift defense (down six starters on the final few drives) couldn’t stop McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel.

The loss of Diggs and Wagner is the major downside of this game, and as of this writing it is unclear what their status is for Week 16’s matchup with the Cardinals.

However, the good news is the Seahawks (11-3) will officially clinch a playoff spot if either the Vikings or Rams lose their games today against the Chargers and Cowboys, respectively.

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Eagles QB Carson Wentz tied with Russell Wilson for the longest active streak with TD pass

Carson Wentz is coming off his gutsiest performance as a pro, rallying the Eagles from a 17-3 halftime deficit to overcome the New York Giants in overtime. Wentz went 33-of-50 passing, for 325 yards passing and two touchdown passes extended his …

Carson Wentz is coming off his gutsiest performance as a pro, rallying the Eagles from a 17-3 halftime deficit to overcome the New York Giants in overtime.

Wentz went 33-of-50 passing, for 325 yards passing and two touchdown passes extended his streak of throwing at least one. Wentz and Russell Wilson are currently tied for the longest active streak in the NFL per Inside Edge.

Games with a Passing TDs
NFL Quarterbacks Player Games with a Passing TDs
1st Russell Wilson (SEA) 13
1st Carson Wentz (PHI) 13
3rd Jameis Winston (TB) 12

Wentz has now gone 16 straight regular-season games, including last season with at least one scoring strike. For all those saying he’s struggling, he’s nothing short of magnificent at times while playing shorthanded.

On top of having the active touchdown streak, Wentz has 56 touchdowns against one interception in the red zone in his last 37 games played and has an average of 1.51 red-zone touchdowns, tops in the league as well.

After two injury-plagued seasons, it looks like Carson Wentz is finally starting to find his groove.

Josh Gordon’s breakout game could be coming for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are counting on Josh Gordon, and believe the veteran receiver could have a big game before the season is up.

The Seattle Seahawks were the only team in the NFL to place a claim on free agent receiver Josh Gordon after he was released by the Patriots, and so far they have been rewarded with six receptions (on 10 targets) for 81 yards and six first downs.

However, Gordon is certainly capable of more production, and coach Pete Carroll is confident those days are coming for the former All-Pro receiver.

“Josh has had huge games in the past,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “He just hasn’t gotten the ball enough yet to show that for us, but he’s done really well. Josh has been a really good guy around here and practicing, working hard and studying.”

Gordon has proven himself an elite vertical threat in year’s past, although this year he has done most of his damage running quick slant routes, helping pick up first downs and building a rapport with quarterback Russell Wilson.

While that relationship grows, and while opposing teams continue to focus on Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, the Wilson-to-Gordon connection could thrive in the final few weeks of the regular season.

“We’re counting on him,” Carroll continued. “He could have a big game any time.”

The Seahawks will head to North Carolina to take on the Panthers in their final road game of the season on Sunday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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Seahawks WR DK Metcalf leads all rookies in receptions and yards

Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf leads all rookies in receiving yards and total receptions, and is tied for second in touchdowns.

Seattle Seahawks rookie receiver DK Metcalf was one of few bright spots for the team in their 28-12 loss on Sunday night at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams.

Metcalf finished with six receptions, on six targets, for a team high 78 yards.

That gives him 50 receptions for 783 yards and five touchdowns on the season. The 50 receptions and 783 yards are both tops in the league among rookies. The five touchdowns is second, with four players tied for first place with six.

Metcalf was able to do most of his damage on Sunday despite being covered by Jalen Ramsey, one of the league’s strongest cover cornerbacks.

“He’s been really consistent in his competitiveness,” coach Pete Carroll commented on Monday. “He’s battled every week. He had a great matchup this week and he came through in a big way. Played one of the better guys in football who was trying to stop him and shut him down and he didn’t let that happen. He just kept working and coming through.”

Metcalf was perhaps the most polarizing pick of the 2019 NFL draft, lauded for his elite combination of size and speed, but criticized for his perceived lack of route running. He has proven more than capable of handling a multidimensional route tree in Seattle, and his coach likes that he is more than just a pass catcher as well.

“Tough catches, running after the catch, blocking,” Carroll continued. “He’s more than just a catcher. He’s done a lot of good stuff. I go back to his makeup. He’s a great competitor. He really wants to be great and he’s willing to work at it. He plays hard and physical and tough and it’s paying off for him. He’s been a real positive factor for us.”

The Seahawks will look to get back on track in Week 15 with their final road game of the season against the Panthers in Carolina on Sunday morning.

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DK Metcalf partners with coffee brand to sell ‘Decaf Metcalf’

DK Metcalf partnered with Volcanica Coffee to begin selling ‘Decaf Metcalf’ after Joe Tessitore’s Monday night mispronunciation.

On Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf was mistakenly referred to by ESPN commentator Joe Tessitore as “decaf Metcalf” and a new meme was born.

That meme developed into even more however, after Metcalf partnered with Georgia-based coffee company, Volcanica Coffee, to begin selling 16-ounce bags of Decaf Metcalf coffee, which is available on the company’s website.

Tessitore has not only blessed the products creation, but he and Metcalf are each ensuring that part of the proceeds for the product go to charities of their choice.

Metcalf is donating his portion to Prison Fellowship, the same organization his My Cause, My Cleats are in honor of, while Tessitore’s is going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

An accidental fumbling of words on a live broadcast is not too uncommon, but the perfect combination of syllables – along with Seattle’s known love of coffee – made this a perfect pairing, and one that at least is leading to some good in the community.

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Georgia company selling Decaf Metcalf coffee

A Georgia company, Volcanica Coffee, is producing a brand called Decaf Metcalf, honoring the ESPN MNF flub.

Out of the gaffe of ESPN’s Joe Tessitore straight into your coffee grinder. A Georgia-base company, Volcanica Coffee, is selling Decaf Metcalf, a brand of coffee that pays tribute to the Seahawks’ wideout and MNF announcer whose verbal flub went viral during the Minnesota Vikings-Seattle Seahawks game.

Adam Schefter reported Metcalf is going to see part of the proceeds will be donated to charities of their choice. Metcalf is donating part of the proceeds to Prison Fellowship, which helps prisoners, former prisoners and their families and is a leading advocate for justice reform. It is the same organization for which he is wearing his My Cause My Cleats on Sunday against the Rams.

Tessitore is donating part of the proceeds to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Both charities’ logos will appear on the back of the coffee bags.

The company already has designed packaging for Decaf Metcalf and believes it can sell thousands of units, according to one company official. It says the MSRP is $29.99 but is offering five dollars off for now.

If you are intrigued by the coffee, Volcanica offers the following description:

“Decaf Metcalf Blend is a blend of specialty coffee for DK Metcalf of the Seatle Seahawks. This is an exquisite blend of decaffeinated beans from Guatemala and Papua New Guinea distinguishable by it’s sweet yet bold flavor and full rich body. This is the official coffee for DK Metcalf,” said Volcanica Coffee.

The decaffeination process for our Volcanica House Decaf Coffee uses SWISS WATER. The Swiss Water process is a taste-driven, 100% chemical free decaffeination process that delivers coffee that is 99.9% caffeine-free while protecting the unique origin characteristics and flavor. Most other processes use chemical solvents, like Methylene Chloride or Ethyl Acetate to decaffeinate coffee beans. This process maintains a clean original taste for our Volcanica House Decaf Blend.

Josh Gordon can do more than run slant routes

Seattle Seahawks receiver Josh Gordon has excelled as a slant route runner so far this year, but Brian Schottenheimer knows he can do more.

Although the numbers are rather pedestrian, there’s no doubt the Seattle Seahawks have been thrilled with what they have gotten out of free agent pickup Josh Gordon over the past three weeks.

Still battling an injury and with very little time to adjust to a brand-new offense, Gordon has hauled in four receptions (on five targets) for 47 yards.

All four of his receptions have been first downs, as quarterback Russell Wilson has come to trust him run quick slant routes and convert on third down.

However, Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer views Gordon as more than a slant-running first down machine.

“We certainly do a lot of things with him, he just made some good plays on those,” Schottenheimer said on Thursday. “We’ve tried a couple double moves with him, he got the P.I. penalty against Philadelphia that was a big play. But I would say it’s definitely coincidence.”

Schottenheimer went on to praise Gordon’s increased comfort with the system and his relationship with Wilson, while also highlighting that Gordon’s success is simply the fact that he’s, well, good at catching footballs.

“Unbelievable catcher of the football,” Schottenheimer continued. “I think his hands, the ability to catch the football is maybe the best I’ve ever seen. The ball is in his area, he finds a way to catch it but, he’s doing a really good job for us. We’re very pleased with him.”

Wilson has a plethora of options to choose from at this point in the season. Tyler Lockett is healthy after battling a leg injury and the flu, rookie DK Metcalf has emerged as a true star, tight end Jacob Hollister has stepped up in a big way, and now Gordon is getting more comfortable in the offense.

Factor in the two-headed monster of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny in the running game and you have an offense that is very tough to game plan against, a task the Rams will have to take on this Sunday night in Los Angeles, where Seattle will be playing for a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.

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Seahawks rookie DK Metcalf continues to quiet preseason doubters

Seattle Seahawks rookie receiver DK Metcalf isn’t without his flaws, but he has more than overachieved his preseason expectations.

The knock on Seattle Seahawks rookie receiver DK Metcalf for so long was his limitations as a route-runner. His elite combination of size and speed was thought to be only as valuable as his ability to run a variety of different routes, otherwise, he’d be nothing more than a vertical threat that defenses could effectively game plan against.

Metcalf has proven, without a shred of doubt, that he is more than capable of learning a variety of different routes, and Monday night’s game against the Vikings proved that.

“I think he’s been running routes pretty well,” coach Pete Carroll said with a smile. “He did have a couple real nice ones, the 20-yard slant down by the goal line was a really sharp looking route. He can run all the routes now. We’re not surprised to see that, we’re excited about it.”

Metcalf hauled in six receptions (on seven targets) for 75 yards, his third 70+ yard game in his last four. He now has 44 receptions for 705 yards and five touchdowns on the season, continuing his pace as the best rookie receiver in franchise history.

He’s not without his struggles however, and ball security is certainly a big one.

“I think he’s making progress every week,” Carroll said about Metcalf’s fumbling issues. “You can see him working with the ball. He worked hard to protect the football on some runs that he had after the catch which is what we want him to do, more so instead of just trying to be a brute and run over everything.”

Metcalf did have what was nearly a game-altering fumble on Monday night on a ball that was originally ruled an incomplete pass, which Carroll referred to as a teachable moment.

Regardless, Metcalf is miles ahead of where many expected him to be at this early stage of his career, and if he can continue to improve in certain areas he’ll be a dynamic, multi-faceted receiving threat in the NFL for years to come.

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Joe Tessitore accidentally called DK Metcalf ‘Decaf’ and everyone made jokes

Ha!

Booger McFarland wasn’t the only one making mistakes during Monday Night Football broadcast of the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Minnesota Vikings

Play-by-play man Joe Tessitore was in the middle of calling a DK Metcalf fumble after the Hawks receiver coughed up the football, and he called the super-strong rookie “Decaf Metcalf.”

It’s not that bad of an error, but it’s pretty hilarious, and it might be a good nickname for a player who’s in the city where Starbucks started. That led to Twitter making so many really good jokes, turning the gaffe into a meme of sorts.

Here’s the mistake and the resulting jokes:

Too good.

[jwplayer iyEJ5tbT-q2aasYxh]

5 takeaways from Seattle’s 37-30 prime-time victory over Minnesota

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Minnesota Vikings on “Monday Night Football” to move to 10-2. Here are a few takeaways from the game.

The Seattle Seahawks (10-2) had a resounding 37-30 victory against the Minnesota Vikings (8-4) on Monday night that saw them take both the lead in the NFC West and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Seahawks extend their record in Action Green to 5-0 and now control their own destiny as they await another primetime matchup with the Los Angeles Rams on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 14. Here are a few takeaways from the game.

Chris Carson rebounds again and Rashaad Penny continues production

Seattle set a season-high in rushing yards Monday night with 218 as the backfield duo of Carson and Penny got rolling. Carson rebounded after a disastrous performance last week against Philadelphia with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown along with one catch for seven yards. Rashaad Penny chipped in 74 rushing yards for a rushing TD along with four receptions for 33 yards and a receiving score. The Seahawks had 16 first-down runs, the second most accumulated in a single game by a team this season. Penny has stepped up significantly over the past two games and Carson bounced back extremely well. Fans will hope that they continue to produce throughout the rest of the season, which will be essential to Seattle’s success.

DK Metcalf’s lost fumble gave momentum back to Minnesota

This was a great play by Xavier Rhodes, but the fact of the matter is that Metcalf’s fumble in Minnesota territory gave the Vikings new life and allowed them to score consecutive touchdowns. This came after an improbable play on a fake punt in which Travis Homer picked up 29 yards. The defense should not be excused for collapsing on the drives before and after the fumble, but Metcalf has to be better at protecting the football and reducing his mistakes because he has made a noticeable amount of them in the past three games.

Offense and defense aid each other with 24 unanswered points

Facing a 17-10 deficit, the Seahawks drove for Penny’s rushing touchdown. This was followed by a strip-sack on Kirk Cousins by Rasheem Green and recovery by Bradley McDougald, which set up a field goal to take a 20-17 lead. The defense proceeded to force the Vikings into a three-and-out and the offense took advantage with a 60-yard touchdown pass to David Moore. This was followed by an incredible interception by Tre Flowers, which set up Penny’s 13-yard receiving touchdown for a 34-17 lead. They proceeded to give up 13 unanswered points, but this productive stretch was enough to allow Seattle to hold on and clinch victory.

Self-inflicted wounds nearly cost Seahawks the victory

In addition to the aforementioned Metcalf fumble, Russell Wilson threw, or rather, batted an interception directly to Vikings safety Anthony Harris for a pick-six, giving Minnesota a 14-7 lead after the defense had just forced them into a three-and-out. On the Vikings’ drive before Metcalf’s fumble, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell was left incredibly wide open on a blown coverage for a 58-yard touchdown. Tre Flowers also committed a costly pass interference penalty on Stefon Diggs on third down, which set up Minnesota’s touchdown to make the score 34-30 after a missed extra point by Dan Bailey. The Seahawks could have run away with the victory but committed multiple mistakes that kept the Vikings in the game, along with their opponent’s own stellar play in the second half.

The 2019 Seahawks are still an incredibly resilient bunch

This team keeps finding ways to win. They are undefeated on the road and take every game of the week seriously. They have had some trouble keeping their foot on the gas, but they have managed to hold strong when things get too dire. They are now 10-2 with the NFC West lead and the No. 2 seed in the NFC, with the Saints holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over them. Seattle must keep racking up wins through the final four weeks of the season to secure a playoff spot, first and foremost. The Seahawks have the potential to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC this season and they must keep that in mind as they push to finish out the year.

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