The Seattle Seahawks are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history after taking down the Minnesota Vikings in a 27-26 thriller that came down to the final seconds of the contest. This game featured it all: a miserable start, a comeback that was so quick that it left viewers’ heads spinning, another lull in performance followed by a last-minute awakening, and a controversial last play that clinched the win for the Seahawks. Let’s examine some of the good, the bad, and the ugly from Week 5’s heart-stopping match.
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THE GOOD
Russell Wilson: The Seahawks’ star quarterback made a strong case for his MVP campaign in primetime, posting yet another solid stat line (20-32, 217 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT) in addition to contributing 58 yards on the ground. Although he went a perfect 7-7 on passing attempts in the first half, Wilson was largely ineffective at that time; he truly shone in the fourth quarter, bouncing back from a rare interception to lead a 94-yard go-ahead touchdown drive. Despite throwing just 3 for 11, he was able to convert both of Seattle’s fourth downs on the drive, showcasing his poise in key moments and his near-magical ability to pull the game-winning score from even the most dire of situations.
D.K. Metcalf: Russell Wilson recently called Metcalf “the best in the world”, and the young receiver did his best to live up to that praise. Metcalf compiled a total of six catches for 93 yards – an astonishing 15.5 yards per reception – and two touchdowns (including the game-winning score). He has yet to record fewer than 90 yards in a game this season, which should move him up to WR1 conversation.
THE BAD
The ending: The result of the officials’ final judgement, which ended the game and gave the Seahawks their fifth win, is the only reason that this falls into the “bad” category, rather than “ugly.” Seattle is no stranger to controversial endings (see: “Mary, Fail”), and Sunday night added another last-second call at CenturyLink Field that will undoubtedly spark debates for years to come. With just 10 seconds left in the game, Kirk Cousins targeted tight end Kyle Rudolph in an attempt to set up kicker Dan Bailey for the game-winning field goal but was sacked by Seahawks defensive end Benson Mayowa. The impact sent the ball careening through the air, and confusion reigned as the clock hit 0:00. The referees officially ruled the play a fumble, but replays appeared to show Cousins’ arm moving forward in a passing motion before he lost control of the ball, which would signify an incomplete pass and, most importantly, a precious six seconds left for the Vikings to attempt another play. After review, the call stood, and another wild finish was etched into the annals of Seahawks history. The ruling may or may not have been the correct one . . . but the Seahawks will take it, regardless.
THE UGLY
First-half offense: After two quarters, the Seahawks’ vaunted offense had scored zero points, surrendered four sacks to four different Vikings, and accumulated a grand total of 45 yards. The Vikings’ struggling defense was not biting at all on most of Seattle’s gameplan, while the offensive line looked positively stymied against the fearsome Eric Wilson and Yannick Ngakoue (combined 7 TT, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 1 PD, 5 QB hits). Minnesota has looked bad this season, which gives the Seahawks even fewer excuses for their sluggish start – after the bye, they will have to turn things around and be on top of their game in order to keep up with the Cardinals’ high-powered offense.
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