How the Seattle Seahawks got their groove back

Christmas came early for Seattle Seahawks fans.

Despite a rocky 4-4 start to the 2015 regular season, the Seahawks bounced back to a 9-5 record, including the recent 30-13 win over the Cleveland Browns, to clinch a wild card spot in the playoffs and make their fourth straight postseason appearance.

Sure, Seattle hasn’t been dominant for the majority of the season like they were in the last two years, but many would argue that all they needed to do was get to the postseason.

The Seahawks had their fair share of drama at the start of the season. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who signed a four-year deal with the Seahawks worth $87.6 million, now had to prove he was worth the money the franchise is paying him. Strong safety Kam Chancellor held out the first three games due to contract issues but later returned to the team. Of course, who can forget wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who has caught 10 passing touchdowns in the last four games.

One Seahawk that fans had high expectations for was tight end Jimmy Graham, who the team acquired from New Orleans. Graham had 48 receptions for 605 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered a torn right patellar tendon in Seattle’s 39-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and is lost for the season.

One facet of the team that has grown over the season is the offensive line, which had a combination of rookies and veterans coming into the season. The O-Line had taken their licks early on but were able to adjust. The bye week gave Seattle’s offense time to regroup.

Fans and writers are talking about Wilson’s “hot streak,” in which he’s thrown 19 touchdown passes in the last five games — including three TDs in the game against the Browns — as they should but let’s not forget how the O-line has stepped up to protect him. As a coach once told me, the players on offensive line are the “unsung heroes” of the game.

Seattle’s running game has had its fair of ups and downs. Running back Marshawn Lynch started the first six games before being sidelined for sports hernia surgery. According to reports, Lynch won’t be at practice this week and the earliest he’ll return is for the final regular season game.

Undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls picked up where Lynch left off, having four games where he ran for over 100 yards, including a 209-yard game against the San Francisco 49ers. He suffered a fractured ankle in the Seahawks’ Dec. 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens and is also out for the season. Rawls had 147 carries for 830 yards and four rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in his successful rookie season.

With Lynch and Rawls out, the Seahawks have had to rely on Christine Michael, Bryce Brown, and fullback Derrick Coleman to carry on the ground attack. In the game against the Browns, Michael had 16 carries for 84 yards, Brown adding 43 yards on nine touches and Coleman contributing 10 yards on five carries.

Seattle’s defense continues to be strong. They are second in scoring defense, allowing 17.7 points per game, second in total defense, third in rushing yards allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed.

The Seahawks wrap up their regular season with a couple of games that are sure to be barn burners. One is against the St. Louis Rams, who beat Seattle 34-31 in overtime in their first regular season game, Sept. 13 and the NFC West champions and current No. 2 seed, the Arizona Cardinals, who defeated the Seahawks 39-32 after they came off the bye week, Nov. 15.

Fans and writers are already saying Seattle will have a shot at the NFC portion of the playoffs, but folks shouldn’t be counting their eggs just yet. While reaching the postseason is one thing, winning the whole thing is different. If Seattle can keep their wild card slot intact, they’ll face the No. 4 seed and NFC East champions, either the Washington Redskins (7-7) or Philadelphia Eagles (6-8) — who play each other this Saturday. They still might have to contend with the Green Bay Packers, the Cardinals, and the undefeated Carolina Panthers.

But if Seattle can make it to the Super Bowl, they’d be the first team to make it to three consecutive Super Bowls since the Buffalo Bills (1992-94).

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].