The Seattle Seahawks fly across America to take on the Washingtons in game 15 of the 2020 general season.  The Seahawks are coming off of a redeeming and impressive win over the New York Jets, at home in Seattle last week.

This game should answer a lot of questions and concerns raised by sports media contributors who expressed a mixed review and analysis of the Seahawks team as a whole and of their center piece, Russell Wilson, who is the undeniable central cog that the entire Seahawks machine runs around. .

Wea bit  have taken the position that the Seahawks team as a whole has accomplished major advancements in te 2020 season and have come full circle on every side of the football.  It is further our assertion that Russell Wilson was the victim of a serious helmet to helmet collision in their game against the Arizona Cardinals, and while ignored by two NFL officials standing mere feet away from the incident and not responding with even so much as a verbal mention to the offending ;player, clearly impacted Russell’s game play for the remainder of that game and the following 3 games, finally starting to give indications that he was near fully recovered in their game with the Jet’s in thier last meeting.

I am not a physician or a part of the Seahawks Sports Medicine Team, but the mention of a concussion probability has been thought by many who are more learned in assessing such matters has been widely shared, based on the symptoms evidenced in Russell’s play and what has appeared to be his progressive recovery of his cognitive decision skills, and timing in delivering the football to intended targets.

In last weeks showing against the Jets, Russell was much improved under the same pressure that he has and had played with all season, that his offensive line has provided him with, and in short range plays, he played and delivered like the Russell Wilson that has commanded the Seahawks offense all season prior to the suspected concussion causing episode.

There were still some timing and perception issues affecting his play, when attempting his signature deep threat targets, like DK Metcalf, Tyler Locket and Moore, being off just enough to allow defenders to take advantage and in one early attempt to DK, the Jet defender intercepted the pass in the endzone giving the Jet’s a Safety and ending what had been an impressive series up and until that play.

Russell when at his best, has consistently timed and placed his deep endzone threats where only his intended targets are in a position to catch the football, coming in over the receivers shoulder near the back corner of the endzone.  If Russell’s game was affected by the suspected concussion from the Cardinals, game and the signs of a progressive recovery from that concussion that has appeared to be evidenced over the course of the four following games, continues, we should see Russell Wilson’s full arsenal back at his fingertips in their meeting with the Washington NFL team this Sunday.

If in fact that the concussion that Russell Wilson is suspected  of having experienced and now hopefully is fully recovered from, The Seahawks Team with Russell Wilson at the command, should make short and easy work of the Washingtons.  That is not to say that the Seahawks are not facing a very talented and capable NFL team, because the Washington NFL team is a better than average NFL team on both offense and defense and will give the Seahawks a serious and competitive test, that should answer the questions and concerns of a highly critical sports media reporting community.

The Seahawks defense, that in the past few weeks appear to have finally arrived and are playing much more like their famed LOB, with a number heir talents delivering performances that surpassed those of Earl, Kam, Sherm, Avril and others.  The Seahawks have been damned by injuries on both offense and defense through the first half of the season.

In fine Pete Carroll tradition, his NFL Super Bowl Championship calibur team is arriving at the most important part of the season, and if the majority of his players can stay healthy, add Flash Gordon, in game 16, the Seahawks are posed to make what should be an unstoppable run at making it to the Really Big Show, as the last few games approach and they enter into the ever important playoff challenges that will lead them there.

If Russell did not suffer a concussion and just started having a butt load of bad hair day performances in the 2020 season, and we’re all wrong about our assessment of what occured, then the Seahawks and many of their supporters are deluded and in for a hell of a sad ending to another promising season. If in fact what we have been witnessing from Russell the past few games, was the result of a concussion,, there is an equally troubling concern that the Seahawks hopefully have made a plan B for.

If Russell is the subject of another similar head blow like what he endured in the Cardinals, game, we know that because he is such a committed player that he will not likely come out of the game and let one of his backup QB’s take command until he can be cleared and return to play, an not stay out there and almost with certainty end the hopes of the Seahawks season, trying to play when he shouldn’t be.

We saw the Seahawks reactivate and sign their Rookie 2020 phenom QB, Alex McGough, who put on a hell of a clinic in the pre-season practices, but because of the lack of a normal pre-season series, where new blood can be tested under real game pressures, the Seahawks opted to re-sign Geno Smith, as the safe choice, and Alex along with a lot of other promising young talents were sent home, with the Seahawks decision to play safe and stick with what they knew rather than gamble on the unknown

I only bring the return of Alex to the Seahawks roster, because I see it as not only an added layer of protections for Russell’s position, but also because if in a scenario where Russell was unable to play and Geno were to step in as the Seahawks lead QB, that if his performance was not as stellar as the Seahawks lead QB, or was injured himself, that Alex is an excellent option in that role and based upon his college performances and what we did see of him in early 2020, is mature, seasoned and talented enough to keep the Seahawks playoff and SB hopes alive.

Rashaad Penny RB is expected to play on Sunday against the Washingtons.  Penny went down and out at the end of last season, and it was thought that he might be ready to start again at the beginning of the 2020, that turned out to have been a bit to optimistic and instead its taken until week16 game 15, with only 3 games left in the regular season and then heading into the post season playoffs.

I hope that Penny was held back from playing until he was fully recovered from his injury and that he is in true NFL condition, as he returns to the professional football ranks. When these youngers come into the NFL from college, if they don’t listen to the players on their team that have survived a few seasons without major injuries, who, to a man, tell the younger players that they are going to have to put in the work that it takes to remain healthy and to stay in the game.

In the NFL staying in the game is everything. It truly is a “what have you done for me lately” monster.  If you can’t stay health and on the field, making a difference, and your replacement does, then you should ask your manager to start shopping for your next team.

With that said, Travis Homer, one of my favorites from the 2019 draft, who was the last RB left standing as the Seahawks headed into last years playoff’s and the Seahawk brought Beast Mode, Marshawn Lynch into assist Travis in those assignment.

Travis injured his wrist and then a little easier in this season Travis sustained another injury to his knee, that Pete Carroll said would be a long recovery effort and so Travis was moved to IR to make room for Rashaad.

As a lifetime12th Man I have watched a lot of RB’s come and go over the years and have watched a number of promising young talents rise and fall in the ranks of the Seahawks Roster.  Travis Homer has been a great addition to the Seahawks offense, and has always given them his al when he has been called upon.  Yet as I’ve watched his body betray him under fire, I have to question if he is doing enough in hte way of conditioning, to withstand the punishment that comes with nfl professional Football.

Chris Carson is a classic text book example of what I[m talking about.  Chris came to Seattle, with plenty of college level skill and talent, but he was mugged and rolled to the curb with injuries in his first season outings.  He appeared to have gotten the message that if he intended to play in the pos and more importantly wanted to be top dawg at his position, that he was going to not only recover from his injuries, but he was going to have to fight to get his top spot back and to keep it and he now understood that you have to stay in the game to accomplish that.

His absence from the field this season, does worry me, that he may have drifted away from those long hard earned lessons from his pat and may need to give serious considerations as to where he is at persent and what his plans are for himself following this season. We’ll have those answers soon enough.

We’ll also see if Rashaad has learned that same lesson, and in his instance he has another hurdle to cross over in his re-entry to the game on Sunday. When a player has experienced a season ending injury, or any kind of semi-serious injury. basic human instincts will want to try and detect and avoid any chance of reinjury, and that can negatively affect your play, when you have to put it all on the line every single play or you’ll be replaced with a hungry players who is waiting for their chance to show their teammates and coaches that they are ready for the big show.

I am not always right, not even close, but once in a while I do get it right, and I will repeatedly remind everyone, if it proves me right, that from the onset, I have maintained that DeeJay Dallas, if given the opportunity, may very well prove to be the best pick o f the 2020 NFL Draft, and of the Seahawks RB pool of players, prove to be the most skilled and talented of the bunch.

DeeJay has gift that few NFL players, few football talents poses, and that is a true pure absolute love for the game, that is so obnoxiously obvious and evidenced in evidenced by an ear to ear smile, and a spark in his eye everytime he is sent out to play.  Watch sometime, the effect that he has on his teammates on the field and on the sideline.

I wish Penny much success in his return, I hope that he has returned to play in true NFL condition that he is able to sustain the abuses of playing with the pros and the damage they can deal.

Washington is coming to play football tomorrow and they are coming to win. They are a good team, a better than average team, but the Seahawks are a much better than average team, who if they play up to their ability, there isn’t another team in the whole of the NFL that can defeat or deny thiam what is rightfully theirs to claim,

I’m picking up at the kickoff with this post rather than doing a post game and game time post this week. This season has been used in part as a learning experience by us to find our place in the Seattle Seahawks media mix.

We have maintained since the birth of SeahawkChat.com, 12th Man City Limits forum that the purpose of our existence is not to compete with our fellow media resources, but rather to compliment and enhance those resources, by encouraging the residents (members) of our community to engage with all of them and show their support for all of them as well.

We are not interested in financial support from our residents, nor are we competing for any of the dollars that other Seahawk media sources request and in fact need to continue in thier efforts.  SeahawkChat.com and 12th Man City Limits Forum and eventual virtual city, are the product of a lifetime career spent in IT, website development, hosting and promotion as an entrepreneurial self funded business endeavor, having been fully self employed for more than 30 years.

It is with a true love for the Seahawks team and a lifetime desire to invest our  time and energy into this exact type of project, when the time was right in our lives and we could fully commit the time, and resources out of pocket, to make it a reality and to fully fund it without need or want for contributions from others.

Of course we have hopes that somehow someday that we will have the resources to become more hands on involved with the Seahawks team and their activities year round.  Like most American’s we exist on a meager income, now in retirement years that do not allow for or provide enough resources for  that level of involvement, but we are also aware that life has a way of working things out and if its meant to be it will be.

So now back to the purpose of this article, the Washington game.  The Seahawks have given this writer much reason to believe that my assessment of Russell Wilsons head injury in the Cardinals game, that many including myself believed resulted in a concussion, that negatively affected his game for the remainder of that game and effects were still evident through last weeks game with the New York Jets, where Russell appeared abut 90 percent back but was still a little off on his deep threat targets.

From the 1st play of the game it appears that Russell’s helmet to helmet collision and suspected concussion was in fact a

Russell’s executing like the DangeRuss Wilson that we have come to expect to see championing our team to victory.  His decision making and execution with excellent timing in short and medium range targeting, is lethal, and with much consistency are converting 1st downs and controlling not only the field but the clock in this matchup.

The Seahawks put together 20 points in the first half, with a healthy combination of ground and air play calling.  The Washington Defense is true to form, giving the Seahawks a lot of different looks and not making it easy for them.

The Seahawks defense is also confirming that they are no fluke either, having controlled the Washington offense in the 1st half and holding them to a single field goal.  The Seahawks saw DeeJay Dallas leave the field in a leg air cast on a cart, having a fellow player roll up on his legs. We all hope and pray that it proves to be nothing too serious and that DeeJay is able to return to playing again without too much recovery time away from the field.

As many of you that have followed my posts this season, I have a real soft spot for DeeJay and believe that he has the potential of becoming the future of Seahawks RB position, being the complete package and bringing so much more to the game than most, in terms of his addictive charismatic personality that seems to permeate his entire team when he take the field.

We also saw Shaquill Griffin go down and leave the field on his own accord but limping a bit to the Seahawks Sideline at the end of the 1st half. The Second half will tell  us how serious that injury was or was not, when Shaquill returns to the field or sets it out.

In the Second Half the Washingtons appeared to have made some adjustments in their offense, and were a little more effective moving the ball that resulted in a touchdown to end the 3rd quarter, but missed the extra point attempt.  The Washington Defense also came out having made a few adjustments during halftime and have been making things more difficult for Russell.

I won’t make excuses for Russell, his offense is providing him with plenty of time to execute, and there are still those moments when he has still appeared indecisive and in fact threw an interception under pressure in the 4th Quarter that the Washingtons were able to move the ball down into scoring distance, and while not impressively managed to complete 2 1st down conversions and in their 3rd series, the Seahawks defense, were unable to deny them and the score narrowed to 20-16 with 7 minutes in the 4th quarter.

So this game is proving to be the acid test that we believed it would be. The Seahawks are going to have to dig down and show that they are a championship calibur team. Russell is going to have to take command of the Seahawks offense and control the field and the clock, and give the Seahawks the added points needed to seal the fate of the Washingtons and the Seahawks as well for that matter.

The Seahawks defense appears to have reverted to there old zone setup that they turn to when they have a lead and just want to protect it, rather than doing what has been working effectively for them and as it usually does it allows our  opponents offense to find their way down the field and into their endzone adding points and becoming a threat when they shouldn’t be allowed to.

Russell continues to look a little confused and indecisive late in the 4th quarter, and the 1st down conversions that were coming so easily through the 1st half of the game now seem to elude him.  It’s going to rest on Seattle’s Defense shoulders as to the outcome of this game I’m afraid.

Washington continues to have success moving the ball down the field, in short gains but enough to convert downs and control the clock and the field. Something that the Seahawks should be doing instead.

The Seahawks had to challenge on a 4th  down attempted gimme by the officials who tried to hand the Washingtons a 1st down, and Pete’s challenge was denied when it was clearly not a 1st down.  This type of play callling does not do anything to restore the fans faith in fairness so far as NFL officiating.

The Seahawks denied the Washingtons on a 1st down attempt but the officials flag KJ and hand them the 1st down they needed to keep their hopes alive. It’s sickening to put it mildly. The Washingtons continue to move the ball down the field, converting 1st downs again and again, no flags against the  Washingtons, in the 4th quarter. there is clear excessive holding by the offensive lime that supports and explains Washingtons ability to execute more effectively aganst the Seahawks in the 4th Quarter.

In what turned out to be the final play for the Washingtons, there was mass holding by the Washington Defense, that provided their QB all day to toss a Hail Mary, that Shaquill Griffin, batted down in the endzone to seal the win for the Seahawks, but not without drama, a flag was thrown after the;play, and this writer was convinced would be against the Seahawks and would hand the Washingtons yet another chance to score and win the game in the final seconds, but the Seahawks were vindicated in that one of the Washingtons were finally at long last called for holding and that effetely ended the game, with the Seahawks Offense, Defense and Special Teams delivering an impressive and decisive defeat to the NFL Officials and the Washingtons, in what proved to be everything the Seahawks needed in the way of a measurable challenger, to better determine where they were as a team and answered some more of the questions and concerns about Russell Wilson, his status in relationship to the suspected concussion and recovery from it.

In summary I would say that the Seahawks Defense did in fact prove to be the deciding factor in this game, having final say. I didnt mention it but nearing the end of the 4th quarter, with Washington having its way, with the support of the officiating crew, and repeated questionable calls and outcmes, in the second to final series, the Seahawks forced a fumble and recovered it, that would in any other game have spelled the end of the Washingtons hopes, but while the commentators and myself were reporting the turnover, the Washingtons Offense lined backup forcing the Seahawks Defense to regroup and retake their positions on the field, before the Washingtons could snap the ball, and did, the game continuing as though no turnover occured, completely ignored with no replays no explanations.

This game, while vindicated by an eventual Seahawks win, was one of the most blatent and poorly officiated NFL Seahawk Games of the 2020 regular season. There is evidence to support some ongoing concerns about Russell Wilsons mental clarify and sharpness as the Seahawks center piece, albeit much improved from what we saw a few games previosly, it was clear that he has regained much of what was believed effected by a helmet to helmet concussion causing incident.

I think that the Seahawk would be wise to have Russell Wilson independently evaluation in practice for the remainder of the season and for whoever is assigned that task to go back and review his performances over the last four outings begining with the Cardinals game after the point of impact.