Seattle Seahawks Week One Review: An Unusually Calm Day in Indianapolis

Seahawks football is officially back! It was a long and tedious offseason, but we are finally back to some sort of normality in our lives. This past Sunday marked the first football Sunday of the NFL season and it was great. It was great to see our favorite teams take the field. It was great to see some familiar faces and as well as some new faces in uniform. For Seahawks such as myself, this week hopefully showed us the blueprint for the 2021 season. If this is the case, I think I’m going to greatly enjoy this season.

The Seahawks began their 2021 campaign in Indianapolis against the Colts yesterday. It was seen as an early test for the defending NFC West champs to see if they can get off on the right foot—they did more than that. The Indianapolis Colts are not a bad football team—in fact, they’re a damn good one. The Colts are arguably the most sound team in the NFL on paper with all of the pieces of a championship team. They have a competent head coach in Frank Reich, they have a solid defense lead by an excellent linebacker in Darius Leonard, a strong run game with Jonothan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, and to make things better an excellent offensive line unit lead by perennial all-pro guard Quenton Nelson. Last season, the Colts were an excellent 11-5 team lead by an aging Phillip Rivers. Now, the Colts have brought back the same roster, but they are now relying on the arm of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz to lead the offense.

The game began with the Colts on offense—a scary sight for Seahawks fans. Anyone who follows the NFL knows that the Seattle Seahawks have not been the most defensively sound team in the NFL the past two seasons, and the idea of beginning our season with our defense out was a little uneasy—though that feeling did not stay with me long. The colts managed to string together a strong opening drive. Their drive was 14 plays and lasting over nine minutes of game time. The Seahawks could’ve ended the drive earlier on a third-down back in Colts territory, but Jamal Adams decided to go offside and negated his sack on Wentz—way to go Jamal. Despite letting the Colts get down into the red zone, the Seahawks did not allow a touchdown on the drive. They were able to hold them off and have Colts legend Rodrigo Blankenship kick a 21-yard field goal to draw first blood. A solid opening drive by the Colts offense a solid performance by the Seattle defense.

When the game came out of commercial all Seahawks fans were glued to the T.V—it was time to witness Shane Waldron’s new-look Seahawks offense. ‘Hawks fans have been waiting months for this very moment. To see what fresh ideas were being brought to the playbook. Players such as Tyler Lockett, Russell Wilson, and even Carlos Dunlap were praising the intricacies of the new playbook. The first offensive possession of the Seahawks couldn’t have gone any better. The drive saw the Seahawks facing a third and long early on, but that didn’t scare future hall of fame quarterback Russell Wilson. He stayed calm and let the pocket collapse until he rolled out and picked up a first down with his legs—typical DangerRuss. The Seahawks would later face another third-down, but this one was a manageable third and one. Wilson handed off to 2017 7th round draft pick Chris Carson and watched offseason acquisition Gabe Jackson create a desirable hole for him to sprint through for a large 33-yard gain. After some short gains on first and second down the Seahawks were now on the Colts’ 27-yard line facing another third-down situation. This did not stop Russell Wilson. Wilson stayed in the pocket and the ball fly to his most reliable target—Tyler Lockett. Russ had to get the ball out quickly so his ball was a little off, but Tyler Lockett had the step on the defender and made an incredible adjustment to haul in the first Seahawks score of the season. A marvelous start on offense.

The Colts began their next offensive drive looking to match the ‘Hawks touchdown, but instead Rasheem Green and the Seahawks defensive line had different plans. On third and four in Colts’ territory the Seahawks defensive line broke through the vaunted Colts offensive line and smothered Carson Wentz. This would be a common occurrence throughout the rest of the game. The next Seahawks offensive possession opened with a 10-yard completion to newly signed tight end Gerald Everett from the rival Los Angeles Rams. Russ’ next pass was to the other Seahawks tight end, Will Dissly, as did the one after that. The drive was capped off with a touchdown pass to Gerald Everett. Seahawks fans knew that our tight ends would become more prevalent in our pass attack and it is wonderful to see. I can’t tell you the last time the Russell Wilson lead Seahawks had a drive where the tight ends got all of the important looks and catches. Airing out the ball and utilizing all of the weapons on the field is refreshing to see.

By this time, the ‘Hawks are up on the Colts by eleven points, but that wouldn’t last long. On the ensuing Colts drive, Wentz found receiver Paris Cambell for a large gain. A product of blown secondary coverage that Seahawks fans have become accustomed to. As the drive continued, the Seahawks defensive line was continuing to harass Wentz, but that didn’t stop him. He stayed calm and continued to drive the Colts by completing passes to Jonothan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. The drive ended with a touchdown pass to Zach Pascal. It was a nice drive for the Colts, and definitely the best that Carson Wentz and his offense looked all day. And in all honesty, the Seahawks’ defense looked decent besides a couple of blown plays. The front seven was showing consistency—which is a big deal.

The next two possessions by either team didn’t go anywhere. The Seahawks offense punted their chance away and watched eagerly from the sidelines as the Colts shortly followed suit. As Russell’s unit took the field, there were questions about whether or not they would be able to score, those doubts were soon answered. The drive was quick. In only six plays, the Seahawks found pay dirt. They did with the balanced attack viewers have been seeing all day. A healthy mix of pounding the ball and airing it out to keep the talented Colts defense on their feet. After a false start penalty, Russell Wilson was sacked (what a shock) and lost five yards on the play. Khari Willis disguised himself sneakily as if he were playing in coverage and then came streaking down when no one picked up the block and took Wilson down. An excellent play design and execution by the Colts. On the very next play, Russell Wilson does what makes him so special—he stood in the pocket and received excellent blocking from his offensive line on second and twenty and threw a dime to an accelerating Tyler Lockett who easily comes down with the ball and waltzed into the endzone after splitting two defenders for a 69-yard touchdown—the definition of poetry in motion.

The start of the second half was boring and scoreless. However, it offered two things, some solid defense for those of taste who enjoy a good defensive game, and the only moment of the game where I thought the Seahawks might leave Indianapolis without victory. There were great defensive plays for both teams as I mentioned. Russell Wilson was sacked during a drive later in the third quarter and Wentz was being harassed on almost every play and suffered a sack as well. After the two defenses were making their points across, the Seahawks’ offense took the field again looking to increase their lead. The Seahawks had an excellent starting field position at the Colts’ 49-yard line. The first play of the drive was a small three-yard pick-up to D.K Metcalf (don’t worry I’ll talk about him more in a bit), but the second play was where Seahawks fans had that all too familiar sense of dread in their stomach. The next play was a run with fan-favorite running back Chris Carson. Carson had been having an excellent game so far by picking up yards that didn’t seem to be there like he always does. His physical style of play is great, but it can lead to some undesirable moments. Carson takes the handoff and flies up the left side of the field and is met by all-pro linebacker Darius Leonard. Leonard makes an incredible play on Carson and punches the ball out. The Colts jump on it and now have the ball at mid-field—not good.

That was the play that I was fearful of. So many times in the last couple of seasons have the Seattle Seahawks played an opponent well only to have to game squandered on a poor turnover or an untimely play. As the Colts take the field with a burning sense of urgency, the Seahawks offense can only watch and pray that their defense can make a play and in the worst-case scenario hold them to a field goal—the defense did more than that. Wentz began his drive with a 15-yard completion to running back Jonothan Taylor. The next couple of plays got the Colts down to the 31-yard line of the Seahawks facing a third and three. Nyheim Hines rushed up for a gain of two yards but was denied the satisfaction of a new set of downs when pro-bowl safety Quandre Diggs came down and stuffed Hines a yard short. The Colts’ offense was staying on the field—they wanted a touchdown. The Colts lined up in a QB-sneak formation, something that made my friend and I worried as ‘Hawks fans because Wentz is lethal on quarterback sneaks. Fortunately, the snap from all-pro center Ryan Kelly was not cleanly handled and it resulted in a fumble recovered by the Seahawks. And a special shout out to Jamal Adams for giving me a good laugh when he went flying over the line scrimmage and missing Carson Wentz in an attempt to stop the inevitable. I’m starting to see a pattern with this defense and I’m loving it.

After the turnover, the Seahawks didn’t do much. They gained a couple of yards to extend the drive past their first set of downs but it eventually lead to a punt by every Seahawks fan’s favorite Australian, all-pro punter Micheal Dickson. The next Colts’ drive afterward was solid. They strung together a 14 play drive that saw them take advantage of their talented backfield and miscommunications on the Seahawks’ defense. Once Wentz’s team moved the ball down to the ‘Hawk’s 26-yard line, things began to stall. Wentz threw two straight incomplete passes and then an eight-yard gain to Pittman to bring them into the Seahawk’s red zone. On a crucial fourth and two, Darrell Taylor obliterated Carson Wentz in the backfield for a huge sack. This sack ended a promising Colts drive and set up Russell Wilson and his efficient offense in a good position. They still had one thing left to do to make the day truly successful—get some more passes to D.K.

Starting from their own 27-yard line, Russell Wilson took no time getting his young all-pro receiver the football. He targeted D.K on a play-action pass and found him wide open for a big 30-yard gain—something Seahawks fans are used to. The rest of the drive was just how all of the other scoring drives were, efficient and balanced. It was a healthy dose of running the ball with backs Chris Carson and DeeJay Dallas and surgical passes by Russ. In due time, the Seahawks found themselves on the 15-yard line of the Colts. Russell decided it was time to let D.K have some fun and so he launched a pass his way. D.K overpowered his defender and came down with the beautifully thrown ball by a well-protected Russell Wilson earning his first touchdown reception of the season.

After the D.K touchdown, the Colts were not done. Carson Wentz had one last good drive left in him to get the Colts into the endzone. Wentz found Jonathon Taylor for a large 38-yard gain and used a mixture of passes and runs to lead his team down into the ‘Hawk’s red zone again. Wentz wanted to reward his halfback with a touchdown on the drive, but his touchdown run from the Seahawks’ one-yard line was called back because of holding. That didn’t bother Carson Wentz and Zach Pascal. Wentz found Pascal in the back of the end zone for their second touchdown of the day. Wentz noticed that Tre Flowers was in coverage and he knew that it was a mismatch for the struggling corner. The Colts decided to go for a two-point conversion to make the game closer, but Carlos Dunlap continued the excellent day by the ‘Hawk’s defensive line and sacked Carson on the play.

The last couple of possessions resulted in punts and nothing more. Except for Carson Wentz who will be feeling all of the hits he took for a while. The Seahawks played one of the most sound games of football I’ve ever seen from them. Russell was 18/23 258 yards and four touchdowns. Tyler Lockett had four receptions for a hundred yards and two touchdowns. New linebacking pair Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks had a combined 24 tackles and multiple other defended passes and tackles for loss. This was an excellent game from Shane Waldron and I’m more than excited to see what he has planed in store for the offense. I was pleasantly surprised with the team’s defense, especially the defensive line. What was seen as a massive weakness this time last season is now a huge strength for the Seahawks. With such a deep rotation on the defensive line, they were able to beat one of the best units in the NFL and getting constant pressure on Carson Wentz and forced him into making some bad throws.

The game wasn’t perfect however for the Seahawks. Though their defense reminded me a lot of the bend-don’t-break style they had in 2018, I’m still concerned about their corner situation. The second Colts touchdown was a little disconcerting because it showed how vulnerable the Seahawks are at the corner with Tre Flowers and an undersized D.J Reed. If the defensive line continues to play the level they did today, then the Seahawks’ secondary will be able to catch a few breaks. Let’s just hope they don’t play a quick-armed quarterback anytime soon. Another negative to take away from the game was the injuries. Wide receiver Dwyane Eskridge was diagnosed with a concussion after running a sweep play on the drive that yielded D.K his touchdown. He was electric in his debut and his presence will be sorely missed. Also, the first-round pick Rashad Penny will be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a leg injury too. It seems with every day the Seahawks look more and more disconnected for taking Penny so high in the 2018 NFL Draft.

All and all I was greatly pleased with this game. What I loved most about it was that I was able to watch the Seahawks play and not have an aneurysm. This team has become well-known for keeping games close and not being able to put opponents away. But that’s something we don’t have to worry about for another week. 12s, I know that we all enjoyed that game not only for the outcome but because of how well the team played as a whole for the entirety of the game. For once it felt like this team was in control from start to finish. Enjoy this week knowing that you won’t need to see your doctor for any heart conditions caused by the Seahawks. If this is any indication of what our 2021 campaign is going to look like, I’m all for it. Go ‘Hawks!