13 of the 16 games in Week one of the 2016 season were won by a difference of less than 10 points. The Seattle Seahawks were one team who managed to barely take the win over the Miami Dolphins in their season opener at CenturyLink Field. The team has a lot to work on before they take on the Rams in their return to Los Angeles. Their struggles were clear since the start of the first quarter in their two point win over Miami, especially on the offense. From early on, the offense could not seem to make any magic happen. It was only in the most crucial time that they managed to make the magic happen and come away with the win. This article lays out the Seattle Seahawks keys to victory in Week two of 2016.
Seattle Seahawks Keys to Victory in Week Two
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson is without a doubt a top five quarterback in the NFL. He can make anything happen in crucial time just like fans saw during the Week 1 matchup versus Miami. But Wilson, along with the rest of the team, could not put any touchdowns on the board for the first 59 minutes. With 31 seconds left in the game, Wilson threw a touchdown pass to his top receiver, Doug Baldwin, for the win. It was in the third quarter that Miami defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh, stepped on Wilson’s ankle, forcing it into an uncomfortable position during a sack. Despite his limping, Wilson stayed in the game, determined to finish the season opener with a win. Fans are concerned if Wilson’s ankle will be well enough to allow him to play against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, but Wilson, who has never missed a practice or a game, assures he will be ready.
Defense
Seattle’s defense came away with five sacks on Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill and allowed a total of 214 yards in the game. This is one of the top defenses in the entire NFL and is feared by many teams due to their versatility. Last season, they allowed nearly 5,000 total yards with over 40 sacks and eight interceptions. Despite losing notable names in the off-season, including Bruce Irvin who signed with the Oakland Raiders, they’ve showed no mercy on their opponents.
Offensive Line
I’ve repeated myself many times but I’ll say it again, the offensive line is a problem. Since Russell Wilson entered the league in 2012, he’s been one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the NFL. The Seahawks have finally begun to make some changes to their front line, but that unit has yet to show improvement. Last week, Russell Wilson was sacked three times, one of which could have resulted in a near serious injury. The offensive line needs to learn how to develop fast. Without that, there’s no protection for the Seahawks backfield.
Running Backs
The Seahawks seem to be doing fine without Marshawn Lynch, who retired at the conclusion of last season. However, they haven’t quite found the next man up to take the hand-offs. Certainly second year Thomas Rawls has the chance to nab the starting job, but coming back from a broken ankle last year is concerning. Seattle also brought back veteran Christine Michael, who took most of the snaps versus Miami. They have a total of four running backs on their roster, including two rookies in Alex Collins and C.J. Prosise. Just recently, they re-signed fullback Will Tukuafu, who had just one touchdown in 2015 but proved himself a team player.
The Seattle Seahawks look to advance to a 2-0 record against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday September 18 at 1:05 P.M. (PST).
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