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1. <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565</id><updated>2024-02-19T19:09:17.325-06:00</updated><category term="Seahawks"/><category term="Ranking the Squads Project"/><category term="Super Bowl"/><category term="Arizona Cardinals"/><category term="Pittsburgh Steelers"/><category term="NFL Playoffs"/><category term="2005 Season"/><category term="NFL Draft"/><category term="2009 Predictions"/><category term="Michael Vick"/><category term="Mock Drafts"/><category term="NFL Power Rankings"/><category term="2009 Schedule"/><category term="Boston Red Sox"/><category term="Jay Cutler"/><category term="Matt Hasselbeck"/><category term="Minnesota Vikings"/><category term="Politics"/><category term="Seattle Mariners"/><category term="Sounders FC"/><category term="Steve Largent"/><category term="T.J. Housemandzadeh"/><category term="49ers"/><category term="Advertising"/><category term="All-Decade"/><category term="All-Decade Team"/><category term="Atlanta Falcons"/><category term="Bobby Engram"/><category term="Brett Favre"/><category term="Carolina Panthers"/><category term="Cleveland Browns"/><category term="Dave Krieg"/><category term="Friday Night Lights"/><category term="Hall of Fame"/><category term="Jim Mora"/><category term="Joey Galloway"/><category term="Michael Crabtree"/><category term="Mike Holmgren"/><category term="New York Jets"/><category term="Ohio"/><category term="Road House"/><category term="Seahawks fashion"/><category term="St. Louis Rams"/><category term="Video Games"/><category term="Video Trading"/><category term="Western Washington University"/><title type='text'>Dave Krieg&#39;s Strike Beard</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default?start-index=26&amp;max-results=25'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>991</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-6436619009541926909</id><published>2019-07-30T14:38:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2019-07-30T14:51:15.198-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Your 2019 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
2. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAe9QnQhhkvyrotyZQupsK9VCTIZoS3ATYfx9VNh4ZVb4Z1WkbIjZ1Jdzp4vVIpqecmDH7e7bg8M0kjRhUu4s6ABJaplBjGiQiI9ovVK40JXMegO7tCpKd9tQg1XCCW-Pu4cmbq1gAMc/s1600/700499712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1200" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAe9QnQhhkvyrotyZQupsK9VCTIZoS3ATYfx9VNh4ZVb4Z1WkbIjZ1Jdzp4vVIpqecmDH7e7bg8M0kjRhUu4s6ABJaplBjGiQiI9ovVK40JXMegO7tCpKd9tQg1XCCW-Pu4cmbq1gAMc/s400/700499712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
3. <br />
4. <br />
5. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Training Camp, my 12s! It's been an anxiety-spiking off-season for all of us with the expected retirement of Kam Chancellor, the unexpected retirement of Doug Baldwin, the messy departure of Earl Thomas, and the big pre-draft trade of Frank Clark. Like clockwork, many social media bobbleheads are confidently predicting the Kingdome-level implosion of this team in 2019. They were wrong in 2018, as usual, because.. uhh... Pete and John.. uhh... Find a way. </span><br />
6. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
7. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(apologies for trying to drop an Ian Malcolm reference without even busting out a proper meme...)</span><br />
8. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
9. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">It's worth noting that the organization has a stable front office with a harmonious GM-Coach relationship, that this is a team coming off a 10-win season, that the aforementioned GM successfully stockpiled draft capital and locked up our offensive and defensive superstars to long-term deals, and that the team's cap situation is solid and the roster is getting younger rather than older. So, I feel pretty good going into the 2019 campaign. </span></span></span><br />
10. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span>
11. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">But, what if you're thinking about blowing some dough on a new Seahawks jersey? That's not a decision to be made lightly. You don't want to end up like me in 2007, the crest-fallen owner of a kicker's jersey who bolted via free agency less than a year after you bought the threads (and he <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-suspends-kicker-josh-brown-six-more-games-for-domestic-violence-accusations/">turned out to be a total shitbasket to boot</a>). I'm here to help, so let's get into it. </span></span></span><br />
12. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
13. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As usual, let's start with the 1st Commandment of jersey ownership: </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">NEVER PUT YOUR JERSEY IN THE DRYER!</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Dryers kill jerseys! Don't do it under any circumstances. If you abide by this decree your jersey(s) should hold up for a nice, long spell. If possible, hand-wash them or wash them on the delicate cycle in cold water by themselves. Quality-wise, there's no compelling reason to opt for the more opulent Nike models. The $100 replicas ("game" jerseys) are plenty expensive, and will look sharp for years with proper care. In my experience, the screen-printed numbers on the "game" jerseys actually hold up better and longer than the stitched-on ones adorning the more expensive Nike jerseys. Please note - If you are lucky enough to fit into a "youth" size, those are significantly cheaper.</span><br />
14. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
15. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For the purposes of this guide, I'm setting aside throwbacks (though I'm hanging onto my gunmetal blue Matthew Hasselbeck jersey until the red & swelling Sun swallows the incinerated Earth - Sidebar on throwbacks that are sold at NFL Shop: It's nice that there are more options right now than I've seen in years past. I saw Largent, Jones, Easley, Kennedy, Alexander, and Zorn. Those are all great choices! Also, I think it's neat that you can now get a Ricky Watters or a Warren Moon jersey. I had both of those back in the 90s and I should have held onto them. But - Bosworth? And you can get a Moon jersey - Who only played in 25 games as a Seahawk - but you can't get a Dave Krieg? Boooo. Weeeak!). </span><br />
16. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
17. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm also not going to address personalized jerseys and #12 jerseys (I've changed my tune on the #12's over the years. I used to be dead-set against buying them, but given how precarious roster spots can be under PCJS's rule, I can't blame a fan for playing it safe with such a substantial investment).</span><br />
18. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
19. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have a weird thing about not wanting to wear an injured player's jersey. I'm not a superstitious type, but I feel out of sorts if I'm wearing a player's jersey while he's hurt. Thus, I tend to shy away from players who have a history of injury problems. I'm also hesitant to buy a jersey of a rookie or a new free agent acquisition. What if they suck? Then you're wearing a big 'ol shroud of suck, aren't you?</span><br />
20. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
21. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So what jerseys should you avoid? Which ones are risky buys? Which ones are awesome, at least somewhat unique, and not likely to burn you a year from now? </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Let's start with the solid no's.</span><br />
22. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
23. <b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">DON'T BUY</span></b><br />
24. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b>
25. </span><br />
26. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Last year, I advised y'all against getting an ETIII or a Frank Clark jersey. Sadly in Earl's case, and GLADLY in Clark's case, I was proven right. So who should y'all stay away from this season? </span></span></span><br />
27. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Jarran Reed: </b>Suspended for six games to start the season, due to hit free agency in 2020, and... nah, I'm not gonna buy a jersey of a guy who's been accused of violence against women. </span></span></span></span><br />
28. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mychal Kendricks</b>: Solid player, and I'm glad it looks like he'll be available for all of the 2019 season. But he's a free agent in 2020 who might still be heading to prison for insider trading. Nope. </span></span><br />
29. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ezekiel Ansah</b>: A new free agent on a 1-year deal who is coming off a significant injury? That's like a perfect storm of "don't buy." </span></span></span><br />
30. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b style="background-color: white;">Other Notable Players Who Are Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) After the 2019 Season</b><span style="background-color: white;">: </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;">George Fant, Mike Iupati, Jaron Brown, Nick Vannett, J.D. McKissic. </span></span></span><br />
31. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Notable Restricted Free Agents After the 2019 Season</b><span style="background-color: white;">: David Moore</span></span></span><br />
32. <br />
33. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span>
34. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">RISKY BUYS</b><br />
35. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
36. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Coming Back From A Major Injury: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Will Dissly</span><br />
37. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
38. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Rookies</b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">: JS worked his Dwight-Schrute at-the-Dunder-Mifflin-garage-sale magic to get us 11 picks in the 2019 draft. Wow! I still wouldn't run out and get any of these kids' jerseys just yet, even though I'm pretty psyched to see what D.K. Metcalf can do. </span></span></span><br />
39. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
40. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Other Notable New Free Agents</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">: </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Jason Myers, Mike Iupati, Geno Smith</span></span><br />
41. <br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
42. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">THE 10 BEST OPTIONS</b><br />
43. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
44. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10. Shaquill Griffin </b><br />
45. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></b><br />
46. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Quill experienced a horrific sophomore slump in 2018 but I fully expect him to bounce back to his rookie-year form in year 3 with the Seahawks. His rookie deal runs through the 2020 season. Sidebar: I haven't bought that <a href="https://www.gamestop.com/collectibles/toys/pop-nfl-seattle-seahawks-griffin-brothers-2-pack/172784">sweet-looking Griffin Brothers Pop Figure set</a> yet because I'm not 100% convinced that Quem makes the roster this fall. But once he survives? I'm probably plopping down the $ to get that. </span></span></span><br />
47. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
48. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>9. K.J. Wright</b></span><br />
49. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wright is one of only three players remaining on the roster from the XLVIII-winning team (along with Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson). Injuries limited him to five games last season, but he was effective enough to convince PCJS to sign him to a new 2-year extension that will keep him in Seattle through the 2020 season. </span><br />
50. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
51. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>8. Michael Dickson</b> </span><br />
52. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yeah, he's a punter. But he's a sexxxxxxy punter. Pro Bowl and All-Pro his rookie season and already one of the best (if not the very best) punter in the NFL. It certainly doesn't hurt in my book that he's cute and Australian, either. He's also under team control contract-wise through the 2021 season. </span><br />
53. <br />
54. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>7. Poona Ford</b></span><br />
55. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">The UDFA Longhorn over-delivered in his rookie season, ultimately ending up as the <a href="https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/poona-ford-ranked-among-best-defensive-tackles-in-the-league/">10th best interior defensive tackle in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus</a>. With multiple pieces around him being replaced for one reason or another, he'll be expected to repeat that surprising performance in 2019. His rookie deal keeps him in Seattle through the 2020 season. </span></span></span><br />
56. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
57. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6. Duane Brown</b><br />
58. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Hawks have swiftly improved their offensive line play, and Brown is one of the biggest reasons why. After being acquired from Houston, he's extended his stellar run as one of the best left tackles in the game. I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">f you want to stand out from the crowd and get an offensive lineman's jersey, #76 is a great choice. He's under contract through 2021, but the main concerns with him are his age (34) and past injury issues.</span><br />
59. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
60. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5. Bradley McDougald </b><br />
61. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">McDougald is coming off an outstanding 2018 campaign where he had a knack for making big plays in crucial spots and was, according to Pro Football Focus, the <a href="https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/16/30-most-important-seahawks-in-2019-no-9-ss-bradley-mcdougald/">4th best safety in coverage</a> last season across the league. He's also under contract through the 2020 season, so if you want his jersey there's no good reason to wait.  </span><br />
62. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
63. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4. Chris Carson</b><br />
64. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Last season Carson bounced back from a catastrophic 2017 injury to become the primary weapon in Seattle's ground attack. He became the Seahawks' first 1000-yard rusher since 2014 and provided a number of eye-popping highlights, punctuated by his full flip in Charlotte against the Panthers. Injuries are a bit of a lingering concern, and his touches may decline if the Hawks embrace a running-back-by-committee approach. </span></span><br />
65. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></b></b>
66. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">3. Tyler Lockett</b></b><br />
67. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lock singed a contract that will keep him in Seattle through 2021, and is coming off a season where he saw career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. With Angry Doug's retirement it's safe to say that he'll be Wilson's number one target in 2019. Given that last year RW3 had a perfect passer rating when targeting Lockett, and also given that Lock <a href="https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/08/tyler-lockett-the-nfls-most-efficient-receiver-over-the-last-10-years/">leads all receivers since 2009 on this metric</a>, today's a good day to snap up a #16 jersey. </span><br />
68. <br />
69. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><b>2. Russell Wilson</b></span></span><br />
70. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I remember going to bed that one night this spring worried that I would wake up to news that our franchise quarterback had been traded. That was never likely - Russ will be a career Seahawk unless some bizarre circumstance intervenes - but with PCJS, you can never rule out the bold, unpopular, maybe even perplexing move. What did I wake up to in the middle of the night? An uncomfortably intimate Instagram post from the WolfBadger, naked in bed with his wife, telling us a deal got done. As the kids said for a minute there - Weird flex, but ok. The important thing is that our most indispensable player is locked down through the 2023 season. </span></span><br />
71. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
72. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">RW3 is such a joy to watch. I was at the Kansas City game last December, and the sheer spectacle of him out-dueling Patrick Mahomes was close to overwhelming. No one throws a better deep ball than Russ, and there's no one that I'd rather have with the ball in his hands when needing a score to win the game. His game is bewitching, and I have no doubt that his most magical and death-defying feats are yet to come. </span></span><br />
73. <br />
74. <b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Bobby Wagner</b><br />
75. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Four appearances on the All-Pro first team. Five-time Pro Bowler. Only 29 years old, and under contract until 2022. Devilishly handsome. Total Bad Ass. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Bobby edges out Russ mainly due to relative novelty/the fact that his jersey will be the next one I buy. One thing that has stung over the last year and change is seeing future Ring-of-Honor inductees on that dominant defense leave the team - And in the cases of ETIII and Sherm, the divorces were very public and painfully bitter. Seeing Bwagz commit to staying in Seattle, and then also muse about wanting to be a career Hawk with multiple rings and a "jersey in the rafters?" That's exactly what us 12s want to hear from the best linebacker in the game. </span></span><br />
76. <br />
77. &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; font-family: &amp;quot;trebuchet ms&amp;quot; , &amp;quot;trebuchet&amp;quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;&quot;&gt;Would You Like To Know More?&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/6436619009541926909/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=6436619009541926909&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/6436619009541926909'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/6436619009541926909'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2019/07/your-2019-seattle-seahawks-jersey.html' title='Your 2019 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAe9QnQhhkvyrotyZQupsK9VCTIZoS3ATYfx9VNh4ZVb4Z1WkbIjZ1Jdzp4vVIpqecmDH7e7bg8M0kjRhUu4s6ABJaplBjGiQiI9ovVK40JXMegO7tCpKd9tQg1XCCW-Pu4cmbq1gAMc/s72-c/700499712.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-1654326571030918746</id><published>2018-12-26T15:52:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2018-12-26T15:52:28.176-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 38, Chiefs 31</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
78. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g_sUbPTl7TdXqPuQ6HcUdx4hy5QfN7-Qd912IE3_Hg_02WKj9zsZMyk2jTzoXEaHKxRf6o_KPL79ONm5Yld4I_jipqBMVOCa8mrNIlfYQZ8HO8pBV6WJMMNJk6UKmVma8xFdEOSNoSw/s1600/14932695_web1_WEB-SPORTS-FBN-CHIEFS-SEAHAWKS-9-KC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1280" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g_sUbPTl7TdXqPuQ6HcUdx4hy5QfN7-Qd912IE3_Hg_02WKj9zsZMyk2jTzoXEaHKxRf6o_KPL79ONm5Yld4I_jipqBMVOCa8mrNIlfYQZ8HO8pBV6WJMMNJk6UKmVma8xFdEOSNoSw/s400/14932695_web1_WEB-SPORTS-FBN-CHIEFS-SEAHAWKS-9-KC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
79. <br />
80. I've been thinking a lot about what turned this season around and why. Even an optimist like myself thought that this season would probably look a lot like 2002 or 2011 - A season where we'd build the foundation for later success, but end up with 7 or 8 wins. I didn't buy into the Doomsday-End-of-All-Things apocalyptic narrative that was floating around in the offseason and into September, but I didn't expect an immediate return to the playoffs, either.<br />
81. <br />
82. So what was it? Obviously it's reductive to narrow it down to just one thing, but one common narrative is that after starting 0-2, Pete Carroll demanded that Schottenheimer's offense focus on running the ball. And running the ball. And also, in addition, running the ball. That's certainly not WRONG, but I don't think that was the biggest factor in the team's turnaround, either.<br />
83. <br />
84. The turning point of this season was Earl Thomas III getting injured in Glendale in week 4.<br />
85. <br />
86. I'm not trying to shit on ETIII here. His Seattle legacy is untouchable. The second he retires, he'll merge directly onto the Ring-of-Honor-Number-Retired-Bust-in-Canton Highway. Also, he absolutely deserves to get PAID. I can see why he was pissed at the Hawks' organization. He had a legit beef.<br />
87. <br />
88. However... I can also see why the Seahawks didn't jump at the chance to bury Earl in Walter White Storage Space-sized piles of money. The injuries were starting to accumulate. The locker room vibe was changing into something bitter and curdled. But, Thomas is still one of the best defensive players in the league, so why trade him away for less than what he was truly worth?<br />
89. <br />
90. Y'all know what happened in Glendale back in September: Earl broke his leg, and gave the Seattle sideline the finger as he was getting carted off the field. It was one of the ugliest moments I can recall in 35 seasons of Twelving. I was on Seahawks twitter and the reaction was fairly unanimous there: Game lost. Season lost. Pete and John are morons for not trading Earl.<br />
91. <br />
92. The team found a way to grind out an ugly win, and the Hawks stood at 2-2. But with Earl out for the year and the formidable Rams coming to town, another beatdown from Los Angeles seemed pre-ordained. One of the most shocking results of the season's first half was Seattle outplaying the Rams. Sure, they lost by two. But this WAS a moral victory. In fact, it was more than that. It was proof of concept that the 2018 Seahawks were not a lost cause. This was Adonis Creed losing at the end of the first movie - A disappointing result, but a sign that future victories awaited.<br />
93. <br />
94. Maybe the first five games of the season were 2002 or 2011, just abbreviated? Because since that first Rams game, the Seahawks have been one of the most punishing and dangerous teams in football.<br />
95. <br />
96. Long-time readers know that I'm not psyched about rooting for Frank Clark, given his history of domestic abuse. I'm a total hypocrite, yes I know. I won't buy his jersey, but obviously he's an incredibly important contributor to the team's success. I have to give him credit for voicing something that has nagged at me for a good long while: That many of the core defensive players never really let go of or got over the ending of Super Bowl XLIX. As Clark said:<br />
97. <br />
98. <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
99. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"For so long, I feel like we've had this spirit over us
100. -- that Super Bowl lingering from 2015. You know what I mean? I feel like for the longest (time) we had that cloud over us, like people
101. wouldn't get over it. But I feel like there were some changes here."</i></span></div>
102. <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
103. It's one thing for fans to not get over XLIX - I haven't! - But for the leaders of the team in the locker room to not get over that game? That's corrosive. And I think that quote helps us all understand why the team moved on from a LOT of very talented and popular players this offseason. I think it's clear that on top of his contract angst, ETIII was carrying around some resentment about that game, too. </div>
104. <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
105. Since Earl's injury, the Hawks are 7-4, and three of those losses were by a total 15 points to the Rams and Chargers. The defense isn't as dominant as it was the peak of the L.O.B. era, but it's had a knack for creating turnovers and getting stops in high-leverage spots. The offensive line is MASSIVELY improved, which has allowed Chris Carson to blast the ever-loving shit out of opposing defenses. With time to throw and a legitimate running game keeping enemy defenses honest, Russell Carrington Wilson has had the best season of his badly underrated career. No quarterback in the game is more efficient, and no one else throws a deadlier deep ball than the WolfBadger. The only reason RW3 isn't a more prominent MVP candidate is the fetishization of total passing yards over efficiency and TD-to-INT ratios. Tyler Lockett is earning every penny of his new contract, and a healthy Doug Baldwin is showing that he's one of the most lethal offensive talents in the NFL. </div>
106. <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
107. I was lucky enough to be at the game Sunday night. I've been going to Seahawks games for 35 years, and that was one of the best game-day experiences I've ever had. There was a playoff-like atmosphere and the 12s were at something close to peak volume. I was there up in section 325 with one of my very best friends, the Seahawks played their best game of the season, and they cliched a playoff spot with an upset win over mighty Kansas City. When I think about regular-season wins in Seattle that I've attended, this was up there with being at the Largent-hitting-Harden in 1988, the MNF win over the Raiders the same year, the playoff-clinching win over New England in '83, the crazy shootout win over the Raiders in 1997, the final regular season game at the Kingdome in '99, and the Thursday night opener vs Green Bay in 2014. </div>
108. <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
109. So now we find ourselves on a collision course with Dallas in the Wild Card round. I don't know about y'all, but I'm HANGRY for that game. What could be more fun than beating Jerry Jones' boys in their own house and mentally destroying Cowboys fans across the globe? The wins that come after that, of course. I don't think the party is stopping in JerryWorld, and it might not stop until a parade in Seattle next February. </div>
110. <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
111. Would you like to know more?</div>
112. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
113. <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Mlf1oEW3TWE4Q1jOWoeCqTRzQ-DWleyU9hb_MMyShCGPQP2b2WtLwQUYrgqd7HY3T8gLTFmqh-lGcxufpezUlcki2fwk2FjPXJRMki5LZL1_Ombc1koJGCkP1I_OGClbmh9DqHH8Czw/s1600/PhotoGrid_1545852487820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Mlf1oEW3TWE4Q1jOWoeCqTRzQ-DWleyU9hb_MMyShCGPQP2b2WtLwQUYrgqd7HY3T8gLTFmqh-lGcxufpezUlcki2fwk2FjPXJRMki5LZL1_Ombc1koJGCkP1I_OGClbmh9DqHH8Czw/s400/PhotoGrid_1545852487820.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
114. <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
115. At Seahawks games with my friend Kris in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2018. :) </div>
116. </td></tr>
117. </tbody></table>
118. <div class="separator" style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
119. <br /></div>
120. &lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;sub&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;strike&gt;&lt;/strike&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;calibri&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/1654326571030918746/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=1654326571030918746&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/1654326571030918746'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/1654326571030918746'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2018/12/seahawks-38-chiefs-31.html' title='Seahawks 38, Chiefs 31'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g_sUbPTl7TdXqPuQ6HcUdx4hy5QfN7-Qd912IE3_Hg_02WKj9zsZMyk2jTzoXEaHKxRf6o_KPL79ONm5Yld4I_jipqBMVOCa8mrNIlfYQZ8HO8pBV6WJMMNJk6UKmVma8xFdEOSNoSw/s72-c/14932695_web1_WEB-SPORTS-FBN-CHIEFS-SEAHAWKS-9-KC.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-3735768545066315847</id><published>2018-10-29T17:02:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2018-10-29T17:02:55.822-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 28, Lions 14 </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
121. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF8ovCcR_f3z30jZIcTRgCNtR-ErjUailFe3KhlwF9NtaDhCwb0zO1jsLUA9PBsQPOmd3YCtDVmEFLea5TL1jE8yKZZsapxW7kIGOb_R-waO2OnfQwRxOBda6SDelvfg355-NZzzIFZM/s1600/45050151_10156591517483267_895833073030004736_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF8ovCcR_f3z30jZIcTRgCNtR-ErjUailFe3KhlwF9NtaDhCwb0zO1jsLUA9PBsQPOmd3YCtDVmEFLea5TL1jE8yKZZsapxW7kIGOb_R-waO2OnfQwRxOBda6SDelvfg355-NZzzIFZM/s320/45050151_10156591517483267_895833073030004736_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
122. <br />
123. One of the weirdest/most satisfying things about being a parent is being on the other side of something awesome that happened in your own childhood. I've written in this space before about the experience I had at <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/6/7/1505367/talk-about-the-passion-my-1983">my first Seahawks game back in </a><a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/6/7/1505367/talk-about-the-passion-my-1983">1983</a>, when I was eight years old. I started watching the Hawks every week after the stirring near-comeback led by Dave Krieg against the Steelers at midseason, and the regular-season finale against the Patriots was my first trip to the Kingdome. The short version? Steve Largent scored, we won and made the playoffs for the first time ever, the team came out for a postgame victory lap, it was ((LOUD)) and I was enraptured forever. When I was little kid, then a tween, then a teenager, I got to experience so many indelible moments at Seahawks games.<br />
124. <br />
125. I got to see Largent make one of the greatest catches I've ever seen against the Bears in '84. In '86, we went to the game on a bus from the Tri-Cities, and I wowed/annoyed all the adults with my voluminous knowledge of the NFL. Then, I got to watch us shut out Pittsburgh. I was in the house when Largent DESTROYED Mike Harden, and I was there for a MNF win over the Raiders in '88. These are some of the happiest memories of my life, and easily my favorite memories of spending time with my father.<br />
126. <br />
127. When I had kids of my own, I hoped that they would also become 12s, but I certainly didn't expect it. Three years ago, I took my son to <a href="https://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/10/bengals-27-seahawks-24-ot.html">his first Seahawks game</a>. The ending sucked (blowing a 17-point lead to the Bengals and losing in OT), but it was still a fun experience overall for my son, who was 9 at the time. He stayed interested in football and in the Seahawks, so a few months ago I asked him if he wanted to go to the game in Detroit. He said "yeeee" and gave me an exaggerated thumbs up. Did I mention that he already has a mustache and is taller than me? Life goes by pretty fast, as Ferris once said, so I was excited to stop and look at a Seahawks game with my kid.<br />
128. <br />
129. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
130. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTgX8PlI9bKaQv7aLQjvN6OIyRLZylhgFPOL5nrdfBYuiSXB2a030bfBvVR8PRcA9hRQT9waDTjN_rttN8H3VlEWLcexCBpNaDvEYfptaYfWpjECbYqpFcnByPHoGKfYh5LZJIC-lxZ0/s1600/44919983_10156591509608267_5805274807423467520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTgX8PlI9bKaQv7aLQjvN6OIyRLZylhgFPOL5nrdfBYuiSXB2a030bfBvVR8PRcA9hRQT9waDTjN_rttN8H3VlEWLcexCBpNaDvEYfptaYfWpjECbYqpFcnByPHoGKfYh5LZJIC-lxZ0/s400/44919983_10156591509608267_5805274807423467520_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
131. <br />
132. <br />
133. This time around, he was much more engaged, and much more eager to ask questions and get up close to the field and the players. Since he's a good little contrarian, he told me that my favorite player (Russ) was "overrated." I rolled my eyes at that one. After hanging around near the tunnel and then behind the Seattle sideline before the game, we went up to our seats in the 300 level. This was our point of view:<br />
134. <br />
135. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
136. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CBV9wxgaYLisbsrAyMGKDtlD2byGv4tLjSnl-rp2jx5eUfiICZwyWedpOQhryq7RSbqz7oQ3Lft6TtE7v_Ss813h6o1-CX2GrEmmpzFIFkAlWbcHJ38nVCq7fAz-nfyXTK0qbP6MMxY/s1600/44946529_10156591867463267_4608707926759047168_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="539" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CBV9wxgaYLisbsrAyMGKDtlD2byGv4tLjSnl-rp2jx5eUfiICZwyWedpOQhryq7RSbqz7oQ3Lft6TtE7v_Ss813h6o1-CX2GrEmmpzFIFkAlWbcHJ38nVCq7fAz-nfyXTK0qbP6MMxY/s400/44946529_10156591867463267_4608707926759047168_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
137. <br />
138. We were pretty completely surrounded by Lions fans, but there was still a healthy smattering of 12s nearby. I explained the rules of rooting for the Seahawks on the road to my son again:<br />
139. <br />
140. 1. We are here to cheer for our team<br />
141. 2. We're not here to boo the home team<br />
142. 3. Don't be a jerk<br />
143. <br />
144. Everywhere but Cleveland, these rules have served me well, and the Detroit fans yesterday were thankfully quite tame. Our guys murdersmacking the Lions around for most of the afternoon might have had something to do with that...<br />
145. <br />
146. My kid asked me a ton of questions, and I explained what play-action passes were, and what various penalties were. He asked me why we didn't throw more passes, and I told him all about the Seahawks' style of play under Pete Carroll - Pound them with running plays, then go deeeeep, man. After RW3's third TD pass, he admitted that Wilson wasn't actually overrated. He got more and more vocal as the game went on, and LOST HIS MIND when Justin Coleman essentially sealed the win with that late pick at our own 1-yard-line. It's also worth noting that he thought Michael Dickson's "Aussie Sweep" was absolutely hilarious once I explained how rare that sort of play was, and how the punter probably just decided to run with it (and that's what really happened!).<br />
147. <br />
148. After the Aussie Sweep, we went down to the area behind the tunnel to try to get his Seahawks hat autographed after the game. By that time, the bulk of the Lions fans had left, so it was mostly just exuberant overjoyed 12s remaining inside Ford Field. A "SEA!" "HAWKS!" chant broke out, and he joined in with a level of emotion I rarely see from him. He asked me if it was normal for this to happen at a game, and I told him that it really wasn't - Except if the Seahawks were the road team. I could see him realizing that being a 12 was special and exciting and fun, and that being a 12 meant being connected to this bigger thing than himself. He didn't get his hat signed, but by the time we were walking to my car, he was asking when we could go to another game. I told him we could go to the games in Cleveland and/or Pittsburgh in 2019, and he was like "that would be awesome, but I want to go to a game in Seattle. That's gotta be CRAZY."<br />
149. <br />
150. That was when I was convinced that I'd passed on the Twelving genes to my kid, who then told me he wants an "old school" 12 jersey for Christmas. The capper was when we were at dinner later that evening, and out of the blue he said "This was a really great day." Coming from a kid who likes to pretend that he's too cool for outward emotions, that qualified as effusiveness. And he was right. It WAS a really great day. It was a day that reminded me why this team is one of the most important things in my life, and one of the most central parts of my identity. It's still that central thread which runs down the center of the tapestry of my life, and at least for a while, I get to share that with my children. It might not last forever - and if it doesn't that's ok, I want them to freely choose what they are passionate about - But I'm sure savoring this time.<br />
151. <br />
152. I hope y'all are, too. Because after an offseason of bleak attrition, and a shaky start to the regular season, there were a lot of folks out there predicting our team to tumble into the Top Pick Abyss. But like Stacker Pentacost, it sure looks like this franchise found some ways to cancel (or at least postpone) the apocalypse. Six weeks ago, this season had a whiff of 1992. Today? It smells more like 2012. Running the ball 40+ times a week. Pummeling the enemy, breaking their will. Russ being efficient as FUCK and accurate as an atomic clock, even when firing it deep. The defense might give up yards, but they've reacquired the invaluable knack to come up with dramatic stops and impeccably-timed takeaways. They also seem to be having fun - Which I know is way easier when you're winning - But these guys seem to have gelled as a group, and their forward momentum is building every week.<br />
153. <br />
154. It really feels like it's not just a playoff spot that's in this team's future: It might be something more than that. Maybe not a championship, but something special. Even seasons without World Championships have had unforgettable moments: The Romo game, The Beastquake, The Freezer Bowl in Minneapolis, etc. When that special thing happens, whatever it may end up being, I'll experience it alongside my little 12, and the circle will be complete.<br />
155. <br />
156. Would You Like To Know More?<br />
157. <br />
158. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/3735768545066315847/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=3735768545066315847&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3735768545066315847'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3735768545066315847'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2018/10/seahawks-28-lions-14.html' title='Seahawks 28, Lions 14 '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF8ovCcR_f3z30jZIcTRgCNtR-ErjUailFe3KhlwF9NtaDhCwb0zO1jsLUA9PBsQPOmd3YCtDVmEFLea5TL1jE8yKZZsapxW7kIGOb_R-waO2OnfQwRxOBda6SDelvfg355-NZzzIFZM/s72-c/45050151_10156591517483267_895833073030004736_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-38780435410693901</id><published>2018-08-25T16:31:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2018-08-25T16:31:37.901-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Your 2018 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
159. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdiYG3qSBriHZMETf_JxRs01bL75XVCsXdYg4oeyOPybHmvpdOVL7GKch_mApKqP8gN_9mvMUyWS-1jLECqXSWTdB95AUT12dbODC73eqhIisfgULx9EvDA-_lP8S0sAY21_HfZ5DhZU/s1600/russell-wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdiYG3qSBriHZMETf_JxRs01bL75XVCsXdYg4oeyOPybHmvpdOVL7GKch_mApKqP8gN_9mvMUyWS-1jLECqXSWTdB95AUT12dbODC73eqhIisfgULx9EvDA-_lP8S0sAY21_HfZ5DhZU/s400/russell-wilson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
160. <br />
161. This all has become terribly fraught, hasn't it?<br />
162. <br />
163. I was really shaken earlier this week when I saw a post by a friend of mine - A trans woman, and another 12 - who is now actively rooting against the Seahawks because Pete Carroll invited noted transphobe and misogynist Jordan Peterson to come talk to the team (if you are new to all this, please check out <a href="https://twitter.com/ContraPoints?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Natalie Wynn</a>'s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LqZdkkBDas">excellent video on Peterson</a> and come back). My personal opinion? PC probably read Peterson's best-selling self-help book, ate that shit up, and invited him to come talk to the team based on that. I doubt he vetted Peterson fully, and I doubt that he's on board for Peterson's larger (and scarier) anti-woman and anti-trans crusades.<br />
164. <br />
165. That said? I can't blame my friend for turning on the team, and I can intellectually recognize that I'm rationalizing things so I can continue enjoying this thing that I've been passionate about and connected to for the vast majority of my life. It sucks that PC invited that hateful man to address the team. It sucks that we continue to employ Frank Clark. It sucks that this brutal game debilitates many of those who play it for life. It sucks that the majority of owners are closer to Donald Trump politically than the vast majority of their players. It sucks that these owners won't employ Colin Kaepernick or Eric Reed, and that they won't take a stronger stand for the free speech rights of their employees. So if any one of those things is too much to stomach, or some combination of those things are sufficiently off-putting, I don't begrudge anyone for switching off.<br />
166. <br />
167. Everything is awful, on fire, and shrieking terribly at full ear-piercing volume. But I'm still here. Whatever invisible line exists for me hasn't been crossed, and I still think my life is happier, better, and fuller with the Seahawks as a part of it. With all that said, let's talk about this upcoming season, and the all-important decision: What jersey should I buy?<br />
168. <br />
169. This offseason has brought on the most roster and staff turnover the franchise has seen since Pete Carroll rolled into town eight years ago. If you bought a Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Jimmy Graham, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Jon Ryan, or Paul Richardson jersey last year, you probably feel pretty burned right about now. As I do every summer, I'll try to save y'all from such a lamentable fate this time around.<br />
170. <br />
171. As usual, let's start with the 1st Commandment of jersey ownership: <b>NEVER PUT YOUR JERSEY IN THE DRYER!</b> Dryers kill jerseys! Don't do it under any circumstances. If you abide by this decree your jersey(s) should hold up for a nice, long spell. If possible, wash them on the delicate cycle in cold water by themselves. I also feel strongly that there's no compelling reason to opt for the more opulent Nike models. The $100 replicas ("game" jerseys) are plenty expensive, and will look sharp for years with proper care. In my experience, the screen-printed numbers on the "game" jerseys actually hold up better and longer than the stitched-on ones adorning the more expensive Nike jerseys. Please note - If you are lucky enough to fit into a "youth" size, those are significantly cheaper.<br />
172. <br />
173. For the purposes of this guide, I'm setting aside throwbacks (though I'm hanging onto my gunmetal blue Matthew Hasselbeck jersey until the heat death of the universe), personalized jerseys, and #12 jerseys (I've changed my tune on the #12's over the years. I used to be dead-set against buying them, but given how precarious roster spots are under PCJS's rule, I can't blame a fan for playing it safe with such a substantial investment).<br />
174. <br />
175. Personally, I have a weird thing about wearing an injured player's jersey. I'm not a superstitious type, but I feel out of sorts if I'm wearing a player's jersey while he's hurt. Thus, I tend to shy away from players who have a history of injury problems. I'm also hesitant to buy a jersey of a rookie or a new free agent acquisition. What if they suck? Then you're wearing a big shroud of suck, aren't you?<br />
176. <br />
177. So what jerseys should you avoid? Which ones are risky buys? Which ones are awesome, at least somewhat unique, and not likely to burn you a year from now? Let's break it down.<br />
178. <br />
179. Let's start with the solid no's.<br />
180. <br />
181. <b>DON'T BUY</b><br />
182. <b><br /></b>
183. <b>Earl Thomas</b>: This doesn't break my heart. It puts it right in the fuckin' blender, and mashes the puree button. ETIII is bound someday for the Ring of Honor, Canton, and his number hanging from the rafters of Seahawks Stadium. He's a generational talent, and you can make a case that no single player was more instrumental to the team's 2012-2016 run than Thomas. But he may have played his final down with the Hawks. Even if he caves and comes back to the team this season, it will likely be without a long-term extension, and for a final handful of games in Seattle before bolting for Dallas.<br />
184. <br />
185. If you have a Thomas jersey, hold onto it for the long term. But if you are looking for a jersey to wear this season, #29 is an abysmal option.<br />
186. <br />
187. <b>Frank Clark</b>: Yeah, still a hard pass here. I'm a hypocrite, but there are limits to that hypocrisy. Also, he's a free agent after this season.<br />
188. <br />
189. <b>Other Notable Players Who Are Free Agents (UFA) After the 2018 Season</b>: K.J. Wright, Byron Maxwell, Dion Jordan, Tom Johnson, Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Davis, Brandon Marshall, Tyler Lockett.<br />
190. <br />
191. <b>Notable Restricted Free Agents After the 2018 Season</b>: J.D. McKissic, Quinton Jefferson, George Fant.<br />
192. <br />
193. <b>RISKY BUYS</b><br />
194. <br />
195. <b>Rookies</b>: I'm as excited as the next 12 about  Rasheem Green, Michael Dickson, Shaquem Griffin, Rashaad Penny, and the rest of our shiny new players - But buying a rookie's jersey is almost as risky as buying the jersey of someone about to hit free agency.<br />
196. <br />
197. <b>Notable New Free Agents</b>: Ed Dickson, Barkevious Mingo, Jaron Brown, Dontae Johnson<br />
198. <br />
199. <b>RANKING THE BEST OPTIONS</b><br />
200. <b><br /></b>
201. <b>6. Duane Brown</b><br />
202. If you want to go outside the box and get an offensive lineman's jersey, Brown is a great choice. He's under contract through 2021, and has a proven track record as an elite left tackle. The main concerns with him are his age (33) and emerging injury issues.<br />
203. <b><br /></b>
204. <b>5. Chris Carson</b><br />
205. His promising rookie season was cut short by injury, but so far in this preseason he's run with authority and effectiveness. Carson should be Seattle's primary ball-carrier this season, but his health and ball security issues are lingering concerns.<br />
206. <b><br /></b>
207. <b>4. Shaquill Griffin </b><br />
208. What a great time to hop onto the Quill Train. Going into his second season, he's already got a starting cornerback spot locked down. As a rookie, he vastly exceeded expectations and is on course to be the cornerstone of a revamped Seahawks secondary.<br />
209. <br />
210. <b>3. Doug Baldwin</b><br />
211. The only reason Angry Doug isn't higher on this list is the injury he's currently dealing with. The guy is an absolute weapon, and once he's back on the field, he'll get an immense amount of attention as Russell Wilson's favorite target. He's also unlikely to embarass the franchise off the field, and he's under contract through 2020.<br />
212. <br />
213. <b>2. Bobby Wagner</b><br />
214. Two-time All-Pro. Four-time Pro Bowler. Only 28 years old, and under contract until 2020. Handsome. Total Bad Ass. Can't go wrong with Bwagz.<br />
215. <br />
216. <b>1. Russell Wilson</b><br />
217. I've said that RW3 has been an uninspired choice in the past, but his level of play has been so consistently high, and he's become such an indispensable asset, that I believe he's the best possible choice (unless you already have a #3 jersey, of course). We're lucky to have a true franchise quarterback hitting the prime years of his career. We're even luckier that he, by all accounts, appears to also be a decent human being. It's a great moment to buy a jersey you'll likely get to wear proudly for the next 5-10 years.<br />
218. <br />
219. Would You Like To Know More?</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/38780435410693901/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=38780435410693901&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/38780435410693901'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/38780435410693901'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2018/08/your-2018-seattle-seahawks-jersey.html' title='Your 2018 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdiYG3qSBriHZMETf_JxRs01bL75XVCsXdYg4oeyOPybHmvpdOVL7GKch_mApKqP8gN_9mvMUyWS-1jLECqXSWTdB95AUT12dbODC73eqhIisfgULx9EvDA-_lP8S0sAY21_HfZ5DhZU/s72-c/russell-wilson.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-6451234345687124213</id><published>2018-07-01T13:27:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2018-07-01T13:36:09.413-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Scrambling </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
220. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFeQ5Ain66et6Ins92Fxg5BexnaAN3kZ7bh-UMByL3gSQVZMZZa4oOj479NAX1KIbSe3r3CCI2lePrEC3I14gVmowoVaFJ_HorLbHEKlGmj0mLnF6YZeNAaLN_X2rh3DaYj2AR0igVkk/s1600/9139662_web1_M5-seahawks-edh-171029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFeQ5Ain66et6Ins92Fxg5BexnaAN3kZ7bh-UMByL3gSQVZMZZa4oOj479NAX1KIbSe3r3CCI2lePrEC3I14gVmowoVaFJ_HorLbHEKlGmj0mLnF6YZeNAaLN_X2rh3DaYj2AR0igVkk/s320/9139662_web1_M5-seahawks-edh-171029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
221. <br />
222. I was at an event for work the other night, and it turned out that one of my colleagues brought her husband, and he was a fellow 12. We spent a good half-hour talking about the Hawks, and it was great - But I noticed something else: I didn't feel like I could say that I was a Seahawks blogger anymore. That made me feel sad and incomplete, but it also motivated me to sit down and write again. I'm ridiculously busy these days, but who isn't? I need to remember that writing about the Seahawks is essentially self-care for me. It makes me feel better to blog about the team, and to know that there is a group of 12s out there who want to engage with what I write. So here I am, back at a keyboard, trying to get into the habit of blogging about our favorite team again.<br />
223. <br />
224. It's been a tumultuous, painful offseason, but I want to run it back to the end of the 2017 season before getting to that.<br />
225. <br />
226. I was at that waking nightmare against the Rams in December, and it was the worst I've ever felt after attending a Seahawks game. I say that as someone who went to Steve Largent's final game in 1989 and cried like I did when E.T. was all ashy and dying, harassed by raccoons. It was a sobering beatdown, but we still had a chance to make the playoffs at that point. I went home to the Tri-Cities, looking forward to watching the Cowboys game with my family on Christmas Eve.<br />
227. <br />
228. The game was a big highlight of my trip home, and it felt great to watch a Seahawks win with my family like I had done for the past three decades. There was an odd undercurrent to everything, though. A number of more distant family members and acquaintances of my parents refused to come over watch the Seahawks in support of Donald Trump's brazen attacks on the free speech rights of NFL players. I was stunned, flabbergasted at the ease with which some people could abandon the team. If I was going to stop watching the Seahawks because I didn't like the politics of the players or coaches, or I found their behavior abhorrent, there would have been dozens of opportunities for me to do so over the years. I mean, back in the 00s my favorite player was Matt Hasselbeck, who openly campaigned and fund-raised for George W. Bush. If my criteria for supporting the Seahawks was entirely dependent on my TOTAL ALIGNMENT WITH AND APPROVAL OF all the players on all the coaches, I should boycott the team because they employ Frank Clark. I should abandon the franchise because Pete Carroll consorted with noted radical misogynist and transphobe Jordan Peterson. I'm... not going to do any of that.<br />
229. <br />
230. Maybe my Hillary-Clinton-voting ass is just accustomed to making compromises, because I know getting half a loaf is OK since hey, that way you can still make sandwiches? But I think it's deeper than that, because the social pressure to abandon the NFL and the Seahawks isn't just coming from the right.<br />
231. <br />
232. I run in pretty deeply progressive/queer/feminist circles, and as you can imagine, there's not a ton of people in my networks that watch the NFL, or even understand how I can watch it. I've heard the critiques, and if Colin Kaepernick getting blackballed, or the concussion crisis, or the league's tepid response to domestic violence has killed your desire to watch the game, I respect that.<br />
233. <br />
234. <i>(Sidebar: I do find it laughable when people who NEVER watched the NFL make a BIIIIG performative show of "boycotting" the NFL. Bruh, if you use a product or service and then STOP using it to make a political point, that's a boycott. It would be bizarre if I announced that I was boycotting NASCAR, since I've never watched it anyway. You can just not like or not watch something without theatrically announcing it to the world, you know?)</i><br />
235. <br />
236. It IS alienating, though. For most of my life watching the Seahawks has been an oasis where I could connect with my family, friends, and roots in Washington State, where I could let loose and just express the full range and intensity of my emotions, and where I could, in the most positive sense of concept, feel something close to normal. It doesn't feel quite that way anymore. Now it's contentious and contested, rather than being something a broad swath of American society can enjoy together.<br />
237. <br />
238. That said, this is still so important to me. In May I came home for alumni weekend at Western, and to see friends and family in Seattle. It was a transcendent experience that was so energizing that it made me think about moving to Bellingham in a more serious manner than I have for at least 15 years. Even though it is the offseason, the visit also reminded me how important, how crucial, being a 12 is to my identity. The Seahawks have been one of the only constants in my life over the decades, and one of the things that make me feel like my heart is still wirelessly connected to the state I grew up in. I need this team, and I need to feel connected to my fellow 12s. I felt that when I was blogging regularly, and that's a big reason I'm going to try to write here more regularly from now on.<br />
239. <br />
240. Obviously, there is plenty to write about concerning the team right now. My annual jersey-buying guide will be coming in July, and I'll also do a (grossly belated) recap of the 2017 season soon. On some level, this is therapeutic for me - So I'll try to talk to y'all more often this season.<br />
241. <br />
242. Anyway, Go Hawks!</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/6451234345687124213/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=6451234345687124213&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/6451234345687124213'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/6451234345687124213'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2018/07/scrambling.html' title='Scrambling '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFeQ5Ain66et6Ins92Fxg5BexnaAN3kZ7bh-UMByL3gSQVZMZZa4oOj479NAX1KIbSe3r3CCI2lePrEC3I14gVmowoVaFJ_HorLbHEKlGmj0mLnF6YZeNAaLN_X2rh3DaYj2AR0igVkk/s72-c/9139662_web1_M5-seahawks-edh-171029.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-6124591811227484894</id><published>2017-12-04T19:12:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2017-12-04T19:12:43.050-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 24, Eagles 10 </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
243. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysr4EodFOLsT7Q6NvwqJ_TEr5uO1jIEq8vjreOmhnE5CQkahgkp7WmDKv2xwg7HgyTtLCYky7VJurd-CFR-I3jvJnFy4IDt5vEWcLA6ShnzbHQti6HiWk1fEWcDoTJw50iYiM22bdMYU/s1600/5a24d7958ad94.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1200" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysr4EodFOLsT7Q6NvwqJ_TEr5uO1jIEq8vjreOmhnE5CQkahgkp7WmDKv2xwg7HgyTtLCYky7VJurd-CFR-I3jvJnFy4IDt5vEWcLA6ShnzbHQti6HiWk1fEWcDoTJw50iYiM22bdMYU/s400/5a24d7958ad94.image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
244. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
245. <br /></div>
246. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
247. <i>"I've got some thoughts I cling to/What makes you bitter makes you old..." -Chastity Belt, 5am</i></div>
248. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
249. <i><br /></i></div>
250. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
251. While I was preparing to write this post, I decided to look up how many players in the NFL are older than I am. There were just two: Adam Vinatieri and Phil Dawson. I had two reactions to this. First, I should have trained my beefy-ass legs to kick footballs straight and far a long time ago. I actually remember spending exactly one afternoon when I was like 14 trying to train myself to be a kicker. I swung and missed more than once. I was by myself. The ball was on a tee. One time I slipped and fell right on my ass. That brought my placekicking career to a merciful end. </div>
252. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
253. <br /></div>
254. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
255. My other reaction? Relief. Relief that I hadn't yet passed into the realm of being (theoretically) too old to play in the NFL. Sure, I'm also a woman, and I have no athletic talent whatsoever, and I'm pretty sure if I ever played an NFL snap I'd not only die - I'd <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hup9eowiZHQ">explode like one of the Garblovians</a> from Rick and Morty on first contact from an opposing player. But, hey! I could still play in the NFL! </div>
256. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
257. <br /></div>
258. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
259. Being a fan is such a bizarre experience across one's life cycle. First, all the players are these impossibly talented demi-god figures that you look up to as a kid. Then you get older and the players are your contemporaries, and you realize they just happen to have the athletic skill and elite work ethic that one needs to get paid enormous amounts of money to play a breathtakingly dangerous sport. Finally, the players are a generation (or generations) behind you. The gulf between you and them widens, both athletically and culturally - And you're faced with a choice, consciously or not, about how you'll deal with this reality. You can focus on how things aren't like the "Good Old Days," and become embittered and detached from this thing that you've loved. Alternatively, you can strain to create continuity between today and yesterday, even when it might not actually be there (I do this A LOT). Somewhere in the middle is feeling simple appreciation for the high points, because they are fleeting and precious. </div>
260. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
261. <br /></div>
262. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
263. As you get older, you also realize that this game is HARD. It's hard and it's brutal and it's cruel. When you're a kid, the losses hurt, but they don't seem permanent. As you become more aware of your own mortality, and as the seasons feel like they are flying by at an ever-quicker pace, you become cognizant of how fragile it all is. The clock ticks louder and louder, and the losses land harder and harder. </div>
264. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
265. <br /></div>
266. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
267. That brings us around to the 2017 Seahawks, whose fate has become all-too-tied to my own, at least in my own brainpan (as Sterling Archer once said: Hooray for metaphors!). I'm 42 now, and reality is rudely starting to assert itself by jabbing me with the pointy stick of "YOU ARE GETTING OLDER." Unfortunately, aging gracefully isn't really part of my skill set (doing ANYTHING gracefully isn't in my proverbial toolbox), so I'm marinating in something close to panic. Bonus factor? I transitioned less than five years ago, so I'm also trying to make up for wasting what.. like 20 years or so... pretending to be a dude. </div>
268. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
269. <br /></div>
270. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
271. As usual, my most highly attuned talent is taking things people are saying about the Seahawks personally. When the Hawks fell to 6-4 and it became clear that Kam and Sherm were out for the season, the narrative became all about windows slamming shut and obits for the Legion of Boom and the PCJS Hawks. They had peaked. The best days were in the past. The decline and the fall? Eminent. The problem with making a sports team central to your identity is that shit which seems to apply to your own life starts to resonate a little too much. </div>
272. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
273. <br /></div>
274. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
275. But.. maybe not yet? Maybe this team is actually sturdier than many assume? In the three games without Kam and Sherm, the defense hasn't imploded. In fact, they're only allowing 19 points per game, and they just held the NFL's best offense to ten little points. The younger guys and the newer guys and the older vets called back into service seem to be coalescing into something like the L.O.B. lite - Behind obvious Defensive Player of the Year Bobby Wagner and Earl "Gold Jacket on Layaway" Thomas, the defense might just be able to throw up enough obstacles for the enemy to give the NFL MVP the chance to hoist another Lombardi Trophy. </div>
276. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
277. <br /></div>
278. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
279. That's right. The guy that the bobbleheads used to say was a game manager. The guy who was only good because he was supported by a dominant ground attack and a suffocating defense. The guy who was too short, too corny, too controlled, too corporate. The guy <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/08/too-soon.html">certain bloggers thought should sit behind Matt Flynn</a>. He's leveled up. He's Neo. He's John Wick. He's an unholy CRISPR concoction of Mike Vick and Drew Brees. Russell Carrington Wilson is The Indispensable Man. The Infernal Machine. The Seattle Sorcerer. The Emerald Enchanter. The God Damn One-Man Slaughterhouse. The Most Valuable Player. </div>
280. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
281. <br /></div>
282. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
283. On the biggest regular-season stage, Wilson utterly outclassed presumptive MVP Carson Wentz. Three more touchdowns (meaning that he's accounted for more touchdowns than any other player in the sport this season) and a couple more moments of signature WolfBadger magic: The perfect dime to Angry Doug under intense pressure from an all-out Eagles blitz to set up Seattle's second touchdown, and his bugfuck insane pitch to Mike Davis in the MIDDLE OF THE DAMN FIELD to keep the Hawks' game-clinching drive alive. Yes, we know it wasn't a lateral. We don't care. No one gave a shit about Paul Richardson almost getting his damn skull ripped off by the face mask, so let's call it even. </div>
284. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
285. <br /></div>
286. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
287. As usual, it looks like the Seahawks are peaking at the right time. December means three things: A new Star Wars movie, Christmas, and the Seahawks unleashing hell upon the rest of the National Football League. If the Seahawks can keep this going, we will know that they are battle-tested for the postseason. Trips to Jacksonville and Dallas. The rematch with Los Angeles. Even if they have to go on the road in the playoffs, this is a team that is better equipped than ever to win away from Seahawks Stadium.</div>
288. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
289. <br /></div>
290. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
291. In two weeks, I'll be there with my partner and my brother screaming my blue head off for three hours as we battle the Rams. Just like I have for over thirty years, just like I will as long I have any decibels left to push out of my screamhole. These Seahawks have a lot of wondrous things left to do this season and beyond. Savor every damn second of this, 12 - And know that while the clock might be ticking, time hasn't run out on us just yet. </div>
292. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
293. <br /></div>
294. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
295. Would You Like To Know More? </div>
296. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/6124591811227484894/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=6124591811227484894&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/6124591811227484894'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/6124591811227484894'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2017/12/seahawks-24-eagles-10.html' title='Seahawks 24, Eagles 10 '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysr4EodFOLsT7Q6NvwqJ_TEr5uO1jIEq8vjreOmhnE5CQkahgkp7WmDKv2xwg7HgyTtLCYky7VJurd-CFR-I3jvJnFy4IDt5vEWcLA6ShnzbHQti6HiWk1fEWcDoTJw50iYiM22bdMYU/s72-c/5a24d7958ad94.image.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-3778688344245457042</id><published>2017-09-06T20:03:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2017-09-07T13:39:46.394-05:00</updated><title type='text'>DKSB&#39;s Perfectly Accurate (LIES!) and Unbiased (LIES!) 2017 NFL Predictions</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
297. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuT7H9u9OWLbJZAS_i4sAFNduryRNTSjIefKBvua82IkFQTqyFMxvxSLd_oZb9h84bzvanWvwfFo8kzW3LlXa3nw1ApTqBNpOOX3cUYWApYXs49kkO2WhtXksfu92EtuxqXdZCoL4n_g/s1600/_rm17228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="977" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuT7H9u9OWLbJZAS_i4sAFNduryRNTSjIefKBvua82IkFQTqyFMxvxSLd_oZb9h84bzvanWvwfFo8kzW3LlXa3nw1ApTqBNpOOX3cUYWApYXs49kkO2WhtXksfu92EtuxqXdZCoL4n_g/s400/_rm17228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
298. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
299. <br /></div>
300. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
301. "You’ve got numbers on your phone of the dead that you can’t delete</div>
302. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
303. And you got life-affirming moments in your past that you can't repeat"</div>
304. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
305. -"Emotional Haircut" by LCD Soundsystem</div>
306. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
307. <br /></div>
308. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
309. Yesterday I read that <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/2017/9/5/16255076/13-seahawks-remain-from-2013-super-bowl-championship">only 13 members of the XLVIII-winning 2013 Seahawks are still on the team</a>. Thirteen? That's all? Our Championship Season couldn't have been that long ago, right?</div>
310. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
311. <br /></div>
312. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
313. I remember where I was in my life at that moment, having just started <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2013/06/off-topic-yup-im-trans.html">living authentically as a woman</a> just weeks before the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2014/02/seahawks-43-broncos-8.html">Super Bowl</a>. It felt like thirty years of twelving had lead up to that moment, and I (knowingly, completely irrationally) had this overwhelming feeling that they had waited for me to be ready - That the forces of the football universe didn't want me to have to celebrate perhaps the best day of my life as a <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d4/70/ed/d470ed01bb949a8bcf635d8cfe577f79--transgender-anatomy.jpg">sad, beardy egg</a>. The truth? The realistic chance we had of winning XLVIII motivated me to finally come completely out as a trans woman. I had been on hormones for a year and a half, but was still hesitant to take that final leap. I had reached the limits of what baggy clothing could hide, but it was the Seahawks who finally shoved my increasingly voluptuous ass out of the nest. </div>
314. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
315. <br /></div>
316. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
317. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2014/01/seahawks-23-49ers-17.html">I was there when Sherm tipped it to Malcolm Smith</a>, and the Super Bowl itself was such an orbital nuking that it felt more like Team USA beating Finland for the gold that the Miracle on Ice. The coronation was cathartic, though - For me the tears only started to fall once I saw "Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks" scrawled across the bottom of the TV. This was it. This was everything I had waited for my whole life.</div>
318. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
319. <br /></div>
320. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
321. That's how a lot of things felt for me in early 2014, and if they made a rousing biopic of my life, that's probably where you cut to the closing credits under an upbeat, anthemic song by some 90s alternative rock legends (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiQSf2Huk6g">Maybe this one</a>?). </div>
322. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
323. <br /></div>
324. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
325. That's not how real life works, though. As Don Draper once mused, "the universe is indifferent." The euphoria of coming out wore off, and while I was immeasurably happier, facing stupid reality as woman still meant... facing stupid reality. Transitioning solved one very big problem, but it didn't solve all my problems. I still had to worry about making rent, about staying tenuously employed, about my remaining mental health issues, about managing multiple fraught and awkward relationships, and about all the annoying bullshit that piles up and up until you scarcely believe you could ever get over or around it. </div>
326. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
327. <br /></div>
328. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
329. The Seahawks? Well, if I take estrogen and spironolactone every day to help me be myself, I take Vitamin 12 once a week for 4-5 months every year to do the exact same thing. Nothing else allows me to express the full range of my emotions in anything close to a socially acceptable context. Nothing else is as effective at making me feel connected to my family and friends back home, even though I'm 2300 miles away. Nothing else gives me a soothing feeling of continuity and connection reaching back to when I was an eight-year-old kid screaming bloody murder at enemy players hundreds of feet away who couldn't possibly hear me. That's why I had a weird feeling of relief that mingled with my pain and sadness at the end of XLIX - I was afraid that after winning a Super Bowl, the Seahawks wouldn't matter as much. I was afraid that I had changed. I hadn't. Because that loss still STUNG. The Seahawks still MATTERED. </div>
330. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
331. <br /></div>
332. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
333. Thankfully, even as XLVIII and the team that won it all fades into a fog of nostalgia, this team that we love still matters. Not only are they still an immensely talented group, but they demand your attention because on and off the field they are never boring. For better or worse, they <a href="http://theundefeated.com/features/seahawks-michael-bennett-is-an-activist-disguised-as-a-football-player/">let you know</a> <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-insider-blog/article167425257.html">exactly what</a> is <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/6/16264158/richard-sherman-colin-kaepernick-michael-bennett-protest">on their minds</a>. </div>
334. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
335. <br /></div>
336. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
337. It's dizzyingly exciting to imagine Donald Trump watching Super Bowl LII and screaming obscenities at the screen because the Seahawks have congregated at midfield to pass around the Vince Lombardi Trophy. You KNOW he hates our guys; Our stalwart heroes who not only refuse to lose, but also refuse to "stick to sports." Just take a second and close your eyes. Imagine his sputtering tantrum when Kam Chancellor stuffs Marshawn Lynch at the goal line on the final down of the Super Bowl. Imagine how red and bloated his loathsome face will be. It will be glorious. </div>
338. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
339. <br /></div>
340. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
341. Russ is healthy. Earl is healthy. So is Tyler Lockett. The offense has more firepower than John Wick. The defense just added Sheldon Richardson to what was already going to be the most dominant unit in the league. They're hungry. They're pissed. They're primed. They're going to win the Super Bowl again. </div>
342. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
343. <br /></div>
344. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
345. Life goes on, but it can still be awesome. My life can be a grind sometimes, and I have bad days, but I'm happy. You can't repeat those life-affirming moments, but you sure as shit can make new ones. Anyway, here's my 2017 NFL Predictions... </div>
346. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
347. <br /></div>
348. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
349. Now, the usual preamble: </div>
350. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
351. <br /></div>
352. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
353. <i>All preseason predictions are, to a greater or lesser degree, bullshit. The beauty of this game is its unpredictability. Anyone who tells you they KNOW who will make the playoffs, who will win the Super Bowl, etc, is trying to sell you something. Folks with deeper, more detailed knowledge of the game might be able to give you slightly more accurate predictions, but at the end of the day it's still, at best, educated guessing. </i></div>
354. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
355. <i><br /></i></div>
356. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
357. <i>I've always had particularly deep contempt for implausible preseason predictions. In particular, I'm talking about when some lazy sportswriter predicts the records for all 32 teams and comes up with an impossible aggregate record. That's why every year I go through the ENTIRE regular season and predict the winner of EVERY game, so all the pieces fit together. What follows is my own particular flavor of bullshit, which you can dissect in the comments at your leisure.  </i></div>
358. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
359. <br /></div>
360. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
361. <b>Regular Season Awards: </b></div>
362. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
363. <b>League MVP: Derek Carr, Oakland </b></div>
364. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
365. <b>Offensive Player of the Year: David Johnson, Arizona </b></div>
366. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
367. <b>Defensive Player of the Year: Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers </b></div>
368. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
369. <b>Offensive Rookie of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina </b></div>
370. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
371. <b>Defensive Rookie of the Year: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh</b></div>
372. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
373. <b>Comeback Player of the Year: Earl Thomas, Seattle </b></div>
374. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
375. <b>Coach of the Year: Pete Carroll, Seattle </b></div>
376. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
377. <b><br /></b></div>
378. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
379. <b>NFC West</b></div>
380. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
381. <b>Seattle 13-3 (#1 NFC Seed) </b></div>
382. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
383. <b>Arizona 10-6 (#5) </b></div>
384. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
385. <b>Los Angeles 6-10</b></div>
386. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
387. <b>Santa Clara 3-13</b></div>
388. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
389. <b><br /></b></div>
390. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
391. <b>NFC North </b></div>
392. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
393. <b>Green Bay 11-5 (#4) </b></div>
394. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
395. <b>Detroit 9-7 (#6)</b></div>
396. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
397. <b>Minnesota 8-8 </b></div>
398. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
399. <b>Chicago 4-12 </b></div>
400. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
401. <b><br /></b></div>
402. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
403. <b>NFC East </b></div>
404. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
405. <b>New York 12-4 (#3) </b></div>
406. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
407. <b>Dallas 8-8 </b></div>
408. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
409. <b>Philadelphia 8-8 </b></div>
410. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
411. <b>DC 5-11</b></div>
412. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
413. <b><br /></b></div>
414. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
415. <b>NFC South </b></div>
416. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
417. <b>Atlanta 13-3 (#2) </b></div>
418. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
419. <b>New Orleans 8-8 </b></div>
420. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
421. <b>Tampa Bay 7-9 </b></div>
422. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
423. <b>Carolina 7-9 </b></div>
424. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
425. <b><br /></b></div>
426. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
427. <b>NFC PLAYOFFS </b></div>
428. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
429. <b>Wild Card Round: New York 26, Detroit 17; Green Bay 32, Arizona 20 </b></div>
430. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
431. <b>Divisional Round: Seattle 24, Green Bay 23; New York 36, Atlanta 33</b></div>
432. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
433. <b>NFC Championship Game: Seattle 27, New York 19</b></div>
434. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
435. <b><br /></b></div>
436. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
437. <b>AFC West </b></div>
438. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
439. <b>Oakland 12-4 (#2) </b></div>
440. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
441. <b>Kansas City 10-6 (#5) </b></div>
442. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
443. <b>Denver 6-10 </b></div>
444. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
445. <b>Los Angeles 5-11 </b></div>
446. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
447. <b><br /></b></div>
448. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
449. <b>AFC North </b></div>
450. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
451. <b>Pittsburgh 13-3 (#1) </b></div>
452. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
453. <b>Baltimore 9-7 </b></div>
454. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
455. <b>Cincinnati 9-7 </b></div>
456. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
457. <b>Cleveland 5-11 </b></div>
458. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
459. <b><br /></b></div>
460. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
461. <b>AFC East </b></div>
462. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
463. <b>New England 12-4 (#3) </b></div>
464. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
465. <b>Miami 10-6 (#6) </b></div>
466. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
467. <b>Buffalo 7-9 </b></div>
468. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
469. <b>New York 0-16 </b></div>
470. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
471. <b><br /></b></div>
472. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
473. <b>AFC South </b></div>
474. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
475. <b>Houston 10-6 (#4) </b></div>
476. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
477. <b>Tennessee 7-9 </b></div>
478. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
479. <b>Jacksonville 6-10 </b></div>
480. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
481. <b>Indianapolis 4-12 </b></div>
482. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
483. <b><br /></b></div>
484. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
485. <b>AFC PLAYOFFS </b></div>
486. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
487. <b>Wild Card Round: Kansas City 18, Houston 14; New England 30, Miami 16 </b></div>
488. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
489. <b>Divisional Round: Pittsburgh 37, Houston 10; Oakland 27, New England 26 </b></div>
490. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
491. <b>AFC Championship Game: Oakland 32, Pittsburgh 29 (OT) </b></div>
492. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
493. <b><br /></b></div>
494. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
495. <b>SUPER BOWL LII </b></div>
496. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
497. <b>Seattle 23, Oakland 19 </b></div>
498. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
499. <b>MVP: Kam Chancellor </b></div>
500. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
501. <br /></div>
502. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
503. Here's how the season will shake out for the Seahawks: </div>
504. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
505. <br /></div>
506. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
507. -The three losses? At New York, at Arizona, and at Dallas. </div>
508. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
509. <br /></div>
510. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
511. -Seattle opens the season with a mild upset over the Packers at Lambeau Field. Former Packer Eddie Lacy scores a pair of TDs and Earl Thomas picks off Rodgers late to secure a 26-20 Seahawks win. </div>
512. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
513. <br /></div>
514. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
515. -The season's requisite insane comeback win happens at Tennessee in week 3. The young Titans run out to a 21-3 3rd-quarter lead, but a Tyler Lockett punt return TD and Cliff Avril strip/sack/scoop/score pulls the Hawks to within 7 late. Down 24-17, Russell Wilson finds Jimmy Graham for the tying score on the final snap of regulation. On the opening drive of overtime, Thomas Rawls gets loose and sprints 64 yards for the winning touchdown. </div>
516. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
517. <br /></div>
518. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
519. -Seattle flattens Indianapolis in week 4, delivering a 42-0 walloping that gets Chuck Pagano fired the next day. </div>
520. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
521. <br /></div>
522. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
523. -Against DC at home, Russell Wilson fires four touchdown passes, including three to Doug Baldwin, in a 38-17 win that runs Seattle's record to 6-1. </div>
524. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
525. <br /></div>
526. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
527. -In the game that will eventually decide home field advantage in the NFC playoffs, the Seahawks top the Falcons 27-26. Michael Bennett's pair of sacks and forced fumble leads the defense, and Richard Sherman's tackle of Julio Jones just short of a first down late in the game gives the offense one last chance. Wilson drives the Hawks into field goal range, and Blair Walsh nails the 47-yard game winner as time expires. </div>
528. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
529. <br /></div>
530. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
531. -On the season's final day, the Seahawks need to beat Arizona to secure the #1 seed. Paul Richardson scores twice, and a Bobby Wagner pick-6 in the 4th quarter rings in the new year with a 27-16 Seattle triumph. </div>
532. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
533. <br /></div>
534. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
535. -In the divisional playoff, the revenge-hangry Packers leave Seattle unsatisfied. Trailing 23-16 with only four minutes left to play, the Hawks have no choice but to punt on 4th and long. Jon Ryan pins the Pack inside their own 5-yard line. K.J. Wright ropes in Rodgers in the end zone for a safety with three minutes left. Then Russell Wilson whips Seattle downfield on a frenzied 75-yard drive that includes not one but two 4th down conversions. With only 12 seconds left to play, Wilson takes it in himself from 15 yards out, once again melting the hopes of Cheeseheads worldwide. </div>
536. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
537. <br /></div>
538. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
539. -In the NFC Championship Game, Seattle runs out to a 27-3 lead before a couple of late NYG TDs + 2-point conversions pull the Giants within one score. Twelves are only able to exhale when Sheldon Richardson dives on an Eli Manning fumble forced by Frank Clark in the waning moments. </div>
540. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
541. <br /></div>
542. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
543. -Super Bowl LII. I'm going to give y'all what you want. </div>
544. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
545. <br /></div>
546. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
547. 4 seconds left. Seahawks up 4. Raiders' ball at the Seattle 1. </div>
548. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
549. <br /></div>
550. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
551. Jack Del Rio thinks his guys can out-muscle ours. The call is made: Hand it to Marshawn. </div>
552. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
553. <br /></div>
554. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
555. The biggest audience in television history sees Carr hand it to Shawn. It looks like he has a sliver of daylight. That daylight is blotted out by an eclipse named Kam Chancellor. Kam gives Shawn the Bam Bam treatment, stuffing the hole and allowing Wagner and Thomas the chance to bring Beast down, six inches from the goal line. </div>
556. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
557. <br /></div>
558. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
559. Shoulda called a pass... Amiright? Kam Chancellor wins a richly deserved Super Bowl MVP award, and the historical legacy of the Legion of Boom, of Russell Wilson, and of the PCJS Seahawks is secured. </div>
560. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
561. <br /></div>
562. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
563. Would You Like To Know More? </div>
564. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
565. <br /></div>
566. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
567. Postscript: They always say "Show your work!" Here you go: </div>
568. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
569. <br /></div>
570. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
571. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYvicxyyBpoc3WgdnmlomitccwtkOAD-YgqiakIYklVNi26rWRU2E4ZIMnjhFiblRO7KEqPoP89RD-ilr-tNtbtlfb9yMJclQLF74YbWVo4DDWFlma7jGnV038XAXKIMJLkgjLF_F32A/s1600/21432910_10155585105368267_4558317493135918043_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYvicxyyBpoc3WgdnmlomitccwtkOAD-YgqiakIYklVNi26rWRU2E4ZIMnjhFiblRO7KEqPoP89RD-ilr-tNtbtlfb9yMJclQLF74YbWVo4DDWFlma7jGnV038XAXKIMJLkgjLF_F32A/s400/21432910_10155585105368267_4558317493135918043_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
572. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
573. <br /></div>
574. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
575. GO HAWKS! </div>
576. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
577. <br /></div>
578. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
579. <br /></div>
580. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/3778688344245457042/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=3778688344245457042&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3778688344245457042'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3778688344245457042'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2017/09/dksbs-perfectly-accurate-lies-and.html' title='DKSB&#39;s Perfectly Accurate (LIES!) and Unbiased (LIES!) 2017 NFL Predictions'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuT7H9u9OWLbJZAS_i4sAFNduryRNTSjIefKBvua82IkFQTqyFMxvxSLd_oZb9h84bzvanWvwfFo8kzW3LlXa3nw1ApTqBNpOOX3cUYWApYXs49kkO2WhtXksfu92EtuxqXdZCoL4n_g/s72-c/_rm17228.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-372756737347403988</id><published>2017-07-09T14:25:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2017-07-09T19:36:20.574-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Your 2017 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
581. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgafbmb59oGpU-Z91PWPQvNHNpna3j_cJYqBplYFW9D9Q7s9iGAVE-A479McbLdQoRRgKB-0pHQrmPOXy3aPnv_DqgArNsEP8B8YfnNdQcmsPO5udgUkUqDj1ONflgcznuE5gxXfHBPU/s1600/hi-res-c3ff8484d081bec4d457de934b49d65c_crop_north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgafbmb59oGpU-Z91PWPQvNHNpna3j_cJYqBplYFW9D9Q7s9iGAVE-A479McbLdQoRRgKB-0pHQrmPOXy3aPnv_DqgArNsEP8B8YfnNdQcmsPO5udgUkUqDj1ONflgcznuE5gxXfHBPU/s400/hi-res-c3ff8484d081bec4d457de934b49d65c_crop_north.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
582. <br />
583. Hey y'all! I know many of you have been waiting for my annual report on which Seahawks jersey(s) you should buy (and which ones would provoke regret like a midnight trip to White Castle). First, an barely tangentially related rant!<br />
584. <br />
585. About a year ago, I got a new full time job. Benefits! Health Insurance! (Relative) Job Security! The main function of the gig is essentially to teach people how to not be jerks to LGBTQ people (with a frequent deeper focus on trans and gender non-conforming people). It's important work, and I love doing it. The problem? Between that job and teaching part-time (gotta stack that paper!), I've had far too little free time to devote to blogging.<br />
586. <br />
587. So what roused me from my creative slumber? A comment someone left on this blog. No, I didn't publish it. No, I won't publish it. This comment justified both the fact that I moderate the responses people send in AND the work that I do trying to educate people about trans folks.<br />
588. <br />
589. Charmingly, the comment started out referring to me with the T-slur, and it was a rocket sled to Transphobistan from that point on, rambling on about how I want "special rights" (I have a feeling that brah was an enthusiast for <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/the-most-radical-anti-trans-ballot-initiative-ever-submitted-in-washington-state-7eb36c3f8ea5">I-552</a>), and so on and so forth with the laziest, most predictable shit. Then this person had the gall to mix a dash of "we're all 12s" bullshit into his hate speech, apparently thinking that since we are both Seahawks fans, I should hug it out with him.<br />
590. <br />
591. Umm. No. Fuck, no. We're not talking about a disagreement over budget priorities or tax rates. We're talking about a nationwide, organized effort to deny full personhood and citizenship to people like me. We're talking about an initiative that would have forced me into the men's room at Seahawks home games. How do you think that would go for me?<br />
592. <br />
593. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
594. <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgoMm04Y_4BNzx2Ma57RSWGCFJ_xHaOtg4TeKAfAhhy3TH1LiyjcJ-BcUmskqhyphenhyphenwn4ncgl5EfNT-L1kLY5UVFWDBMpyf3c_5hBPnsOHyOvQOuCEhy8XcGrGUryEvoHYI4Imol0jCTx2w/s1600/19800714_10155415613298267_7086006549293925825_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgoMm04Y_4BNzx2Ma57RSWGCFJ_xHaOtg4TeKAfAhhy3TH1LiyjcJ-BcUmskqhyphenhyphenwn4ncgl5EfNT-L1kLY5UVFWDBMpyf3c_5hBPnsOHyOvQOuCEhy8XcGrGUryEvoHYI4Imol0jCTx2w/s320/19800714_10155415613298267_7086006549293925825_o.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
595. <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not great, I'm thinking.<br />
596. <br />
597. <br />
598. <br /></td></tr>
599. </tbody></table>
600. Even in Seattle, which is perhaps the city with the largest trans population per capita in the U.S., trans folks need to fight every day against a tsunami of hate, fear and ignorance. Sometimes that hate, fear, and ignorance is even exacerbated by local left-wing independent newspapers <i>*cough* The Stranger *cough*</i> (Here's a <a href="https://southseattleemerald.com/2017/07/07/transitioning-from-false-narratives/">good account of and response to that whole sordid affair</a>). So no, this is not something I can "agree to disagree" about, even with other 12s.<br />
601. <div>
602. <br /></div>
603. <div>
604. Thankfully that turd-encrusted abomination of an initiative effort <a href="http://www.washingtonwontdiscriminate.org/blog/victory-initiative-attempting-to-roll-back-protections-for-transgender-washingtonians-defeated-again/">once again failed to collect enough signatures to make it onto the fall ballot</a> ("Just Want Privacy" is rapidly becoming the Buffalo Bills of Washington State politics), and my belief in the basic decency of the vast majority of Washingtonians was rewarded. But make no mistake. If you signed that petition, this blog is not for you. If you supported that effort, this blog is not for you. I'm sure there is no shortage of media outlets that will give you hot takes on the Seahawks that align with your curdled, malignant worldview. Go find them and leave the rest of us alone. </div>
605. <div>
606. <br /></div>
607. <div>
608. Back to that original commenter for a moment. </div>
609. <div>
610. <br /></div>
611. <div>
612. Asshole, the team is on MY side. Not yours. Look up the campaign contributions of Paul Allen and Pete Carroll. Google the political stances of the VAST majority of our players, including our squeaky-clean quarterback. This team is easily, and obviously, the most left-leaning squad in the NFL. Your hateful ass is the outsider, not me. You know that, probabilistically, the Seahawks likely have more transgender fans than any other NFL team, right? We're not going ANYWHERE.<br />
613. <div>
614. Fuck you. You probably rooted for us to lose the 2010 regular season finale and miss the playoffs. You probably booed Matt Hasselbeck. Fuck you.</div>
615. <div>
616. <br /></div>
617. <div>
618. Now that I've gotten that out of my system, let's talk Seahawks jerseys! </div>
619. <div>
620. <br /></div>
621. <div>
622. Training Camp is mere weeks away, and I'm sure that a lucky handful of my readers will be attending practices at the VMAC -Which is a perfect opportunity to show off a new Hawks jersey. As usual, I'm here to help y'all make a crucial decision. </div>
623. <div>
624. <br /></div>
625. <div>
626. As usual, let's start with the 1st Commandment of jersey ownership: <b>NEVER PUT YOUR JERSEY IN THE DRYER!</b> Dryers kill jerseys! Don't do it under any circumstances. If you abide by this decree your jersey(s) should hold up for a nice, long spell. If possible, wash them on the delicate cycle in cold water by themselves. I also feel strongly that there's no compelling reason to opt for the more opulent Nike models. The $100 replicas ("game" jerseys) are plenty expensive, and will look sharp for years with proper care. In my experience, the screen-printed numbers on the "game" jerseys actually hold up better and longer than the stitched-on ones adorning the more expensive Nike jerseys. Please note - If you are lucky enough to fit into a "youth" size, those are only about $70.<br />
627. <br />
628. For the purposes of this guide, I'm setting aside throwbacks (though I'm hanging onto my gunmetal blue Hasselbeck jersey until the heat death of the universe), personalized jerseys, and #12 jerseys (I've changed my tune on the #12's over the years. I used to be dead-set against buying those jerseys, but given how precarious roster spots are under PCJS's rule, I can't blame a fan for playing it safe with such a substantial investment. I own a FAN jersey myself, frankly).<br />
629. <br />
630. <i>Sidebar: Jersey colors, ranked - </i><br />
631. <i><br /></i>
632. <i>4. White</i><br />
633. <i>3. Action Green</i><br />
634. <i>2. Wolf Grey</i><br />
635. <i>1. College Navy </i><br />
636. <br />
637. Fight me.<br />
638. <br />
639. Personally, I have a weird thing about wearing an injured player's jersey. I'm not a superstitious type, but I feel out of sorts if I'm wearing a player's jersey while he's hurt. Thus, I tend to shy away from players who have a history of injury problems. I'm also hesitant to buy a jersey of a rookie or a new free agent acquisition. What if they suck? Then you're wearing a big shroud of suck, aren't you?<br />
640. <br />
641. So what jerseys should you avoid? Which ones are risky buys? Which ones are safe but predictable? Which ones are awesome, at least somewhat unique, and not likely to burn you a year from now? Let's break it down.<br />
642. <br />
643. <b><i><u>DON'T BUYS</u></i></b><br />
644. <br />
645. As usual, I recommend leaving the jerseys of 2018 free agents-to-be on the rack. The most significant players this applies to are <b>Kam Chancellor, Jimmy Graham, Eddie Lacy, Paul Richardson, Luke Willson, Justin Britt, Luke Joeckel, Blair Walsh, Cassius Marsh, </b>and<b> Deshawn Shead</b>. Who are some other players you should steer clear of?<br />
646. <br />
647. <b>Frank Clark</b>. Ugh. <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-insider-blog/article150060607.html">Just... Ugh.</a> I'm not psyched that I have to root for this guy. I'm not even going to weakly defend our front office for employing him. Cheering him on makes me feel more than a little queasy, and I can't see any circumstance where someone would want to wear his jersey.<br />
648. <br />
649. <b>Jermaine Kearse</b>. The former Husky has made some of the most important catches in franchise history. No one can ever take that away from him. But I feel like he might get his roster spot taken away from him this training camp, and even if he holds on, he's a UFA after the 2018 season.<br />
650. <br />
651. <b>The Entire Stable of Running Backs. </b>I honestly think that the Hawks will have a dominant rushing attack this season, but that dominant attack will be executed by committee. Lacy, Rawls, Prosise, Collins, and others will split carries. In addition, Rawls and Prosise have injury-marred histories, and Lacy is a new free agent acquisition. Keep scrolling past these jerseys, so to speak.<br />
652. <br />
653. <i>Sidebar: Marshawn Lynch. </i><br />
654. <i><br /></i>
655. <i>I'm not going to begrudge the guy deciding he wants to continue working in his chosen profession, and to ply that trade in his hometown for the short time they'll still be in Oakland. But I'm not thrilled about this, either. I don't want him to fail. I don't want him to go out like Shaun Alexander did in DC, or fade away the way Curt Warner did in Anaheim. But I don't want him to go win a ring with the Raiders, either. </i><br />
656. <i><br /></i>
657. <i>The dream ending for this season would be walloping the Patriots in LII, obviously. My 2nd choice? Seahawks vs Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Last play of the game. Seahawks up by 4. Raiders' ball at the 1. They do what millions will expect: The hand the ball to Shawn. But he gets stood up short of the goal line by Bobby Wagner. Shoulda called a pass, Musgrave. </i><br />
658. <i><br /></i>
659. <b>The Rookie Class</b>. That's just on general principles. But if you have to go buy a rookie's jersey, I think your best bets are <b>Malik McDowell</b> or <b>Shaquill Griffin</b>.<br />
660. <br />
661. <b><i><u>HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD</u></i></b><br />
662. <b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
663. <b>Tyler Lockett. </b>Our December loss to the Cardinals at home has stuck with me. My mind keeps wandering back to it in all the worst ways. Of all the nauseating moments in that game, the worst one was the horrific injury Lockett suffered hauling in a touchdown pass. By all accounts, his <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-insider-blog/article156084119.html">recovery is going well</a>, and if he is indeed 100% this season, he could be an electrifying weapon for Seattle once again. But a leg injury to a player whose biggest edge is his blazing speed? That would give me pause.<br />
664. <br />
665. <b>Richard Sherman. </b>Sherm is still he best corner in the game. He's a lock for both the Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, while I don't buy into those alarmist reports of his imminent departure that circulated earlier this offseason, his relationship with the coaching staff and front office is far from placid. A Sherm jersey is a good short term and long term investment. But in the medium term he might end up in someone else's colors ala Marshawn.<br />
666. <br />
667. <b>Earl Thomas</b>. I almost put ETIII in the "safe, but uninspired" category that's coming next (spoilers!). The veteran Longhorn is locked into a trip to Canton and a Ring of Honor/Retired Jersey double dip down the line. His 2016 injury is the only thing that makes him the least bit risky as a jersey purchase, but I see him returning to form and leading the best defense in football in 2017.<br />
668. <br />
669. <b>Jeremy Lane</b>. Right now, Lane is <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-insider-blog/article159441239.html">leading the competition to start at CB opposite Sherm</a>. He's also under contract through the 2019 season. However, he might lose the battle with Shaquill Griffin in training camp or lose the starting job when Deshawn Shead returns from his ACL injury.<br />
670. <br />
671. <b><i><u>SAFE, BUT UNINSPIRED</u></i></b><br />
672. <b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
673. <b>Russell Wilson. T</b>his isn't a dig at the WolfBadger. He's my favorite player. I have a Wilson jersey, and you probably do as well. I think he's going to bounce back big-time from an injury-filled 2016 and make an incontrovertible case that he's one of the very best QBs in the game. Also, kid seems to be loosening up a bit. He's started to make baby steps toward <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/01/russell-wilson-politics-donald-trump-president-video-comments-crazy-love-obama-hillary-seattle-seahawks">more overt political stances</a> in the vein of his more vocal teammates, and that Nike ad was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHnhiM_G6Wo">pretty damn cool</a>. But at this point, if you don't already have a Wilson jersey, you likely don't really want one.<br />
674. <br />
675. <b><i><u>THE TOP 5 (WITH A BONUS PUNTER) </u></i></b><br />
676. <b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
677. <b>6. Jon Ryan. </b>My love and devotion for the Regina Rocket is well-known. But did you know he's married to stand-up comedian and comedy writer <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahcolonna">Sarah Colonna</a> now? Fun fact: She's a few months older than me, so Ryan digs older women. Respect.<br />
678. <br />
679. <b>5. K.J. Wright: </b>The former Mississippi State standout had the best campaign of his career in 2016, racking up 126 tackles and making it to the first Pro Bowl of his career. Wright isn't a household name, but he is a great player on the verge of stardom. Why isn't he ranked higher? He's a UFA after the 2018 season.<br />
680. <br />
681. <b>4. Cliff Avril:</b> Like Wright, he had the best season of his career in 2016, notching 11.5 sacks. He also is <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-cliff-avril-delivers-on-promise-to-build-a-house-in-haiti-for-each-sack-in-2016/">building houses for folks in Haiti</a>, which is about as unalloyed of a good deed as I can imagine. The only debits? He's a UFA after the 2018 season, and he's 31, which means he might be closer to a drop-off in production than any of us would like to see.<br />
682. <br />
683. <b>3. Doug Baldwin:</b> Not gonna bullshit here - I fucking LOVE Doug Baldwin. He's one of the leaders of this team, he's an <a href="http://sea.247sports.com/Bolt/Doug-Baldwin-pegged-as-best-future-broadcaster-on-the-Seahawks-53464854">endlessly fascinating public figure</a>, and he's evolving into a latter-day west coast version of future Hall of Fame WR Steve Smith (maybe even a different Steve.. <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjSl-Wx7_zUAhXi34MKHTLjDnYQFggzMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdavekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com%2F2016%2F09%2Fseahawks-12-dolphins-10.html&usg=AFQjCNGXE5b4PlkRFsJrwnw7YcXQHdGUzg">*gasp* Largent</a>?). He's also under team control contract-wise through the 2020 season. The only reason he isn't ranked higher? He topped this list two out of the last three years already. Did I mention that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS1jjdUP1Zo">I love this guy</a>?<br />
684. <br />
685. <b>2. Michael Bennett:</b> Last year Black Santa landed on the "Don't Buy" list, but with a new contract that has him staying in Seattle through the 2020 season, he rides up to number two on this year's list. He's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSpnWm5wQYY">entertaining. socially conscious</a>, and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOM98vOIiWw">goddamn one-man slaughterhouse</a> out on the pitch. His only demerit, like Cliff Avril's, is his age (31). You can't really go wrong sporting #72, though.<br />
686. <br />
687. And at number one....<br />
688. <br />
689. <b>1. Bobby Wagner: </b>Seattle's 27-year-old All-World middle linebacker stacked up opposing ballcarriers like cordword last season - 167 tackles (FUCK!) and 4.5 sacks. The Handsome Slayer of Enemy Drives was named All-Pro for the second time in three seasons, and is staying in Seattle through at least the 2019 season. Unlike Wilson or any member of the L.O.B., Bwagz hasn't yet reached saturation levels within the 12 Army - So this is the moment to go snag a #54 jersey and pop that sucker on.<br />
690. <br />
691. What do y'all think? Did I miss anything obvious? Let me know in the comments or on twitter.<br />
692. <br />
693. Would You Like To Know More? </div>
694. </div>
695. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/372756737347403988/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=372756737347403988&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/372756737347403988'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/372756737347403988'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-2017-seattle-seahawks-jersey.html' title='Your 2017 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgafbmb59oGpU-Z91PWPQvNHNpna3j_cJYqBplYFW9D9Q7s9iGAVE-A479McbLdQoRRgKB-0pHQrmPOXy3aPnv_DqgArNsEP8B8YfnNdQcmsPO5udgUkUqDj1ONflgcznuE5gxXfHBPU/s72-c/hi-res-c3ff8484d081bec4d457de934b49d65c_crop_north.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-2913165584803981351</id><published>2017-01-16T17:17:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2017-01-16T17:24:36.117-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Ranking the Squads: #10 (2016)</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
696. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFrASyvJ-cDUPMScXVT-yZ09xuL4HnmIvUfBJPkklFbtWKkfOfKIrFTYuyFD2gSXEgIYP3Nq4GO6M7PXnDod8krWQpfCTafiYmfIPmy10iPWFmwxrSnoTxkLiTWDJKv1v9MqahdOGGR4/s1600/dougpats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFrASyvJ-cDUPMScXVT-yZ09xuL4HnmIvUfBJPkklFbtWKkfOfKIrFTYuyFD2gSXEgIYP3Nq4GO6M7PXnDod8krWQpfCTafiYmfIPmy10iPWFmwxrSnoTxkLiTWDJKv1v9MqahdOGGR4/s400/dougpats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
697. <br />
698. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. 2016</span></span><br />
699. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Record: 10-5-1</span></span><br />
700. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Offensive Rank: 18th out of 32 teams</span></span><br />
701. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Defensive Rank: 3rd out of 32</span></span><br />
702. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turnover Ratio Rank: 16th out of 32</span></span><br />
703. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Team MVP: Bobby Wagner</span></span><br />
704. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">High Point: <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/11/seahawks-31-patriots-24.html">Seahawks 31, Patriots 24</a> </span></span><br />
705. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Low Point: Cardinals 34, Seahawks 31</span></span><br />
706. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
707. </span><br />
708. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the last 33 years, I've watched 572 Seahawks games. I have no specific recollection of the vast majority of those contests. For a good chunk of them, if you gave me some sort of prompt, it might shake a half-remembered collage of plays out of a dusty corner of my brainpan. In any given season, a handful of games might stick in my memory forever, as will a smattering of plays. When I reflect upon 2016 years from now, what will I remember? </span></span><br />
709. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
710. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't think I'll soon shake the nauseous feeling I got when Earl Thomas went down after colliding with Kam Chancellor on SNF in early December, or the dawning horror when ETIII (prematurely) tweeted about his possible retirement. As valiantly as the team fought on after that gut-churning moment, they were fundamentally hobbled without the former Longhorn patrolling "Area 29" and quarterbacking the defense. </span></span><br />
711. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
712. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oddly, that gives me a little bit of mental cushion when it comes to the other negative memories of 2016. If I really wanted to torture myself, I could dwell upon the fact that a tiny handful of plays in two games against Arizona kept us from hosting the NFC Championship Game next Sunday. What if Hauschka made that short kick in OT down in Glendale? What if he had made that extra point at home against Arians' minions in December? And so on... </span></span><br />
713. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
714. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That December loss was the 2016 Seahawks in miniature. The offensive line couldn't open running lanes or protect Russell Wilson. The defense, without Earl Thomas, was suddenly vulnerable to big plays. The special teams, which has for so long been a point of pride for this franchise, collapsed like a termite-rotted gazebo. But somehow, down 31-18 late in the 4th quarter, Russell Wilson conjured up some legitimate magic. All of the sudden, Baldwin, Graham, and Richardson were getting free and the Wolfbadger was finding them for big gains and touchdowns. Wilson's late TD to Preach filled every 12's heart with elation - This was classic Pete Carroll Seahawks late-game drama. They once again, somehow, found a way to steal a victory. The #2 seed and a first-round bye beckoned...</span></span><br />
715. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
716. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then that errant extra point attempt... then one last infuriating defensive meltdown... and it was gone. That championship mettle hadn't dissolved, but the injuries and mistakes piled up too high to be overcome. </span></span><br />
717. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
718. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw the Seahawks do things that felt like they had been poorly copied from the most aggravating days of the Holmgren era, like the return of a stark divide between the team's performance at home (8-1) versus on the road (3-5-1, with only one victory against a team that finished with more than five wins). Distressingly, we saw the offense held to 10 points or less four times, and we saw the defense allow more than 34 points three times. The turnover ratio? Just plus one, good enough to land Seattle exactly in the middle of the pack in 2016. </span></span><br />
719. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
720. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you wanted to be a clarion of doom, these Seahawks gave you plenty of ammunition. The core players on defense are aging and spending more time rehabbing from injuries than they ever have in the Carroll era. Russell Wilson posted the lowest single-season passer rating of his career, and threw more interceptions than he did in his rookie campaign. The running game disappeared for long stretches of the season, and the offensive line often appeared to be falling far short of basic competence, let alone any standard of Super-Bowl-level excellence. If you wanted to pen a hot take about Seattle heading straight for the jagged rocks at the bottom of the ravine, I bet you could get that shit to go live on Bleacher Report and get an assload of clicks. </span></span><br />
721. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
722. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That doesn't make it true, though. These Seahawks gave us (all too brief) glimpses of what could be an incandescent future. At Foxboro in November, with the team operating at something resembling full strength, they handed Tom Brady his only defeat of the season thus far. The defense was a swarm of unchecked fury. Russell Wilson outplayed Brady. C.J. Prosise did his best peak Ricky Watters impression. New England couldn't cover Doug Baldwin. That defense? They made one of the most impressive goal-line stands you'll ever see to secure the victory. THAT could be the future of this team, and I'd argue it's more likely than Januarys on the couch watching the Rams, Niners, or Cardinals host playoff games. </span></span><br />
723. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
724. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bright spots weren't limited to one night in Massachusetts, though. Bobby Wagner was a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year contender. Jimmy Graham fully recovered from his horrific 2015 injury to reassert his status as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in football. Frank Clark began filling his great potential, as did Paul Richardson. Cliff Avril had the best season of his distinguished career. Thomas Rawls proved that, when healthy, he is a worthy successor to Marshawn Lynch. </span><br />
725. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Hawks bullied the Lions to reach the Divisional Round for the 5th consecutive season. They had a dramatic, entertaining win over the Bills on MNF. Victories over playoff teams from Miami and Atlanta went down to the dying seconds, with Seattle prevailing with flair. </span><br />
726. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
727. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The core talent of this team is locked down at least for the next couple of years, and the team's cap situation is favorable. Despite an injury-marred 2016, the Hawks are fortunate to have found a franchise quarterback in Russell Wilson who will keep them in the Super Bowl conversation for the next decade or so. They sit atop a division with two teams in utter disarray, and another with a cornerstone QB near the end of his shelf-life. </span><br />
728. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take a quick look at the rankings below... How many of the top 10 seasons in franchise history have happened on Pete Carroll's watch? Five. Look around the league, too. Outside of whatever deal Belichick, Brady and that crew have made with Lucifer, it's VERY DIFFICULT to win consistently in this league. The fact that our expectations have shifted to making it to (and winning) Super Bowls, away from merely having a winning record and sneaking into the postseason, tells how how fortunate we are to be rooting for this team and enjoying this historical moment. </span><br />
729. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
730. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I've been doing this ranking the squads thing for nine years now... Here's the updated list, with links to the original articles I wrote. I'm eager to hear what y'all think. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Once again, thanks for reading this season. I'll be posting sporadically during the offseason whenever I get a good idea for a blog post. Until then, GO HAWKS! </span></span><br />
731. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
732. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1. </span><a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2014/03/ranking-squads-1-2013-with-updated-all.html" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">2013</a></span><br />
733. <br />
734. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/02/ranking-squads-2-2014.html">2014</a></span></span><br />
735. <br />
736. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/05/ranking-squads-1-2005.html">2005</a></span></span><br />
737. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/05/ranking-squads-2-1984.html">1984</a></span></span><br />
738. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/04/ranking-squads-3-1983.html">1983</a></span></span><br />
739. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2013/01/ranking-squads-4-2012-with-updated-all.html">2012</a></span></span><br />
740. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/04/ranking-squads-4-2007.html">2007</a></span></span><br />
741. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">8. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/04/ranking-squads-5-1986.html">1986</a></span></span><br />
742. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">9. 2015</span></span><br />
743. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. 2016</span></span><br />
744. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/04/ranking-squads-6-2003.html">2003</a></span></span><br />
745. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-7-2006.html">2006</a></span></span><br />
746. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">13. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-8-1988.html">1988</a></span></span><br />
747. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">14. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-9-1987.html">1987</a></span></span><br />
748. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">15. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2011/01/ranking-squads-10-2010-with-updated-all.html">2010</a></span></span><br />
749. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">16. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-hitting-top-10.html">1979</a></span></span><br />
750. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">17. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-hitting-top-10.html">1990</a></span></span><br />
751. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">18. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-not-all-9-7-teams-are.html">1978</a></span></span><br />
752. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">19. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-not-all-9-7-teams-are.html">2001</a></span></span><br />
753. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">20. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-not-all-9-7-teams-are.html">1999</a></span></span><br />
754. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">21. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-not-all-9-7-teams-are.html">2004</a></span></span><br />
755. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">22. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-8-8-and-not-that-great.html">1998</a></span></span><br />
756. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">23. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-8-8-and-not-that-great.html">1985</a></span></span><br />
757. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">24. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-8-8-and-not-that-great.html">1997</a></span></span><br />
758. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">25. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/03/ranking-squads-8-8-and-not-that-great.html">1995</a></span></span><br />
759. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">26. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/01/ranking-squads-21-2011-with-updated-all.html">2011</a></span></span><br />
760. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">27. </span><a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-its-7-9-partaaaay.html" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">2002</a></span><br />
761. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">28. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-its-7-9-partaaaay.html">1991</a></span></span><br />
762. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">29. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-its-7-9-partaaaay.html">1996</a></span></span><br />
763. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">30. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-its-7-9-partaaaay.html">1989</a></span></span><br />
764. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">31. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-two-different-ways-to.html">1982</a></span></span><br />
765. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">32. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-two-different-ways-to.html">1977</a></span></span><br />
766. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">33. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-revenge-of-6-10s.html">1981</a></span></span><br />
767. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">34. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-revenge-of-6-10s.html">1993</a></span></span><br />
768. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">35. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-revenge-of-6-10s.html">1994</a></span></span><br />
769. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">36. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-revenge-of-6-10s.html">2000</a></span></span><br />
770. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">37. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-worst-of-worst.html">2008</a></span></span><br />
771. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">38. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-worst-of-worst.html">1980</a></span></span><br />
772. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">39. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-worst-of-worst.html">1976</a></span></span><br />
773. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">40. <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2009/02/ranking-squads-worst-of-worst.html">1992</a></span></span><br />
774. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: xx-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;trebuchet ms&amp;quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;41. &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/1/6/1237962/worst-seahawks-ever&quot;&gt;2009&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/2913165584803981351/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=2913165584803981351&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2913165584803981351'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2913165584803981351'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2017/01/ranking-squads-10-2016.html' title='Ranking the Squads: #10 (2016)'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFrASyvJ-cDUPMScXVT-yZ09xuL4HnmIvUfBJPkklFbtWKkfOfKIrFTYuyFD2gSXEgIYP3Nq4GO6M7PXnDod8krWQpfCTafiYmfIPmy10iPWFmwxrSnoTxkLiTWDJKv1v9MqahdOGGR4/s72-c/dougpats.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-7645550368094443385</id><published>2017-01-08T19:53:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2017-01-08T19:53:26.808-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 26, Lions 6</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
775. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIM2t0Zhl1_wGLudimccdaB4bGSYl_gZTZoobP2-iWb1azfm_1P3KhriFNlqxvNz8PRUTzHr7bJFNHZqHMrU4ZXmLPxbWhvMVdBLRiyJrAG3R3uOWOwajXCni5GA8KIVtLwfXHAUPXXI/s1600/richardson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIM2t0Zhl1_wGLudimccdaB4bGSYl_gZTZoobP2-iWb1azfm_1P3KhriFNlqxvNz8PRUTzHr7bJFNHZqHMrU4ZXmLPxbWhvMVdBLRiyJrAG3R3uOWOwajXCni5GA8KIVtLwfXHAUPXXI/s400/richardson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
776. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
777. <br /></div>
778. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
779. 2016 seemed like a bizarre inversion of the regular seasons we've grown accustomed to seeing from the CarrollHawks. In 2012, 2014, and 2015, the Seahawks started slow before delivering lethal finishing kicks into the playoffs in November/December. This season, Seattle started 7-2-1, including wins over Atlanta and New England. The offense seemed to find a punishing and explosive groove, and the defense displayed its typical bludgeoning dominance. Over the final six weeks of the season, injuries piled up and the offensive line regressed into rank incompetence. Future Hall of Famer Earl Thomas was lost for the season, and later on so was the incendiary talent of Tyler Lockett. </div>
780. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
781. <br /></div>
782. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
783. The struggling offensive line couldn't open running lanes or give Russell Wilson time to throw. Wilson himself seemed mis-calibrated on his passes and no longer quite fast enough to escape from the grasp of enemy defenders. The defense became wildly inconsistent, giving up 14, 7, 38, 3, 34, and 23 points over the last six frames of the regular season. Seattle secured the 3rd seed in the NFC playoffs, but the downward trajectory late in the campaign made 2016 feel more like 1999 or 2004 than 2013. The fading Lions seemed like a team even these Hawks should beat, but given Seattle's ragged December, allowing Detroit its first road playoff win since the Eisenhower Administration felt all too possible. </div>
784. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
785. <br /></div>
786. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
787. The hallmarks of playoff football for the Seahawks under Pete Carroll have been a punishing running game, a suffocating defense, and, frankly, bizarre shit and huge performances from seemingly random players. After disappearing for most of the season, the ground game re-emerged for Seattle. Thomas Rawls erupted for a franchise-playoff-record 161 rushing yards, including nine carries for 52 yards on the Seahawks' first TD drive. In all, the Hawks gained 177 yards on 38 running plays behind an offensive line that tore open jagged gashes in Detroit's defense. If Seattle keeps running the ball like this, they can win it all, even without Marshawn Lynch. </div>
788. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
789. <br /></div>
790. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
791. The Hawks defense held Detroit to a season-low 231 yards of offense. Defensive Player of the Year candidate Bobby Wagner wrestled Lions ball-carriers to the ground 10 times, Cliff Avril notched a pair of sacks, and Richard Sherman erased a third of the field for Matthew Stafford. DeShawn Shead chipped in with three passes defensed and no completions allowed on eight targets. The best run defense in football held the Lions to a minuscule 49 yards on the ground. If the defense keeps playing like this, they can win it all, even without Earl Thomas.  </div>
792. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
793. <br /></div>
794. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
795. Paul Richardson has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but Tyler Lockett's injury against Arizona gave him a new opportunity to prove his quality. On a 4th down and goal play in the second quarter, Preach made one of the most unbelievable catches you will ever see, reaching around a Lions defender to catch a touchdown with one mitt while being violently interfered with. He'd go on to make two more spectacular Largent-esque catches, and Doug Baldwin contributed one of his own, pinning the ball against his own ass to keep it from hitting the ground. Angry Doug would haul in ten more catches, including the theft of a TD pass intended for Jermaine Kearse. If Seahawks receivers keep balling out like this, they can win it all, even without Tyler Lockett. </div>
796. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
797. <br /></div>
798. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
799. It was a total team effort to snuff out the Lions, and they'll have to play even better to defeat the Falcons next Saturday. Four years ago, the Seahawks went to Atlanta and left after one of the most painful defeats in franchise history. Our old friend Dan Quinn and his charges think they are a Super Bowl caliber team. Unfortunately for them, so are the Seahawks. They are battle-hardened and itching to prove that their championship window is still wide-open. </div>
800. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
801. <br /></div>
802. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
803. They also have a quarterback who is used to playing superlatively and winning on the biggest of stages. Matt Ryan is an excellent quarterback, but he's also only 1-4 in the playoffs, while Russell Wilson is 8-3. Seattle will be underdogs next week, but they will surprise the football world and emerge victorious. If the Packers upset Dallas, they'll have to come out to Seattle for another NFC Championship tilt. If that goes down, I'll be in the house to watch our boys punch their 4th Super Bowl ticket. </div>
804. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
805. <br /></div>
806. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
807. Would you like to know more? </div>
808. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
809. <br /></div>
810. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/7645550368094443385/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=7645550368094443385&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/7645550368094443385'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/7645550368094443385'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2017/01/seahawks-26-lions-6.html' title='Seahawks 26, Lions 6'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIM2t0Zhl1_wGLudimccdaB4bGSYl_gZTZoobP2-iWb1azfm_1P3KhriFNlqxvNz8PRUTzHr7bJFNHZqHMrU4ZXmLPxbWhvMVdBLRiyJrAG3R3uOWOwajXCni5GA8KIVtLwfXHAUPXXI/s72-c/richardson.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-2826864185031442427</id><published>2016-11-17T11:07:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2016-11-17T14:05:27.509-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 31, Patriots 24</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
811. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuHGf2biqejW8Mw-yea8kCFBtH7ZGTLc_1PickBLycASa9NQscmnQFfr9_szrEPCIlQhP3i77wgbfXgPxtIUy4ZLM3wKrGXNpoWf9fesdfueckZl5nQ-_KNYVr39zvgfXAr0Dp_QSRtc/s1600/15056428_10154715346698267_8354352097235711896_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuHGf2biqejW8Mw-yea8kCFBtH7ZGTLc_1PickBLycASa9NQscmnQFfr9_szrEPCIlQhP3i77wgbfXgPxtIUy4ZLM3wKrGXNpoWf9fesdfueckZl5nQ-_KNYVr39zvgfXAr0Dp_QSRtc/s400/15056428_10154715346698267_8354352097235711896_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
812. <br />
813. If you voted for Donald Trump, you may want to stop reading here. Hell, if you voted for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson or no one, you might want to find another source of overly personal Seahawks commentary peppered with dorky pop culture references.<br />
814. <br />
815. OK, you've been given fair warning. I don't write this blog for clicks or for profit. That train sailed off looong ago. I really don't care if conservatives, misogynists, racists, homophobes, transphobes or white nationalists stop reading my blog. A Seahawks blog written by a leftist, polyamorous, queer, atheist trans woman? I'm guessing if you had an inkling to vote for Tangerine Mussolini, you already stopped reading my stuff back in like 2012 at the latest.<br />
816. <br />
817. (I will say this - I do believe that we on the left should partner with Republicans who are willing to join us in opposing Trump and his agenda. If we join together to cause his nefarious strategy to fail, we can sort things out amongst ourselves later.)<br />
818. <br />
819. On that Monday night before election day, after we pulled out that win against the Bills, I went to sleep believing that I lived in a country that respected my basic dignity and personhood. Sure, there were swaths of the nation still marinating in ignorance about and hatred towards trans folks. Of course there were forces plotting against us. However, under the Obama administration, we made great strides on many fronts in the fight for trans rights. Trans people enjoyed increasing (and increasingly positive) public visibility, and the future looked bright for us. A Clinton administration would have consolidated the gains we've already made, and would have entrenched justices who would have been friendly to my community.<br />
820. <br />
821. By Tuesday night, it was all gone. The country I thought I lived in felt like it had never really existed. In late January, Donald Trump can follow through on his pledge to repeal all of Obama's executive orders. After he is sworn in, he can nominate judges that not only will stop Federal progress on trans rights in its tracks, but who could also use "religious freedom" as a pretext to gut laws that protect trans rights on the local and state levels nationwide.<br />
822. <br />
823. Trans folks are TERRIFIED right now. Not only is the policy environment about to pivot into overt hostility toward us, but we are already seeing an increase in hate crimes towards trans and gender non-conforming people sea to jittery, trigger-happy sea. I was the subject of a brutal, coordinated attack on twitter led by Trump-supporting transphobic white nationalists just days ago. Oh boy, did my block button get a workout!<br />
824. <br />
825. I never felt like I needed to get the gender marker on my Washington State birth certificate changed. Now I do. I never felt like I needed a passport before. Now I do. I never thought I would need to pack a "go bag" for if the shit hit the fan. Now I do. I don't want to leave Columbus. I love it here. I love my city and my country, but I have to be prepared for the possible moment when I have to flee to avoid living in the Berlin plotline from season 2 of Transparent.<br />
826. <br />
827. So what's the game plan? Resist. Obstruct. Organize. Be seen. Be heard. Agitate. I'm optimistic that we can survive a few years of Trump and save the Republic. But I'm mindful that I still need to work, that I still need to tend to my family, my relationships, and my friends, and that I need to engage in self-care.<br />
828. <br />
829. For me, Twelving the Fuck Out is a great coping mechanism.<br />
830. <br />
831. At so many points in my life, the Seahawks have provided me with joy, with a feeling of community, and with a comforting sense of continuity while it felt like change was beating the god damn shit outta me.<br />
832. <br />
833. In my childhood, when I felt like an alien, rooting for the Seahawks helped me relate to my family and find my own voice. In college, 12ing was an act of defiance and a scream of independence. After the 9/11 attacks and through the Bush years, the team was a welcome distraction from the grind of graduate school and an era of torture, darkness, and venality. The realization that I could transition and still write this blog, and continue waving my 12th Man Flag changed my life forever, and for the better.<br />
834. <br />
835. So on Sunday night, I had never needed the Seahawks to win a regular-season game so badly. Not only because of the scars of XLIX, but also because New England's coach and quarterback supported the candidate who wants to make my life immensely more difficult and dangerous.<br />
836. <br />
837. Arrayed against New England? Our stalwart side. Our quarterback who supports trans rights. Our coach whose worldview couldn't possibly be more Californian. Our Democratic-donating owner. Our outspoken cornerback reviled by conservatives, and so on.<br />
838. <br />
839. Obviously, some Patriots supported Clinton, and some Seahawks probably backed Trump. And even if the Seahawks were arch-conservative, I'd still root for the team unless they started spouting out blatantly transphobic bile. But the symbolism was powerful nonetheless, and beyond that, the Hawks assumed the role of heavy underdogs. Very few people expected them to emerge from Foxborough victorious.<br />
840. <br />
841. On the biggest stage you can possibly imagine in the regular season, the Seahawks played their best game of the year. Russell Wilson outplayed Tom Brady. Doug Baldwin TORCHED the New England secondary. C.J. Prosise went supernova in his first extended action. But the story, as usual, was that defense.<br />
842. <br />
843. That defense that hit Gronk so hard his soul escaped out through his word-hole. That defense that harassed the Golden Brady over and over and over. That defense that was once again asked to save the day. ONCE AGAIN asked to defend every blade of grass, every inch of turf, to preserve a victory.<br />
844. <br />
845. First and goal from the one. New England needed ONE YARD to tie the game. One yard to force an overtime period where they could once again crush the dreams of every 12 from Anchorage to Boise. Somehow, the Legion held its ground. On four plays in a row, they prevented one of the most powerful offensive attacks of all time from gaining that single crucial yard.<br />
846. <br />
847. After the win. I was too emotionally exhausted to even cry, but I can't think of a more meaningful or important regular season win in franchise history (obviously, the historical significance of the victory will be tied to how successful the Hawks are in the playoffs). I'm 41 years old. I'm a grown woman. I have boring but daunting adult-style problems surrounding me at all times. But I can honestly say that I've never been more proud of the Seahawks than I am right now. I've never been this filled with adoration or love for our boys, either. The values they represent are MY values. The people they play for are MY people. I want to savor every moment I have the privilege of watching them and wearing their colors.<br />
848. <br />
849. Hard times lay ahead. Our future is struggle. But for me, one thing that will sustain me and keep me going is this amazing, indomitable football team. In January, an ignorant, unqualified, hateful bully will start leading this country. Sometime next spring, I have a gut feeling many of the World Champion Seattle Seahawks will skip the trip to meet Trump at the White House.<br />
850. <br />
851. Don't lose hope. I'm not going anywhere. Like Kate McKinnon said - "I'm not giving up, and neither should you."<br />
852. <br />
853. Would You Like To Know More?</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/2826864185031442427/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=2826864185031442427&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2826864185031442427'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2826864185031442427'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/11/seahawks-31-patriots-24.html' title='Seahawks 31, Patriots 24'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuHGf2biqejW8Mw-yea8kCFBtH7ZGTLc_1PickBLycASa9NQscmnQFfr9_szrEPCIlQhP3i77wgbfXgPxtIUy4ZLM3wKrGXNpoWf9fesdfueckZl5nQ-_KNYVr39zvgfXAr0Dp_QSRtc/s72-c/15056428_10154715346698267_8354352097235711896_n+%25281%2529.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-5119862288182985856</id><published>2016-10-24T18:32:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2016-10-24T18:42:01.042-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 6, Cardinals 6 (OT) </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
854. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf-gE1-PZv5JT7WNK4rl6atQvIpW63gbIZunZc2wXQ7CYbo_kYsDfX1-9L6B0MsZdEsKErOyEi7P_BMKzsmKzN1Ref-O0Q2jd5XjZ8D582kHMXqWu0M7kadOYvxLPA_JOa-y6-eu26-o/s1600/1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf-gE1-PZv5JT7WNK4rl6atQvIpW63gbIZunZc2wXQ7CYbo_kYsDfX1-9L6B0MsZdEsKErOyEi7P_BMKzsmKzN1Ref-O0Q2jd5XjZ8D582kHMXqWu0M7kadOYvxLPA_JOa-y6-eu26-o/s400/1024x1024.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
855. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
856. <br></div>
857. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
858. How do you choose to feel? I've been thinking about that a lot lately. In a lot of situations, it doesn't seem like that's something one can control. I certainly can't most of the time. But when you can muster the focus, choosing how to feel can make a big difference in how you see the world around you. </div>
859. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
860. <br></div>
861. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
862. I've been thinking about the election. As a long-standing member of the Democratic Party and as someone who believes Barack Obama is the best President of my lifetime (and if you are <a href="http://www.advocate.com/election/2016/10/21/our-next-president-must-continue-obamas-lgbt-legacy">LGBTQ, he obviously is more or less our FDR</a>), I wanted someone like Joe Biden to Elizabeth Warren to take office in January and consolidate/expand upon the progress we've made over the last eight years. Hillary Clinton wouldn't have been my first (or second) choice, but compared to the Tangerine Mussolini she is running against, she's the VASTLY more palatable alternative.</div>
863. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
864. <br></div>
865. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
866. Imagine the election as a choice between two options for dinner. Hillary Clinton is Chipotle. It's not the BEST option one can imagine, but it's alright. Trump is the other choice, which is a plate of steaming dog shit topped with shards of broken glass. Like most people, I think a fairly "meh" burrito is an easy choice over mouth-shredding animal feces. Inexplicably, I know far too many people whose reaction to this choice seems to be <i>"WHAT??? I can't have lobster??? Well I hope all you fuckers like razor-sharp glass encrusted with turd nuggets, because you deserve it!" </i></div>
867. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
868. <br></div>
869. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
870. Some people can't help letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. </div>
871. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
872. <br></div>
873. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
874. I also think about my life as a trans woman. Do I sometimes think that my life might have been better if I had transitioned, say, back in high school rather than in my late 30s? Not really. All those experiences made me who I am today. But it would be really easy to let myself get eaten up by regret and "what ifs." It takes WORK to stay positive and focused on the present and the possible. It takes effort to not react to getting misgendered and disrespected by filling up a mental compartment of bitterness and recrimination. When you live in a society that treats you with mockery and hostility, you can get poisoned by it. </div>
875. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
876. <br></div>
877. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
878. What I'm going to say next will sound downright silly, crazy and frivolous to anyone who isn't a rabid 12... But rooting for this team has made me a better person- Specifically, seeing what this team has evolved into under Pete Carroll has made me think harder about how I want to approach my life. </div>
879. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
880. <br></div>
881. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
882. At the VMAC this week, they'll focus on what the team needs to correct- As they should. They'll do their best to fix the offensive line issues that have been exposed when that unit has gone up against fierce front fours like those from Miami, Los Angeles and Arizona. Stephen Hauschka will work his ass off to get his season back on track. Russell Wilson and Thomas Rawls will keep diligently rehabbing to get back to 100% and get back on the field, respectively. In Renton this week, they'll focus on the team's shortcomings to get ready for their upcoming trip to New Orleans and for the rest of this season. </div>
883. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
884. <br></div>
885. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
886. I don't want to dwell on any of that. I want to talk about two things: A defense that, without hyperbole, delivered one of the best performances of all time - And a collective refusal to relent, to give up as much as millimeter without a vicious fight, when the temptation to roll over and get 'em next time must have been irresistible.  </div>
887. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
888. <br></div>
889. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
890. The next time someone misgenders me, I'm going to think about Kelcie McCray - He was on the field for 108(!) plays last night. Most importantly, in overtime, exhausted, lungs burning, he ran down J.J. Nelson and prevented him from scoring the game-winning TD for the Cardinals. He didn't give up, and neither should I. </div>
891. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
892. <br></div>
893. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
894. The next time I don't feel like hitting the gym, I'll think about what that defense did when they were on the field for 90 PLAYS and over 46 of the game's 75 minutes. They only allowed 4.9 yards per play. They only allowed 6 points. If they can do that, I can drive to Planet Fitness and pump my legs on the Hamster Wheel for an hour. </div>
895. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
896. <br></div>
897. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
898. When I don't feel like giving people rides to the polls between now and November 8th, I'm going to think about Bobby Wagner's 13 tackles and his blocked field goal. I'm going to think about Cliff Avril's 2.5 sacks and six hits on Carson Palmer, I'm going to think about that epic goal line stand in overtime, where Earl Thomas and then Bobby Wagner stopped David Johnson INCHES from the winning TD on successive plays before Bwagz spooked Catanzaro into clanging a 24-yard kick off the upright. The Seattle defense has shown us over and over again that every fucking inch of that turf is precious- And I'm going to do my best to make sure Ohio avoids the taint of Trump in the history books. </div>
899. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
900. <br></div>
901. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
902. The next time I don't feel like I have anything interesting to blog about, I'm going to think about how the Seahawks CONSTANTLY are showing us things that no one has ever seen before. The first tie in franchise history. 75 minutes of indomitable willpower. The 4th game out of six thus far this season where the outcome wasn't decided until the final moments. The Seattle Seahawks are boundlessly frustrating but also relentlessly compelling. </div>
903. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
904. <br></div>
905. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
906. Last night will be a game we remember forever. It somehow morphed from a shitshow into some weird master class on Seattle grit. Also, the tie perhaps mortally wounded Arizona's hopes of winning the NFC West. 4-1-1 > 3-3-1, obviously. Which is great, because fuck Bruce Arians. That mother fucker can bite shit and pound sand. He's approaching Jim Harbaugh levels of hate in my book with his fake-ass football hipster crap. </div>
907. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
908. <br></div>
909. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
910. When we look back in January 2017, that OT goal line stand could end up delivering the Hawks the division title, a first round bye, or even home field in the NFC playoffs. This might seem bizarre for me to say this after last night - but I'm more convinced than ever that these Seahawks are going to win the Super Bowl.</div>
911. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
912. <br></div>
913. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
914. We won't have to wonder how to feel in Houston on February 5, Twelves. </div>
915. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
916. <br></div>
917. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
918. Would you like to know more?</div>
919. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/5119862288182985856/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=5119862288182985856&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5119862288182985856'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5119862288182985856'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/10/seahawks-6-cardinals-6-ot.html' title='Seahawks 6, Cardinals 6 (OT) '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf-gE1-PZv5JT7WNK4rl6atQvIpW63gbIZunZc2wXQ7CYbo_kYsDfX1-9L6B0MsZdEsKErOyEi7P_BMKzsmKzN1Ref-O0Q2jd5XjZ8D582kHMXqWu0M7kadOYvxLPA_JOa-y6-eu26-o/s72-c/1024x1024.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-409784456928114762</id><published>2016-10-02T20:32:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2016-10-02T20:32:50.385-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 27, Jets 17</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
920. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsGwGYVZg9r1O6FlDMPz_tORnV9-3BEeYCtfQxyhy10zUZQeMM-BV0CO7uMNfmueiOk40hDD5k2Ar9vHLcQpkia8NiJsdLSgphfZiVp0CnPKy8EMR0-8sZBLGotHBx8OeneU2oL5Oe_o/s1600/10022016-JetsHawks_01-1020x680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsGwGYVZg9r1O6FlDMPz_tORnV9-3BEeYCtfQxyhy10zUZQeMM-BV0CO7uMNfmueiOk40hDD5k2Ar9vHLcQpkia8NiJsdLSgphfZiVp0CnPKy8EMR0-8sZBLGotHBx8OeneU2oL5Oe_o/s400/10022016-JetsHawks_01-1020x680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
921. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
922. <br /></div>
923. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
924. Ryan Fitzpatrick was having nice afternoon. </div>
925. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
926. <br /></div>
927. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
928. He was coming off a 6-interception disaster at Arrowhead, but through 3 quarters against one of the league's toughest defenses he not only had been effective, but he was doing something not even the most elite quarterbacks could do - He was picking on Richard Sherman. </div>
929. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
930. <br /></div>
931. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
932. Fitzpatrick had challenged Sherman, and had completed four passes to Brandon Marshall, including a gorgeous touchdown strike late in the first half. Was Sherman just having a bad day? Was Brandon Marshall just playing out of his mind? Was Fitzpatrick having a career day? Was Sherm... GASP... Slipping?</div>
933. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
934. <br /></div>
935. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
936. Early in the 4th quarter, the Seahawks were holding onto a 17-10 lead, but it felt tenuous. It felt like the game was trending towards New York. In three-plus decades as a 12, I hadn't seen a road victory over the Jets since I was eight years old. I had seen crushing defeats in '85, in '87 (a humiliating loss on MNF), in '98 (I <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-10-most-traumatic-plays-in-seahawks.html">don't need to explain that one</a>), in '99 (when a win would have clinched the AFC West - We had <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/3/25/1389015/i-am-jacks-broken-heart-my-1999">root for Oakland in order to back in</a>... Barf) and in '04 (one of the low points in the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2011/07/blue-ruin-my-2004-seahawks-story.html">most frustrating division-winning season anyone could imagine</a>). </div>
937. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
938. <br /></div>
939. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
940. The Jets had the ball near midfield. Marshall blatantly pushed off Sherman, but the pass interference flag flew against Seattle, not New York. It was just one of many questionable calls against the Seahawks by a shaky officiating crew. Even the FOX broadcast team was stunned. If at that point, the Hawks lost their grip on the game, it would have fit a painful but familiar narrative. Not a great road team. Hard for them to win those 10 am pacific east coast games. And so on. </div>
941. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
942. <br /></div>
943. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
944. Maybe for a moment, after he was gifted an ill-gotten PI flag, Ryan Fitzpatrick thought that he could do no wrong. Maybe he thought that he could keep picking on Richard Sherman. </div>
945. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
946. <br /></div>
947. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
948. But he forgot that he was just a guy. He forgot that the most notable Jets quarterback since Joe Namath has been <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msocV1aUlek">Flash Gordon</a>. He forgot that he was up against the best corner in the game. He once again threw it in Marshall's direction- Only to have it snared out of the New Jersey sky by Richard Sherman. </div>
949. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
950. <br /></div>
951. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
952. In my Columbus apartment, I went WWE-interview-level apeshit - Pumping my first and shouting "Fuck yeah!" at least a dozen times. It was instantly one of my favorite moments in Sherman's Canton-bound career, and the Hawks immediately capitalized and took complete control of the game.</div>
953. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
954. <br /></div>
955. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
956. Why did they do that? Because OUR quarterback is ANYTHING but "just a guy." Russell Carrington Wilson is incessantly maligned. He is consistently underrated. Pundits and bobbleheads find nothing more enjoyable than informing the world that he is "good but not elite." The WolfBadger was playing with a high ankle sprain and a strained MCL. Those injuries would send most players to the inactive list, at least for a few weeks... But RW3 was playing. Surely though, he was in trouble. He wouldn't be able to run away from that fearsome New York pass rush. Good, but not elite. </div>
957. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
958. <br /></div>
959. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
960. 309 yards and three touchdowns later, the conventional wisdom was shredded. Yes, Wilson could slay you with his arm alone. Give him weapons like Jimmy Graham and Doug Baldwin and it didn't matter that he was short or anchored to the pocket. He would just bleed you all day long, because Angry Doug aint gonna drop the ball and Graham is like The Incredible Hulk with tackified gloves. We are witnessing something glorious - The Leveling Up of Russell Wilson. After a performance like the one he delivered at MetLife Stadium today, no fair-minded observer can deny that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the game. </div>
961. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
962. <br /></div>
963. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
964. Of course he didn't do it alone - Graham had another 100-yard day, and Christine "The Awakening" Michael had 90 yards and a TD on 23 touches. The defense absolutely strangled New York in the second half - The Jets' only score after halftime was on a bizarre fumble recovery after a Seattle strip-sack. Sherman got a second interception later in the 4th quarter, and Earl Thomas got another pick of his own, too. </div>
965. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
966. <br /></div>
967. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
968. The Seahawks go into their bye week tied for first in the NFC West with the surprising Los Angeles Rams (and with a 2-game lead over the Cardinals and Niners). They'll come back in two weeks spry, rested, and healthy - and ready to lay waste to the rest of the NFL. This is the best defense in football, and now they are starting to rack up the takeaways. A healthy Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham will terrorize opposing defenses, and Seattle will make a run at securing home field advantage in the NFC playoffs. </div>
969. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
970. <br /></div>
971. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
972. Enjoy the bye week, 12s, Kick back and watch some Red Zone Channel next Sunday, root against the Rams, etc. When our boys come back on October 16, it'll be the start of a 4-month march to Houston. It will be wonderful, and violent, and glorious. </div>
973. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
974. <br /></div>
975. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
976. Would you like to know more?</div>
977. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/409784456928114762/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=409784456928114762&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/409784456928114762'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/409784456928114762'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/10/seahawks-27-jets-17.html' title='Seahawks 27, Jets 17'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsGwGYVZg9r1O6FlDMPz_tORnV9-3BEeYCtfQxyhy10zUZQeMM-BV0CO7uMNfmueiOk40hDD5k2Ar9vHLcQpkia8NiJsdLSgphfZiVp0CnPKy8EMR0-8sZBLGotHBx8OeneU2oL5Oe_o/s72-c/10022016-JetsHawks_01-1020x680.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-8069616520925982388</id><published>2016-09-19T16:03:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2016-09-19T16:04:52.695-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Rams 9, Seahawks 3 </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
978. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElISWgf_IxU3hHdUAr5MlWQ2LcscnRq3YQTdpkR-L6dJLfkR3Ndp4oWhxxhANB8rfOWcXl6psXt5ZRGmyGHQjOZfixeqGCSVdmiySdHWJB15dORdsL57NFhNBpL751tSGNB0PDNb70Ms/s1600/la-sp-rams-seahawks-20160918-snap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElISWgf_IxU3hHdUAr5MlWQ2LcscnRq3YQTdpkR-L6dJLfkR3Ndp4oWhxxhANB8rfOWcXl6psXt5ZRGmyGHQjOZfixeqGCSVdmiySdHWJB15dORdsL57NFhNBpL751tSGNB0PDNb70Ms/s400/la-sp-rams-seahawks-20160918-snap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
979. <br />
980. The weird alchemy that has allowed the deeply mediocre Jeff Fisher Rams to beat the mighty Seahawks most of the time apparently continues to hold sway after a profoundly frustrating 9-3 defeat in Seattle's return to the Los Angeles Coliseum.<br />
981. <br />
982. Against the Seahawks, the Fisher Rams are 5-4, against the rest of the football universe they are an abysmal 23-33-1. It's not a stretch to argue those wins against Seattle are what has kept Fisher employed by Stan Kroenke - Fisher is a garbage coach whose teams have only posted two winning seasons in the past decade (and the last one was in 2008). A win or two a season against a divisional rival/perennial contender like the Seahawks is juuuuuuuuust enough to take to your owner and say "See! We beat Seattle! And we went 8-8. Good times are just around the corner."<br />
983. <br />
984. When these teams meet again on Thursday Night Football in December, the Seahawks will blind millions of viewers with their "Action Green"<strike> abominations</strike> uniforms, and probably roll in with something like a 9-4 record. Los Angeles will probably be 6-7 or worse... And that game will probably be decided in the 4th quarter because at some point Jeff Fisher clearly leased part of his soul to Lucifer in exchange for victories over a team with better talent, better coaching, and better ownership.<br />
985. <br />
986. Anyway, let's talk about that game, if we must.<br />
987. <br />
988. So much of this is familiar, isn't it? The early season offensive struggles. The howls about the state of the offensive line and the quality of Bevell's playcalling. The proclamations of imminent doom. My refutations of said proclamations. ZZZzzzzzzz...<br />
989. <br />
990. The short version? It actually will be OK. We're 1-1, but so are all our main rivals for the NFC's #1 seed (Arizona, Green Bay, and Carolina. Apologies if I don't take a hobbled Minnesota side and dubiously 2-0 Giants squad seriously yet). The Seahawks have three winnable games (Santa Clara, at the Jets, Atlanta) and a badly-needed bye before a huge late October SNF dust-up with the Cardinals.<br />
991. <br />
992. The defense? Yes, they've only allowed one touchdown and 19 total points in two games. The run defense is stout and the pass rush seems fiercer than at this point a year ago. There's little indication that they'll be any worse than a top-5 unit this season. However, they are still vulnerable to big plays from opposing tight ends, and they haven't yet forced a turnover this season. As well as they've played, we need them to reach another level to keep winning games while the offense struggles.<br />
993. <br />
994. The offensive line is going through its (sadly) regularly scheduled struggles. The biggest concern isn't the running game (though that has been fairly anemic), but the long-term health of Russell Wilson. We've already seen him sprain his ankle, thus limiting his mobility and hampering his accuracy. We've already seen multiple quarterbacks around the league go down for varying lengths of time. At this point, we are playing with matches in a kerosene-soaked branch of Dunder-Mifflin, just crossing our fingers and hoping we can get to the bye week without the WolfBadger getting seriously injured.<br />
995. <br />
996. Thomas Rawls left the game yesterday with a leg contusion (Wow - That sounds way worse than it actually is, doesn't it?), but even before then Christine Michael was running more effectively and with more authority - Only to somewhat spoil his promising performance by coughing up a game winning-drive-killing fumble late in the 4th quarter. Encouragingly, Jimmy Graham was worked more fully into the offensive game plan and Tyler Lockett returned from a knee injury to make a spectacular catch that put us in a position to steal the win (before CMike's fumble).<br />
997. <br />
998. As usual, the gloom and doom pervading the fan base is unwarranted. We've seen this before, and it's nothing that hasn't kept this group from making deep playoff runs in the past. But we are one Russell Wilson injury away from a lost season, and that's the specter that is haunting my brain today. Hopefully against Santa Clara the offensive line can get enough push to establish the running game and keep RW3's exposure to wanton violence at a minimum.<br />
999. <br />
1000. What do you think, sirs?<br />
1001. <br />
1002. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/8069616520925982388/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=8069616520925982388&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/8069616520925982388'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/8069616520925982388'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/09/rams-9-seahawks-3.html' title='Rams 9, Seahawks 3 '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElISWgf_IxU3hHdUAr5MlWQ2LcscnRq3YQTdpkR-L6dJLfkR3Ndp4oWhxxhANB8rfOWcXl6psXt5ZRGmyGHQjOZfixeqGCSVdmiySdHWJB15dORdsL57NFhNBpL751tSGNB0PDNb70Ms/s72-c/la-sp-rams-seahawks-20160918-snap.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-4433384822474085711</id><published>2016-09-14T16:12:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2016-09-14T16:18:11.512-05:00</updated><title type='text'>You Can&#39;t Swim in a Town This Shallow</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1003. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuIINwv2s5KLsDY4ohU2olzZFeFfcnzXxEEayjIoHii-sBJBmTVe4dGEWYs2AFEQthlmWDyVtx_VuYCotEl9Agy7yaDsyXEki33uOVUy18J7anFldAXe7o5tw3wUZHaSvHtAsdt25RdM/s1600/LA_Coliseum-1601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuIINwv2s5KLsDY4ohU2olzZFeFfcnzXxEEayjIoHii-sBJBmTVe4dGEWYs2AFEQthlmWDyVtx_VuYCotEl9Agy7yaDsyXEki33uOVUy18J7anFldAXe7o5tw3wUZHaSvHtAsdt25RdM/s400/LA_Coliseum-1601.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1004. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1005. <br /></div>
1006. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1007. I know how I'm supposed to feel about the Rams moving to Los Angeles. I know I'm supposed to feel for the poor fans of St. Louis, who cruelly had their team snatched away from them. As a fan of a Seattle team, I've had a <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/search?q=supersonics">front-row seat for that sort of injustice</a>. As we all know, our beloved Hawks <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2008/08/that-bearded-nerd-saved-our-seahawks.html">almost bolted for Southern California in 1997</a>. Some blogger <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2011/05/tangent-universes-seahawks-bolt-for-la.html">even imagined what that would have been like a while back</a>... And I agree with Richard Sherman that <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/06/09/richard-sherman-make-billionaires-pay-for-their-own-stadiums/">billionaire owners should be paying for their lavish new stadiums</a> rather than relying on taxpayer funding (Easy for me to say, right? My team is set. Buckle up for more blatant hypocrisy!).</div>
1008. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1009. <br /></div>
1010. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1011. However... Eff St. Louis! The Cardinals moved there from Chicago, and they left. The Rams moved there from Los Angeles and then moved back. As Michael Bluth once said, <i>"You really should lock that down."</i> In addition, as I've said many times before, going to a game in St. Louis was like watching a football game inside a REALLY NICE brand new Costco (and one where all the local fans were preoccupied with the town's baseball team). Not exactly the best football atmosphere in America. </div>
1012. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1013. <br /></div>
1014. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1015. On a brazenly selfish tip, the Rams moving to Los Angeles is a unalloyed good for our Seattle Seahawks. First, it eliminates an annual 10 am pacific kickoff. Second, it's a much shorter trip to L.A. from Seattle than from the Emerald City to STL. Third, the bad blood between the cities should amp up the rivalry. Finally, with Pete Carroll's ties to USC creating a LOT of 12s in greater Los Angeles in recent years, and with the ease of travel between SEA and LAX, I expect games at the Coliseum to feature frequent and quite audible chants of "SEA! HAWKS!!" </div>
1016. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1017. <br /></div>
1018. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1019. <i>Sidebar for all you new Los Angeles Rams fans - You don't get to brag about ANYTHING the team did in St. Louis. Nope. You didn't give a fuck when they won XXXIV. You weren't paying attention when the Mike Martz Rams were torturing us. So fuck off. Don't bring that shit. You're pretty much an expansion team - and unless you're at least 40 years old, I don't want to hear you blathering about how great Eric Dickerson was "for us" either. </i></div>
1020. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1021. <br /></div>
1022. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1023. I'll admit I don't know a ton about Los Angeles. I've only visited once (when I was 12). Most of what I know about the area comes from pissy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whgQ_HDnfXw">Death Cab For Cutie songs</a>, the incredible documentary <a href="http://www.avclub.com/review/you-can-finally-own-thom-andersens-cranky-treasure-210727">Los Angeles Plays Itself</a>, and my 20+ year obsession with the O.J. Simpson murder case (SERIOUSLY - You all need to watch both the FX series and the ESPN documentary ASAP). Sunday's game will go down at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and a sellout crowd of over 90,000 is expected to fill the ancient arena. I know a bit more about that... </div>
1024. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1025. <br /></div>
1026. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1027. The Seahawks played exactly one game against the Rams in the Coliseum. WAYYYY back in 1976. The expansion Hawks were no match for L.A.'s perennial contenders (back in the 70s they had a nasty habit of being awesome until they had to go to Minneapolis in the playoffs, where they shattered like the frozen T-1000 in the 3rd act of Terminator 2), and they lost 45-6. This was so long ago that Tom Dempsey was the Rams' placekicker. Gerald Ford was still President. I was 18 months old. </div>
1028. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1029. <br /></div>
1030. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1031. Of course, the Raiders moved into the Coliseum in 1982 and stayed until 1994. My earliest memory of the rivalry playing out in the Coliseum was our resounding defeat at the Raiders' hands in the 1983 AFC Championship Game. I was 8, those bastards made me cry, and a life-long hatred was forged. Here's our top 5 victories in the Coliseum (OK, our only five wins in the Coliseum...). Enjoy! </div>
1032. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1033. <br /></div>
1034. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1035. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199409110rai.htm">5. 9/11/94 Seahawks 38, Raiders 9</a></div>
1036. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1037. What a mirage the start of the 1994 campaign was... Rick Mirer still seemed like he'd turn out to be a great NFL quarterback at this point. He fired three TD passes and racked up a 140.2 passer rating. Chris Warren churned out 112 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone twice as the Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 start. They'd excite the 12 Army with a 3-0 start... before going 3-10 the rest of the way. Head Coach Tom Flores would get shitcanned after the season, and with good cause. </div>
1038. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1039. <br /></div>
1040. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1041. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198910010rai.htm">4. 10/1/89 Seahawks 24, Raiders 20</a></div>
1042. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1043. Seattle came from behind to win, outscoring the Silver and Black 17-3 in the final quarter. Curt Warner had one of his last great games, scoring a TD and running for 102 yards on 21 carries. Brian Blades accumulated 113 yards on seven catches, including the go-ahead score with just minutes remaining. </div>
1044. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1045. <br /></div>
1046. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1047. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310300rai.htm">3. 10/30/83 Seahawks 34, Raiders 21 </a></div>
1048. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1049. The Raiders coughed up five turnovers, Curt Warner ran for over 100 yards, and the Hawks beat the eventual Super Bowl champs for the 2nd time in three weeks. As I mentioned earlier, they'd get payback in the AFC Championship Game a few months later. </div>
1050. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1051. <br /></div>
1052. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1053. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198710250rai.htm">2. 10/25/87 Seahawks 35, Raiders 13</a></div>
1054. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1055. DAVE KRIEG STILL HAD HIS STRIKE BEARD! Yup, Krieg hadn't yet shaved off the bushy facewarmer he grew during the 1987 players' strike. Mudbone fired two touchdowns to Ray Butler, but the big star of the day was Curt Warner, who racked up 145 yards and scored twice himself. Fredd Young also snagged a pass from the unfortunately named Rusty Dilger and ran it in for six for good measure. </div>
1056. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1057. <br /></div>
1058. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1059. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812180rai.htm">1. 12/18/88 Seahawks 43, Raiders 37</a></div>
1060. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1061. L.A. and Seattle came into the Coliseum that day with a combined record of 15-15, but the winner would make the playoffs. On that damp, dreary, Seattle-like day, the Seahawks were playing for their first AFC West title. Both defenses seemed to have brought the wrong shoes for the muddy track... The teams traded scores all day, but the Hawks pulled ahead in the 4th and held on for the biggest regular-season road win in team history, keyed by a spectacular John L. Williams TD on a perfectly executed "middle screen." </div>
1062. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1063. <br /></div>
1064. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1065. What about this Sunday's game? I expect the usual Seahawks-Rams bloodpisser, with <b>Seattle coming out on top 17-15</b>. Let's say Bobby Wagner stuffs a late 2-point conversion try by Todd Gurley to seal the win? </div>
1066. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1067. <br /></div>
1068. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1069. What do you think, sirs? </div>
1070. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/4433384822474085711/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=4433384822474085711&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/4433384822474085711'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/4433384822474085711'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/09/you-cant-swim-in-town-this-shallow.html' title='You Can&#39;t Swim in a Town This Shallow'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuIINwv2s5KLsDY4ohU2olzZFeFfcnzXxEEayjIoHii-sBJBmTVe4dGEWYs2AFEQthlmWDyVtx_VuYCotEl9Agy7yaDsyXEki33uOVUy18J7anFldAXe7o5tw3wUZHaSvHtAsdt25RdM/s72-c/LA_Coliseum-1601.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-3566115136595092554</id><published>2016-09-12T10:47:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2016-09-12T10:49:38.804-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10 </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1071. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhU3rwaIN1esfySfIF09Y_ACfGlDmMet-0kY_BHQmbVuY9KLIiZIvjopXnadWSRqQL5ANjDId8pDuPZUgKobTo0ktPQPPJy3qSO7EjXGC964v4au5Svw0uxhkXp3tRYlA87wwQROD6sY/s1600/14232518_10154534124958267_476579433806860055_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhU3rwaIN1esfySfIF09Y_ACfGlDmMet-0kY_BHQmbVuY9KLIiZIvjopXnadWSRqQL5ANjDId8pDuPZUgKobTo0ktPQPPJy3qSO7EjXGC964v4au5Svw0uxhkXp3tRYlA87wwQROD6sY/s400/14232518_10154534124958267_476579433806860055_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1072. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1073. <br /></div>
1074. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1075. In my apartment, I have a framed poster from over 30 years ago. It looks like this (but mine isn't signed): </div>
1076. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1077. <br /></div>
1078. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1079. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYpZGq2I7cVIcpDjuGJCFhEdxwGUuKfc88T6CjUgcQDFQZonX9HkTdZ3zuAhyNmh4U7Ehc17uZIUapKwaMUtev4A2BmfWwcjuU5OVVVE6PoICe4YUxeGxhFCYfylKORh2tGMfrWPNC0A/s1600/seattle-seahawks-steve-largent-raider_1_38219e5be36e5ec966b94b88193fc6f3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYpZGq2I7cVIcpDjuGJCFhEdxwGUuKfc88T6CjUgcQDFQZonX9HkTdZ3zuAhyNmh4U7Ehc17uZIUapKwaMUtev4A2BmfWwcjuU5OVVVE6PoICe4YUxeGxhFCYfylKORh2tGMfrWPNC0A/s320/seattle-seahawks-steve-largent-raider_1_38219e5be36e5ec966b94b88193fc6f3.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
1080. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1081. <br /></div>
1082. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1083. First of all, how 1980s is that shit? You've got the obvious reference to the original Ghostbusters film, the reminder that the L.A. Raiders were our main rivals in 1984, and a pretty cheesy nod to the Rocky films (Did you ever want to watch a bunch of white people yelling at a movie screen like it was a live sporting event? You should have gone to see Rocky III or IV in the theater back then. Yipes). The Steve-Carrell-after-climbing-out-of-a-dumpster lookin' fella? That's Steve Largent. When he retired in 1989, he owned almost every receiving record in NFL history. Take a second and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfTJ1iz1BIU">go watch this video about him</a>... </div>
1084. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1085. <br /></div>
1086. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1087. He was the first Seahawk to get elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and before Walter Jones came along, he was the greatest player in franchise history. 27 years after he left the game, and after fundamental changes in the way the game is played that MASSIVELY increased wide receiver production, he still is the franchise leader in every significant receiving category. He was known for three things: His spectacular ability to catch almost everything thrown his way, his nose for the end zone, and his effectiveness at converting on third downs. </div>
1088. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1089. <br /></div>
1090. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1091. Over a quarter century has passed, and we've seen nothing else like him. Even the very best Seattle receivers have missed something... Brian Blades? Reliable and productive. Bobby Engram? Same deal. Joey Galloway? Explosive but never really correctly utilized. Darrell Jackson? Underrated for sure, but not nearly as consistent as number 80 was. </div>
1092. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1093. <br /></div>
1094. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1095. I'm here to tell you that today, in 2016, the Seattle Seahawks finally have a wideout in Largent's class. His name is Doug Baldwin. </div>
1096. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1097. <br /></div>
1098. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1099. I can hear the howls from Anchorage to Boise already. No way! Not even close! And if you just give the numbers a cursory once over, Baldwin is nowhere near Largent's career numbers. But if you dig deeper, the parallels jump out at you. </div>
1100. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1101. <br /></div>
1102. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1103. Largent was drafted in the 4th round by the Oilers, only to get traded near the end of his first training camp to the Seahawks for an 8th round pick (Yup - a pick so low that THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE). Doug Baldwin went undrafted out of Stanford and signed with Seattle as a free agent. Both players would lead the Seahawks in receptions and receiving yards in their rookie campaigns, 35 years apart. </div>
1104. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1105. <br /></div>
1106. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1107. Largent was consistently underestimated because of lack of size and (perceived) lack of speed, while Baldwin led a group of Seattle receivers called "pedestrian" by ESPN's Cris Carter. Both used those slights as motivation - Largent largely silently (until he unloaded over a decade of pent-up fury <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSOPrwb-mQc">upon Mike Harden</a>) and Baldwin <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS1jjdUP1Zo">very loudly and publicly</a>. </div>
1108. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1109. <br /></div>
1110. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1111. Largent's numbers swelled in the late 70s and early 80s, in part because he was BY FAR the team's most dangerous offensive weapon. Baldwin's career has followed a different trajectory, in part because Marshawn Lynch had been the main focus (and the identity of) the Seattle attack. But since Lynch largely disappeared from the offense after his injuries in 2015, Baldwin's numbers have EXPLODED. Over his last 11 games, including the playoffs, Baldwin has 60 catches for 940 yards and 14 touchdowns. If you extrapolate those numbers into a 16-game season, that's 87 receptions for 1367 yards and 20 touchdowns. </div>
1112. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1113. <br /></div>
1114. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1115. As great as Steve Largent was, he never had more than 79 catches in a season. </div>
1116. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1117. <br /></div>
1118. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1119. As amazing as #80 was, he never had more than 1287 yards through the air in a season. </div>
1120. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1121. <br /></div>
1122. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1123. As prolific a scorer as our favorite Golden Hurricane was, he never had more than 12 touchdowns in a season. </div>
1124. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1125. <br /></div>
1126. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1127. We are witnessing Doug Baldwin go supernova, and it's glorious to behold. </div>
1128. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1129. <br /></div>
1130. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1131. You know that poster I showed you up at the top? Just a few months before that, Largent had the defining moment of his career in the 1983 divisional playoff at Miami. The underdog Hawks trailed the Dolphins 20-17 late in the 4th quarter, and the so-called "Killer B's" had held Largent without a catch all day. At the biggest moment, though, Largent delivered. He snagged a reception on 3rd down that kept the drive alive, and finally got loose deep, snaring a perfect throw from Dave Krieg to set up Curt Warner's winning TD. </div>
1132. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1133. <br /></div>
1134. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1135. 33 years later, playing for sliiiiiiightly lower stakes, Doug Baldwin stepped into the role of The Mighty Finkiller. Angry Doug had a fine performance overall, but with the Hawks trailing 10-6 with only minute left, a Largentian performance was needed to secure a victory. A hobbled Russell Wilson wouldn't be able to sprint for first downs - He'd have to get rid of the ball quickly to a reliable target. </div>
1136. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1137. <br /></div>
1138. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1139. On 4th and 4 from midfield, the WolfBadger would find Baldwin over the middle to keep the drive alive. Later in the possession, Baldwin got down to the Miami 2. Two plays later he'd bring in a fade from RW3 to complete the comeback and crush Miami's dreams of stealing a win in Seahawks Stadium. Baldwin's day? Nine catches for 92 yards and the winning TD. </div>
1140. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1141. <br /></div>
1142. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1143. Am I saying that Baldwin is better than Largent? Hell no. Am I saying that he's the best wide receiver we've seen since Largent, and he's on a trajectory that would at least someday make that debate less than laughable? Yup. </div>
1144. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1145. <br /></div>
1146. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1147. Unless Wilson ends up missing significant time with that ankle injury (please Please PLEASE no), I'll boldly claim this: Doug Baldwin will have the best single-season receiving performance in franchise history in 2016. </div>
1148. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1149. <br /></div>
1150. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1151. Won't be long until we see cheesy posters with Baldwin on them, bragging about how we're going to stomp Arizona's ass. Shit - Can someone with photoshop skills whip that up for me? :) </div>
1152. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1153. <br /></div>
1154. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1155. What do you think, sirs? </div>
1156. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/3566115136595092554/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=3566115136595092554&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3566115136595092554'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3566115136595092554'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/09/seahawks-12-dolphins-10.html' title='Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10 '/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhU3rwaIN1esfySfIF09Y_ACfGlDmMet-0kY_BHQmbVuY9KLIiZIvjopXnadWSRqQL5ANjDId8pDuPZUgKobTo0ktPQPPJy3qSO7EjXGC964v4au5Svw0uxhkXp3tRYlA87wwQROD6sY/s72-c/14232518_10154534124958267_476579433806860055_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-5197740708694975581</id><published>2016-08-28T10:35:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2016-08-28T13:20:02.308-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Russell Wilson and You</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1157. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA4KX6kJiuKwaiL5P8_oqZfBNoMr5CTS-Jl0fUG032HSQwPHHg_E-sklyZA5TYkpIRtQi20Jv7B0zy1GrAbVf6qnvit-INolrYeyiCCcs9qjf-qEzF6sTOnOiDaNQolHHlj-1n3sEHfo/s1600/IMG_20160828_112722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA4KX6kJiuKwaiL5P8_oqZfBNoMr5CTS-Jl0fUG032HSQwPHHg_E-sklyZA5TYkpIRtQi20Jv7B0zy1GrAbVf6qnvit-INolrYeyiCCcs9qjf-qEzF6sTOnOiDaNQolHHlj-1n3sEHfo/s400/IMG_20160828_112722.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
1158. <br>
1159. To be trans is to be alone.<br>
1160. <br>
1161. It's feeling like you are different when you are 9. It's getting a clear message from your Dad when he goes SHITHOUSE on a dude at the hardware store who mistakenly thought you were a little girl. Whatever feelings you have are weird, and wrong, and dangerous. You aren't even close to sorting those feelings out, but you know it's a secret you have to conceal at all costs.<br>
1162. <br>
1163. It's a cycle of confusion and depression and shame that leaves you feeling horribly isolated and disconnected. You find a thing that makes you feel connected to other people, though. You pour everything you have into it. You learn all you can about it. When you go on a bus trip from the Tri-Cities to Seattle for a Seahawks game when you are 11, you know more about the team than all the adults. You're a snot-nosed little shit who SCREAMS at the Steelers all the way through warm-ups from the Kingdome upper deck, either not knowing or not caring that they can't possibly hear you (You don't remember).<br>
1164. <br>
1165. For three hours every fall weekend, you forgot those feelings you were pushing down inside yourself. You lost yourself in something bigger, and felt that connection that eluded you in every other facet of your life. You'd walk on air for days if they won. You'd sink into a deep funk all week after a loss. But you felt SOMETHING. Something other than the doubt you felt about your identity, your personhood, your existence. In fact, it becomes something that you use as a cudgel against those percolating feelings. You weren't like those characters on Jerry Springer. You weren't that girl from The Crying Game. You liked football! How could you be trans if you liked football? What was girly or feminine about that?<br>
1166. <br>
1167. You tread water in your life. Jobs and people and relationships come and go, but two things are constant - The rumbling cloud of gender sadness that's always overhead, and your Seahawks. You're 25. You're 30. You're 35. As the rationalizations lose their power, and the sea walls in your psyche crumble, you're terrified. There are some rational reasons for your fear. If you are trans, you fear that you are FUCKED. You're a nerd, so you gather all the imformation you can. What you find out is bracing, to say the least.<br>
1168. <br>
1169. You can get fired for being trans. You can get kicked out of your apartment for being trans. You'll likely lose family, friends and more. You read <a href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/static_html/downloads/reports/reports/ntds_full.pdf">horrifying statistics</a> (disturbing in general, but gobsmackingly catastrophic for trans women of color) - about how the unemployment rates and levels of poverty for trans people are much higher than the general population. About how over half of trans people reported being verbally harassed in public, About how a toxic stew of discrimination, limited resources, and constricted life options led to trans people living with HIV at a rate FOUR TIMES HIGHER than the rest of the population. How FORTY-ONE PERCENT of trans people attempt suicide (compared to 1.6% of the general population). In fact, you are told more than once that being trans is such a treacherous life path that you should only step upon it if it's a choice between that and suicide.<br>
1170. <br>
1171. You finally get to a point where you feel like you can try to reconcile all these various parts of yourself. You start living authentically and you find that you CAN be trans and a Twelve. It's glorious. You come out on your blog, and the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2013/06/off-topic-yup-im-trans.html">response is overwhelmingly positive</a>. You start presenting your authentic self just six weeks before the Seahawks finally win a Super Bowl. You're in the house when <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2014/01/seahawks-23-49ers-17.html">Sherm tips the ball to Smith</a>. You witness <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2014/02/seahawks-43-broncos-8.html">43-8</a> and you break down in tears afterwards, feeling like they were waiting for YOU TO BE READY before finally hoisting that Lombardi Trophy.<br>
1172. <br>
1173. You notice that slowly but surely, things were changing. You see signs of progress. You see, for the first time, that the President of the United States gives a crap about people like you, and <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/13/how-obama-became-the-trans-rights-president.html">actually does quite a bit to help you out</a>. You're a positive, optimistic sort, so you see things going on a trajectory that bends toward freedom.<br>
1174. <br>
1175. But progress provokes backlash, both socially and politically. Trans women, particularly trans women of color, are murdered simply for being themselves <a href="http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/8/11/these-are-trans-people-killed-2016">at an alarming rate</a>. States like North Carolina pass draconian laws that criminalize people like me using the bathroom, and the <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/08/19/north_carolina_tells_court_trans_people_are_delusional.html">official position of the Raleigh government is that you must be "delusional"</a> and unworthy of full citizenship.<br>
1176. <br>
1177. Back home, there was an effort to pass a similar law in Washington State. You did what you could. You gave money to the effort to keep that shit off the ballot. And you succeeded! Hooray. But even back in the Evergreen State, there were far too many people marinating in ignorance, hatred, and fear of trans folks. You wondered when the anvil would fall - <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/03/is-that-your-boyfriends-jersey-sexism.html">when would someone on your beloved Seahawks say something brazenly, openly transphobic</a>?<br>
1178. <br>
1179. You looked around and saw that far too many NFL players, coaches and owners held retrograde views- some <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/list/donald-trump-supporters-athletes-sports-tom-brady-bobby-knight-dennis-rodman-rex-ryan-mark-cuban/1iwt25b9x1sy21tp8x64sjiuuf">even supported the vile Tangerine Mussolini Donald Trump</a>. Sure, your owner is a huge Democratic donor, your coach supported Obama openly, and one of your defensive superstars backed Bernie - But when would a Seahawk say something disgusting about people like you? It seemed inevitable.<br>
1180. <br>
1181. You see on the news that a <a href="http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/8/12/ohio-trans-woman-raelynn-thomas-murdered-mothers-ex-boyfriend">trans woman of color was murdered right here in Columbus</a>. It hits way too close to home. You go to a vigil for Rae'Lynn Thomas. Your pain is nothing compared to that of her family and friends. You don't face nearly the same discrimination and danger that trans women of color face, but you feel powerless and hopeless. You feel darkness encroaching.<br>
1182. <br>
1183. Your favorite player is Russell Wilson. You've always had a thing for quarterbacks, from Dave Krieg to Matt Hasselbeck to the WolfBadger. You love that he <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/08/too-soon.html">PROVED YOU WRONG</a> about him (along with every NFL team that passed on the chance to draft him multiple times). You love how electrifying he is on the field. You think he's handsome and personable. Your kids seem immediately drawn to him. You love that he WINS. He seems to do damn near nothing but win, and he does it with style and flair.<br>
1184. <br>
1185. But you worry. He's pretty religious. Sadly, it feels like there's a correlation between certain American flavors of Christianity and transphobic attitudes. He's also very controlled and corporate in terms of his public persona. Was there some hidden reservoir of hate within him that he smartly concealed from a fan base that contains a huge number of LGBT folks and their straight cis allies?<br>
1186. <br>
1187. Then you see <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/08/22/russell-wilson-moved-his-wedding-out-of-north-carolina-due-to-bathroom-law/">the piece in Pro Football Talk</a>. With his new wife Ciara, Wilson decided to move his wedding out of North Carolina because of that hateful "bathroom bill" that dehumanized people like me in the Tarheel State. When asked about it, RW3 said <i>“I just believe that Jesus loves all people. That’s honestly what I believe.”</i><br>
1188. <i><br></i>
1189. As an activist, part of you wishes that he would have delivered an impassioned rant about the injustice of laws like HB2, but you're still ecstatic. You know that this is still a big deal - Not just to you, but to every trans person who wears College Blue, Wolf Grey, and Action Green. You know that Wilson has roots in North Carolina, and he must not have decided to move his wedding lightly.<br>
1190. <br>
1191. YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER DOESN'T HATE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. That might sound like an unbelieveably low bar to clear, but it means everything to you. Can you imagine being a Patriots fan (BARF) and having to root for Trump-loving Brady (BAAAAAAARF)? You trash those plans for buying a Baldwin jersey (Sorry, Angry Doug), because for a good long spell, all you are going to wear is nothing but #3 and #12.<br>
1192. <br>
1193. You see that minds are already changing on this. You see the Seahawks Stadium chef <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/seahawks-stadium-chef-john-howie-on-transgender-bathrooms-the-law-could-be-abused/">who had previously spewed ignorant bile do a near-tearful 180</a>. You feel a little bit of hope again.<br>
1194. <br>
1195. You&#39;re not alone.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/5197740708694975581/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=5197740708694975581&amp;isPopup=true' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5197740708694975581'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5197740708694975581'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/08/russell-wilson-and-you.html' title='Russell Wilson and You'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA4KX6kJiuKwaiL5P8_oqZfBNoMr5CTS-Jl0fUG032HSQwPHHg_E-sklyZA5TYkpIRtQi20Jv7B0zy1GrAbVf6qnvit-INolrYeyiCCcs9qjf-qEzF6sTOnOiDaNQolHHlj-1n3sEHfo/s72-c/IMG_20160828_112722.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-3225768545166620463</id><published>2016-08-17T10:17:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2016-08-17T10:17:49.051-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Your 2016 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1196. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzoinWLZz81SwlM5wjqeq_R-ecz6UxW4pLkRSL1epwRGRMSTVHN6t2AjHxIbwejRnXpzAop9mS6f-OMUFDokhjq5FnMWk8PnsZE44pO_DGGVwsYYSxASbsYM6tle2n4QjGYlnjVv6nbY/s1600/ap_618048336294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzoinWLZz81SwlM5wjqeq_R-ecz6UxW4pLkRSL1epwRGRMSTVHN6t2AjHxIbwejRnXpzAop9mS6f-OMUFDokhjq5FnMWk8PnsZE44pO_DGGVwsYYSxASbsYM6tle2n4QjGYlnjVv6nbY/s400/ap_618048336294.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1197. <br />The Seahawks host their first preseason game of 2016 Thursday night, and I'm sure many of you are agonizing over what new jersey you want to snag and show off on gameday. Thankfully, I'm here to help! While it's perfectly cromulent to go with a #12 Fan jersey, I don't like to have that as the only jersey in my closet - Doing that makes me feel like I'm not sufficiently invested in the players who are currently on the team. I'm in the market for a new jersey myself this year, so let's look at the players you should avoid, and the ones that'll make your fellow 12s say "Damn. That's bad-ass." First, the general information and admonitions...<br />
1198. <br />
1199. As usual, let's start with the 1st Commandment of jersey ownership: <b>NEVER PUT YOUR JERSEY IN THE DRYER!</b> Dryers kill jerseys! Don't do it under any circumstances. If you abide by this decree your jersey(s) should hold up for a nice, long spell. If possible, wash them on the delicate cycle in cold water by themselves. I also feel strongly that there's no compelling reason to opt for the more opulent Nike models. The $100 replicas ("game" jerseys) are plenty expensive enough, and will look sharp for years with proper care. If you are lucky enough to fit into a "youth" size, those are only about $70.<br />
1200. <br />
1201. Like many of you, I've felt the sting of buying a jersey just to see that player get seriously injured (I for one have a weird thing about not wanting to wear an injured player's jersey) or leave Seattle a year (or less) later. My hope is that with this guide, I'll help you get a jersey that A) will be a good investment for years to come and B) will make you stand out from the crowd a bit.<br />
1202. <br />
1203. <b>DON'T BUYS</b><br />
1204. I love me some <b>Michael Bennett</b>, but his continued (and <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/michael-bennett-contract-situation-hangs-uneasily-on-eve-of-seahawks-training-camp/">frankly justified</a>) grousing about his contract situation, coupled with PCJS's fearlessness about cutting loose ANYONE who fucks with their plan or with team chemistry, would make me wait on buying Black Santa's jersey at the moment. I'd also stay away from <b>Brandon Browner</b>. He's not a supreme lock to make the 53-man roster, he's a free agent after the season, and I'm not entirely over the fact that he helped beat us in XLIX. Other notable pending free agents include <b>Steven Hauschka</b>, <b>Luke Willson</b>, <b>Tharold Simon</b>, <b>Christine Michael</b>, <b>Marcus Burley</b>, and <b>Deshawn Shead</b>. I'm excited about <b>Paul Richardson</b>, but I'd still be hesitant to buy his jersey coming off a 2nd consecutive season-ending injury. I have similar concerns about <b>Jimmy Graham</b>. Finally, I just have a general principle against buying rookie jerseys, so I'd avoid snaring any of those at this point. OK - Who SHOULD you buy? Here's the Top 10:<br />
1205. <br />
1206. <b>10. Russell Wilson</b><br />
1207. <b></b><br />
1208. The face of the franchise. Unquestionably an elite quarterback after the way he scorched the league in the 2nd half of last season. But... if you don't already have a Russell Wilson jersey, you probably don't actually want one all that badly, do you?<br />
1209. <b><br /></b>
1210. <b>9. Kam Chancellor </b><br />
1211. I adore Bam Bam Kam. He saved us against Detroit. He caused the takeaway that led to the playoff win in Minnesota. He's the baddest, toughest, most intimidating player around every time he steps onto the field. However, he's injury plagued. He's a free agent after 2017 and his long-term future in Seattle is unclear at this point. Be a bit wary here.<br />
1212. <br />
1213. <b>8. Cliff Avril</b><br />
1214. Unlike his pass-rushing linemate, Avril is under contract through 2018. He racked up nine sacks last season, and remains one of the most fearsome defensive ends in football. As a bonus, Seahawks Stadium isn't at all saturated with #56 jerseys yet - So you'll stand out sporting an Avril jersey.<br />
1215. <br />
1216. <b>7. Richard Sherman </b><br />
1217. Still the best corner in the game. Still outspoken. Still on a trajectory that ends in Canton, Ohio. Under contract through 2018. Only problem? A LOT of 12s already have his jersey.<br />
1218. <b><br /></b>
1219. <b>6. Earl Thomas</b><br />
1220. Finally, it looks like Ken Easley <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/08/15/kenny-easley-selected-as-hof-finalist-by-seniors-committee/">might get his bust in the Hall of Fame next year</a>. Someday, Earl Thomas will be the 2nd Seahawks safety to be inducted. He's under contract through 2018 so this is still a great time to buy in on the quiet leader of the Legion of Boom.<br />
1221. <br />
1222. <b>5. Bobby Wagner </b><br />
1223. Our all-world middle linebacker is at his career peak and is under team control until 2020. If you haven't snapped up a #54 jersey, this is a perfect time to make that leap.<br />
1224. <br />
1225. <b>4. Tyler Lockett</b><br />
1226. Flash was not just a spectacular kick returner in his rookie campaign, but also a shockingly reliable and productive wideout. Big things are rightfully expected of him in 2016 and beyond, and with him under contract through 2018, his jersey would be a wise investment.<br />
1227. <br />
1228. <b>3. Thomas Rawls</b><br />
1229. Contradiction time! You know how I said earlier to steer clear of players coming off injuries? I'm making an exception for Rawls. The kid was an absolute MONSTER in just a handful of starts last season, and I'm convinced that if it wasn't for his ankle injury in Baltimore, we would have advanced to our third straight Super Bowl. He won't be asked to carry the entire load of the running game this season, but he WILL hoist the Lombardi Trophy next February. The ankle issue is the only reason he's not higher on this list.<br />
1230. <br />
1231. <b>2. Jon Ryan</b><br />
1232. Before he got <a href="http://sports.mynorthwest.com/139943/seahawks-p-john-ryan-ends-social-media-presence-after/">chased off social media by bigots</a>, he was a great follow. He's LGBT-friendly. He's one of the very best punters in the game. He throws touchdown passes in playoff games <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGXdhqHZmpQ">and taunts the opposing team afterwards</a>. He's Canadian, and thus probably my <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justin-trudeau-vancouver-pride-parade-1.3702613">fake boyfriend Justin Trudeau</a>'s favorite NFL player. What's not to love? :)<br />
1233. <br />
1234. <b>1. Doug Baldwin</b><br />
1235. Angry Doug has been a fan favorite for a long time. He burst onto the scene back in 2011 as an undrafted free agent and quickly endeared himself to the 12 Army. I'll never forget an early social media post where he took a picture with a Twelve at Target and was wearing a Seahawks sweatshirt - He wears free clothes he gets from work! NFL players! They're just like us!<br />
1236. <br />
1237. He's always been a solid performer, but in the 2nd half of last season he leveled up - He became Russell Wilson's favorite target and scored 14 touchdowns while also notching his first 1000-yard campaign. Now he's locked up until the 2020 season, and I expect us to see him deliver a lot more moments like that game-winning touchdown against Pittsburgh last season. Thus, he's my top choice for a new jersey purchase this season.<br />
1238. <br />
1239. Did I miss anyone obvious? Let me know in the comments!<br />
1240. <br />
1241. What do you think, sirs?</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/3225768545166620463/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=3225768545166620463&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3225768545166620463'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/3225768545166620463'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/08/your-2016-seattle-seahawks-jersey.html' title='Your 2016 Seattle Seahawks Jersey Buying Guide'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzoinWLZz81SwlM5wjqeq_R-ecz6UxW4pLkRSL1epwRGRMSTVHN6t2AjHxIbwejRnXpzAop9mS6f-OMUFDokhjq5FnMWk8PnsZE44pO_DGGVwsYYSxASbsYM6tle2n4QjGYlnjVv6nbY/s72-c/ap_618048336294.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-5832615949572141328</id><published>2016-08-07T12:38:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2016-08-07T12:38:45.870-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Waking up, Waking up from shutdown</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1242. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZCRIapro_WuCJNbyLsFCtmpio61N4WdUTpaF4DO6drFCjov9k9j_8uL8V9iAq8JOOC9iVqCNiYDHwVoGxA-9sKVgsfrE4afqwN0AHMRwh3LyozeUZgpLUouhfBDtGj1tM58PIJXWX7s/s1600/13754534_10154402005103267_3776098650260601288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZCRIapro_WuCJNbyLsFCtmpio61N4WdUTpaF4DO6drFCjov9k9j_8uL8V9iAq8JOOC9iVqCNiYDHwVoGxA-9sKVgsfrE4afqwN0AHMRwh3LyozeUZgpLUouhfBDtGj1tM58PIJXWX7s/s400/13754534_10154402005103267_3776098650260601288_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
1243. <br />
1244. <br />
1245. The 2016 NFL season kicks off tonight, and this will be my 20th season as a Seahawks season ticket holder. It's not coincidental that I got season tickets when Paul Allen bought the team. After years of neglect and sabotage from Californian Carpetbagger Ken Behring, Allen was desperate to rebuild a Seahawks fan base that had atrophied through the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/search?q=forgotten+years">Forgotten Years of the 1990s</a>. It got so bad that TV blackouts became commonplace (I remember driving outside the blackout zone to be able to watch games WAY too often), and the rare sellouts would happen when a team with a <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609290sea.htm">large national fan base rolled into the Kingdome</a>.<br />
1246. <br />
1247. Once <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2008/08/that-bearded-nerd-saved-our-seahawks.html">Referendum 48 passed</a> and Allen took over the franchise, he made a few sections of seats in the south end zone's upper deck rediculously cheap: $10. $200 for a pair of season tickets. I had just graduated from Western that spring, and in celebration of R-48's passage I snapped up a pair of seats in the VERY TOP ROW of the Dome's upper deck. I was staying in Bellingham to get my M.A. in Political Science (mainly because I never really wanted to leave).<br />
1248. <br />
1249. I went to games there for only two full seasons. Despite starting off with one of the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2010/03/fuzzy-kingdome-memories-august-31-1997.html">most humilating losses in franchise history</a>, it wasn't that bad rooting on the Hawks from that perch. I could stand up the whole game if I wanted. There was a little area behind the seats where we could put all our stuff. You could make extra noise by banging on the metal panel behind my seats. OK, it sorta sucks, but I made the best of it. Of course, since we are talking about the tail end of the Dennis Erickson era, I got to see two fustrating 8-8 seasons. Warren Moon, Joey Galloway, Ricky Watters, Chad Brown, and others provided some highlights, but it was a familiar story for the Seahawks: Mediocrity as grey as the paint in our end zones. The arrival of Mike Holmgren in 1999 <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/3/25/1389015/i-am-jacks-broken-heart-my-1999">brought the first playoff home game in 15 years</a>, but it was all too fitting that the Dome's last game was a bowel-churning playoff loss (to a Miami side that would lose by 55 POINTS the following week in the divisonal round).<br />
1250. <br />
1251. Then we had two seasons of watching our team flail about <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2011/09/you-and-whose-army-my-2001-seattle.html">in sideways needle rain at Husky Stadium</a>. I had already moved to Columbus for more graduate school (No more degrees to get at Western, sadly), but I would schedule trips home around Seahawks home games as frequently as possible. That's how it's been now for 17 years.<br />
1252. <br />
1253. Seahawks Stadium opened in 2002, and that means we've played 14 seasons in the loudest, most beautiful venue in the NFL. In that time, I've seen us go to the playoffs 10 times. I've personally been in the house for 5 playoff wins, including three NFC Championship Game victories. I've watched the franchise completely transform from one seemingly encased in 8-8 amber into FUCKING RAPTOR SQUAD. <br />
1254. <br />
1255. Seattle enters the 2016 season with few glaring weaknesses (What happens if Russell Wilson goes down? Will the offensive line adequately protect him? Will they open up running lanes for Thomas Rawls? Will he still be able to dart through them after last December's injury?), and a lethal combination of youth, talent, experience and THIRST for another championship. Ask any Seahawk player, coach, or fan - One shitty half in Charlotte is the only reason last season didn't end in Santa Clara. Even after falling behind 31-0, our imdominable Hawks damn near won anyway. Why all the optimism?<br />
1256. <br />
1257. Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin forged some sort of football nerd mind-meld and torched the whole league in the 2nd half of last season. RW3 removed any doubt that he is a true franchise quarterback - One of the top 5 signal callers in the game (I don't care what those bobblehead haters in the football press say). The WolfBadger has an obscene number of dangerous weapons - Beyond Angry Doug, there's also Flash Lockett, Big Game Jermaine, and weirdly half-forgotten Jimmy Graham.<br />
1258. <br />
1259. Even with the retirement of Marshawn Lynch, the Hawks should still be able to bludgeon the enemy via the running game with Rawls and whichever combination of promising rookies and Christine Michaels claws their way onto the 53-man roster. On defense, the original Legion of Boom has been reunited with the return of Brandon Browner, and it's absolutely likely that Seattle will have Top 5 units on offense, defense and special teams. Seattle's #1 ranking by Football Outsiders going into this season is completely deserved, and I'm calling it now: Next January the Hawks will defeat Pittsburgh to win Super Bowl LI.<br />
1260. <br />
1261. I've been thinking a lot about the 49ers of the early 1980s lately. Not just because of their historical run of success, but because <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/8/9/3230549/seahawks-bill-walsh-pete-carroll">Bill Walsh so greatly influenced Pete Carroll</a>. A young Niners team won a Super Bowl ahead of schedule in January 1982, followed by the weirdness of the strike-shortened 1982 season and a narrow loss in the 1983 NFC Championship game to D.C.<br />
1262. <br />
1263. In 1984 they achieved an <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1984.htm">almost unprecedented level of dominance</a>, going 15-1 with the #2 offense and #1 defense in the league. They capped that campaign by flattening Miami in XIX, but their run was far from over, and they'd win a total of four championships over a nine-year stretch. These Seahawks have similar potential.<br />
1264. <br />
1265. I plan to share another magical season with all y&#39;all here and over on &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/DKSB17&quot;&gt;my twitter feed&lt;/a&gt;. The hiatus is over. The Seahawks mean everything to me - But they mean the most when I am connected to my fellow Twelves. Expect much more content in this space over the next few months. Fell free to hit me with questions in the comments and GO HAWKS!!!</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/5832615949572141328/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=5832615949572141328&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5832615949572141328'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5832615949572141328'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/08/waking-up-waking-up-from-shutdown.html' title='Waking up, Waking up from shutdown'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZCRIapro_WuCJNbyLsFCtmpio61N4WdUTpaF4DO6drFCjov9k9j_8uL8V9iAq8JOOC9iVqCNiYDHwVoGxA-9sKVgsfrE4afqwN0AHMRwh3LyozeUZgpLUouhfBDtGj1tM58PIJXWX7s/s72-c/13754534_10154402005103267_3776098650260601288_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-2872769226328318664</id><published>2016-03-23T08:32:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2016-03-23T08:32:36.791-05:00</updated><title type='text'>&quot;Is that your boyfriend&#39;s jersey?&quot; Sexism, Transmisogyny, and the Trials of being the 12th Woman</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1266. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oV64S9-0H3uaXevcRgtWnWQ6IDlBuFiEimCGLA345jzpQrUXJ5Dmw4B7foT4fQzFd27EsRegychoPBHytYDMUQwnBVg-eWrGs4o1GAwt6F4DSCYlZC-uLFpeQ8rfmPqbRECA3YTAcYo/s1600/10410377_10154104403283267_7539663666711574775_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oV64S9-0H3uaXevcRgtWnWQ6IDlBuFiEimCGLA345jzpQrUXJ5Dmw4B7foT4fQzFd27EsRegychoPBHytYDMUQwnBVg-eWrGs4o1GAwt6F4DSCYlZC-uLFpeQ8rfmPqbRECA3YTAcYo/s400/10410377_10154104403283267_7539663666711574775_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1267. <br />
1268. I just renewed my Seahawks season tickets for the 20th consecutive season. I'm tremendously excited and hopeful about the upcoming campaign, which I am certain will end in Houston will Russell Wilson hoisting another Lombardi Trophy. The face value of my south end zone tickets has climbed from $10 back in the Kingdome in 1997 to $55 in Seahawks Stadium in 2016... But they are still worth every penny. I'll be there for 2 or 3 games as usual this season (hopefully including another NFC Championship Game), and there's nothing I'm looking forward to over the next year than those trips back to Washington State to commune with my fellow 12s. But... Something has been weighing on my mind lately...<br />
1269. <br />
1270. It's not easy being a woman who loves pro football. On a societal level, it's damn near impossible to disentangle the league from the sexism and misogyny that permeate our culture. There's the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/sports/football/domestic-violence-is-a-recurring-quandary-for-the-nfl.html?_r=0">relative tolerance for domestic abuse</a>. There's the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/18/stress-fractures-hunger-and-low-pay-one-womans-life-as-an-nba-cheerleader">mistreatment of women who are club employees</a>. There's the lack of women in executive and coaching positions in the league (which doesn't even include the assumption that no women will ever play in the NFL- An assumption I believe is intellectually lazy to the core). There's the <a href="http://deadspin.com/the-nfl-cant-stop-pandering-at-women-1749509032">hamhanded/bordering-on-offensive attempts to pander to women</a> Ugh. I could go on, but... Ugh.<br />
1271. <br />
1272. On a individual level, it can get ridiculous. Men will see your Seahawks gear and ask you if you actually like the team, or if you just like the colors (Or they will ask you if it's your boyfriend's jersey). Men assume that you know NOTHING about your team, or about the sport. Demonstrate that you are actually more knowledgeable than they are, and out comes the salt shaker. Recently I was out with a group that included a male Broncos fan, and when he realized that I knew more about John Elway's career than he did, his attitude toward me got tart and sour instantly.<br />
1273. <br />
1274. The league and bros in general seem puzzled that women can (and do) enjoy America's most popular sport. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/women-are-pro-footballs-most-important-market-will-they-forgive-the-nfl/2014/09/12/d5ba8874-3a7f-11e4-9c9f-ebb47272e40e_story.html">Forty-five percent of the league's U.S. television audience</a> consists of women, but yet we are treated like interlopers or less-than-authentic oddities at Super Bowl parties, in fantasy football leagues, etc.<br />
1275. <br />
1276. Less than authentic. As a trans woman, I know ALL about being seen as less than authentic. It's tough enough being a woman that loves football. Being a trans woman and liking football layers transphobia upon misogyny (or, as we call it in the business: <a href="http://www.juliaserano.com/av/TransmisogynyPrimer-Serano.pdf">transmisogyny</a>). For one thing, the culture of the NFL is still pretty overtly hostile to the LGBT population of this country. One can just look at the public and private reactions to Michael Sam coming out as gay, or at the<a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000641448/article/falcons-assistant-apologizes-to-eli-apple-for-combine-question"> persistent panic among NFL teams that a single gay player might join their team</a> (even though there are certainly closeted gay men playing in the NFL).<br />
1277. <br />
1278. I've noticed an interesting recurring issue whenever someone finds out that I'm trans AND an NFL fan. First, people tend to assume that I'm ONLY an NFL fan because I was designated male at birth, and my Seahawks fandom is some sort of artifact of that. You can kind of see the light bulb go off in their heads "Ahh! That's why." This irks me for a couple of reasons: Millions of cis-gender women are NFL fans, and have been fans since childhood (shout-out to my Vikings-affiliated grad school bestie Natalie on this tip). Also, this fucked-up mentality helped delay my transition for YEARS. For the longest time, I thought "Well, I can't be trans if I love FOOTBALL." Even after I got over that, I was TERRIFIED that if and when I did transition, I would stop loving the Seahawks. Thankfully, I got over that shit and I even <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2014/02/seahawks-43-broncos-8.html">got to celebrate Super Bowl XLVIII as my authentic self</a>.<br />
1279. <br />
1280. There is often a vibe I get that I SHOULDN'T like football, even from other trans women. Weirdly, it makes some people think that I'm not entirely serious about my transition, or they think it makes me "less trans." One of the most important personal discoveries I've made is that it's OK to transition in my own idiosyncratic way, in part because there is no "one" right way to be a woman, and thus no single "correct" way to transition or to be a trans woman.<br />
1281. <br />
1282. Still, unless I want to completely sequester myself from society (and as a Hillary Clinton-supporting, Target-shopping, Starbucks-sipping basic suburban bitch, that's not really an option for me), I must navigate a culture that is incredibly hostile to trans women, despite <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/21/transgender-visibility-vulnerability">recent increases in visibility</a> and some <a href="http://www.transunitedforobama.org/uploads/1/1/2/9/11297030/trans_accomplishments.pdf">improvements in our legal status</a>. There's the constant possibility that pop culture I consume might contain transphobic content (which... holy shit, even in 2016 it's EVERYWHERE). If it's something I've never watched, or something I didn't have a lot of interest in anyway, it's easy enough to avoid. It's much harder when that transphobic content shows up in something I otherwise love, and thenI have to then decide if I can forgive these sins (Archer, Bob's Burger's, Arrested Development, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia immediately come to mind, but there's always more).<br />
1283. <br />
1284. Beyond cultural transphobia, there's the growing wave of <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/transgender-people-are-more-visible-than-ever-so-why-is-there-more-anti-trans-legislation-than-ever-too/">transphobic legislation that's swamping people like me around the country</a>. Back home in Washington State, there's an ongoing effort to get a <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/03/03/3756133/washington-transgender-initiative/">measure on the November ballot</a> that would make it illegal for me to use the bathroom the next time I go home for a Seahawks game (Don't sign the petition for it, by the way. Please keep that garbage from even making it onto the ballot).<br />
1285. <br />
1286. Now we drill down to my most unspeakable fear. I know that Seahawks players, coaches, and executives might hold political opinions I disagree with. I accept this, but I just hope they won't say anything unconscionably abhorrent. I can handle a player I love being a Republican- I did that with Matt Hasselbeck for a decade, and I still adore the guy. Conversely, when someone like Michael Bennett comes out as a Bernie Sanders supporter, my heart soars. I'm afraid, particularly if that garbage bill makes it to the November ballot, that some Seahawks player might start spouting off with some virulently transphobic sewage. We're already seeing an outpouring of support for <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/03/10-professional-athletes-who-have-endorsed-donald-trump-for-president">Donald Trump among current and former pro athletes</a>, and he's leading an <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/trump-authoritarianism">authoritarian political movement that seeks to restore a social and political order</a> where people like me were at best invisible or at worst, umm, murdered. A lot.<br />
1287. <br />
1288. So what would I do if some Seahawks player came out and said that I shouldn't be able to go to the bathroom in peace? What if they denied my basic personhood? Could I keep rooting for them? Could I keep rooting for the team they play for? I fervently hope I never find out. Being a Twelve is a CENTRAL part of my identity as a person, almost as central as my identity as a trans woman. It's connected me to my home, to my friends, to my family. It's been an island of consistency in my chaotic life. There is no institution I love more, or that I care about more, than the Seattle Seahawks.<br />
1289. <br />
1290. How could I deal with something I love telling me that I don't count? That I don't matter? That I am hated?<br />
1291. <br />
1292. If I&#39;m lucky, I&#39;ll never have to find out. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/2872769226328318664/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=2872769226328318664&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2872769226328318664'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2872769226328318664'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/03/is-that-your-boyfriends-jersey-sexism.html' title='&quot;Is that your boyfriend&#39;s jersey?&quot; Sexism, Transmisogyny, and the Trials of being the 12th Woman'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oV64S9-0H3uaXevcRgtWnWQ6IDlBuFiEimCGLA345jzpQrUXJ5Dmw4B7foT4fQzFd27EsRegychoPBHytYDMUQwnBVg-eWrGs4o1GAwt6F4DSCYlZC-uLFpeQ8rfmPqbRECA3YTAcYo/s72-c/10410377_10154104403283267_7539663666711574775_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-8391503508482938189</id><published>2016-01-13T16:26:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2016-01-13T16:32:34.767-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Top 5: Seahawks Beat Panthers!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1293. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BWqMVgQP2JL1bMG8YWWOfZmCkywujbUwr0MbAUpoZyESQOcb_QmGRdta1nZL_Kk4UQq1-_Pm1UK7YjFAJkwmGjC7WgGLQfMBMnLJQHSaY96WWVzxrvGPNvtyMU0bC11SjvFFawtmMGM/s1600/Seneca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BWqMVgQP2JL1bMG8YWWOfZmCkywujbUwr0MbAUpoZyESQOcb_QmGRdta1nZL_Kk4UQq1-_Pm1UK7YjFAJkwmGjC7WgGLQfMBMnLJQHSaY96WWVzxrvGPNvtyMU0bC11SjvFFawtmMGM/s400/Seneca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1294. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1295. <br /></div>
1296. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1297. In my three-plus decades of Twelving, I've never been more confident that the Seahawks would win a road playoff game than I am going into the divisional playoff at Charlotte. Before the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2013/01/seahawks-24-dc-14.html">2012 Wild Card Game</a>, I was jittery because we hadn't won a road playoff game since 1983. Before last week, I was anxious because of the historically terrible weather conditions. </div>
1298. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1299. <br /></div>
1300. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1301. This week? I'm not jittery or anxious. I look at a Panthers team that is perhaps the shakiest 15-1 team in NFL history and I don't feel a single twitch of fear. I see a Seattle team that will be relaxed, at full-strength, and has a SHITLOAD of recent success playing the Panthers in Charlotte. I see a stifling Seahawks defense eager to prove their <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/10/panthers-27-seahawks-23.html">meltdown in week 6</a> was an aberration. I see a Seattle quarterback who is surely, silently itching to show HE is the one who should be the presumptive NFL MVP.</div>
1302. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1303. <br /></div>
1304. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1305. I think we roll in a game that is less competitive than many are expecting. <b>Seahawks 26, Panthers 14</b> feels about right. By Sunday evening we'll be one step closer to the restoration of the Emerald Empire...</div>
1306. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1307. <br /></div>
1308. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1309. We've played the Panthers 10 times, and won 7 of those battles... Here's a look back at the Top 5. Enjoy! </div>
1310. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1311. <br /></div>
1312. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1313. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201309080car.htm">5. 9/8/13 Seahawks 12 @ Panthers 7</a></div>
1314. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1315. Seattle was a trendy Super Bowl pick going into the 2013 season amongst the national media, and Russell Wilson's handsome visage was splashed across the covers of The USA Today, ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and (I assume) British Vogue and Art Doll Quarterly. But then, as if the national bobbleheads had come to their senses after an ether binge, it became trendy to pick the Panthers as an "upset special" over the favored Seattleites in Week 1. Hey! Seattle has trouble in season openers! Hey! They suck at winning on the east coast, particularly with kickoff at 10 a.m. pacific time! Hey! They're the Seahawks! History tells us we won't have to pay attention to them much longer. They'll inevitably disappoint. Pick Carolina!</div>
1316. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1317. <br /></div>
1318. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1319. In the sweltering North Carolina heat, the Hawks indeed got off to a sluggish start. But when Wilson fired a perfect spiral to Jermaine Kearse for a 43-yard touchdown, Seattle held a 12-7 lead with 10 minutes left. The Panthers answered with an impressive 9-play, 72-yard march down to the Seahawks' 8-yard line. Then the L.O.B. did its thing- Earl Thomas wrested the ball away from DeAngelo Will1iams' mitts and disaster was averted. With five-plus minutes left, the offense needed to play keep-away to seal the win. </div>
1320. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1321. <br /></div>
1322. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1323. The drive got off to an abysmal start when Marshawn Lynch was tackled for a 5-yard loss. But Wilson followed that up with completions to Derrick Coleman and Doug Baldwin to keep the drive alive. Wilson and Lynch teamed up on a 14-play drive than ran out the rest of the clock and started Seattle's march towards XLVIII with a hard-fought victory. </div>
1324. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1325. <br /></div>
1326. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1327. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201410260car.htm">4. 10/26/14 Seahawks 13 @ Panthers 9</a></div>
1328. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1329. The Seahawks were 3-3 and skidding through a 2-game losing streak. This was about when ESPN was filled with stories about Russell Wilson not being "black enough," and so on. It seemed like it would all come crumbling down with one more hard shove, with one more calamitous defeat. Seattle trailed 9-6 with just over four minutes left to play, On the ensuing 10-play, 80-yard drive, Wilson would complete passes to Cooper Helfet, Kevin Norwood, and Paul Richardson before drilling a touchdown strike to Luke Willson to give Seattle a 13-9 lead with only 53 seconds remaining. Back-to-back sacks by Bruce Irvin sealed the win, and yet again the Hawks wriggled out of the noose. </div>
1330. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1331. <br /></div>
1332. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1333. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201210070car.htm">3. 10/7/12 Seahawks 16 @ Panthers 12</a> </div>
1334. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1335. Whenever I get too arrogant about my opinions related to our beloved Seahawks, remind me that <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/10/condemning-future-to-death-so-it-can.html">I wanted Russell Wilson benched early in the 2012 season</a>. I hadn't even wanted him <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/08/too-soon.html">to take on the starting job in the first place</a>, and after <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/10/backdrifts-honeymoon-is-over.html">an ugly performance/loss in St. Louis</a> dropped Seattle to 2-2, I was more than ready to see Wilson get the hook in favor of Matt Flynn. </div>
1336. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1337. <br /></div>
1338. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1339. I'm a dumbass. </div>
1340. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1341. <br /></div>
1342. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1343. After a Charlotte pick-6 gave the Panthers the lead early in the 2nd half, I seethed with misplaced rage. Wilson actually had a solid day other than that, and found Golden Tate for the go-ahead score late in the 3rd quarter... But the story of this victory was authored by the defense, who allowed Cam Newton and the Cats to get all the way down to Seattle's 6-yard line. 1st and Goal. 18 feet from defeat. </div>
1344. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1345. <br /></div>
1346. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1347. 1st down: Newton stopped after a 3-yard gain. </div>
1348. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1349. <br /></div>
1350. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1351. 2nd down: DeAngelo Williams dropped for a loss of 3. </div>
1352. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1353. <br /></div>
1354. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1355. 3rd down: Brandon Browner and Marcus Trufant (Yes, for reals. He was still a Hawk in 2012) stop Louis Murphy just shy of the goal line. </div>
1356. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1357. <br /></div>
1358. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1359. 4th down: Less than a yard away. Instead of trying to score with their massive, agile QB, a pass is called. It falls incomplete. Seattle takes over inches from their own goal line with just 3 minutes left to play. </div>
1360. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1361. <br /></div>
1362. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1363. What followed was an odd 7-play, 17-yard drive that ended in an intentional safety. Huh? Bruce Irvin settled matters with a sack-strip-recovery 2 plays later, and I was ecstatic to be proven wrong. </div>
1364. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1365. <br /></div>
1366. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1367. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501100sea.htm">2. 1/10/15 Seahawks 31, Panthers 17</a></div>
1368. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1369. Holy shit! Can you believe that the Hawks only led the 7-8-1 Panthers 14-10 going into the 4th quarter of this one? The Seahawks seemed to restore order when they built a 24-10 lead with 6 minutes left, but Charlotte promptly drove down to the Seattle 13-yard-line. Then Kam Bam'd and Bam'd... </div>
1370. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1371. <br /></div>
1372. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1373. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphkh7ZSro3BUs7oRFc4IsXcONVH6wyD2QH3Gpi-PWkl-kg8LuT2zP0Lxtm5IyYyBWfsz9bFw8b3ZonVcRBhE-8u1mUEI-L5CB0_DNWPY2ceok04eUctZo9zpNnI44OGBYZ1cvNXZhAy8/s1600/SpottedBeautifulJenny.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphkh7ZSro3BUs7oRFc4IsXcONVH6wyD2QH3Gpi-PWkl-kg8LuT2zP0Lxtm5IyYyBWfsz9bFw8b3ZonVcRBhE-8u1mUEI-L5CB0_DNWPY2ceok04eUctZo9zpNnI44OGBYZ1cvNXZhAy8/s400/SpottedBeautifulJenny.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
1374. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1375. <br /></div>
1376. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1377. As I wrote at the time: </div>
1378. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1379. <br /></div>
1380. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1381. <i>Five years ago, Pete Carroll was hired as the Seahawks new head coach. He inherited a roster that was Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead (so to speak). One seemingly small move in Carroll's complete demolition/rebuild of the Seahawks in 2010 was the 5th round selection of a safety out of Virgina Tech: Kam Chancellor. Seattle's starting safeties in 2009 were the serviceable duo of Jordan Babineaux and Deon Grant (whose average age was 28.5). Just like at every other position, Carroll's goal was to get younger/better/cheaper in the defensive backfield. Expectations were high for first-rounder Earl Thomas from Texas, but the former high school quarterback Chancellor slid into the 5th. The move into the secondary served Kam well with the Hokies, and he'd quickly build a reputation for wanton brutality once he reached the NFL. </i></div>
1382. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1383. <i><br /></i></div>
1384. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1385. <i>Bam Bam Kam has already made his mark in the league, being selected to three Pro Bowls, being named 2nd-team All-Pro twice, and surely haunting Vernon Davis' nightmares (among dozens of other offensive players). However, yesterday Chancellor delivered the best performance of his already illustrious career. He made 11 tackles, including an incredible individual effort to blow up a screen pass to DeAngelo Williams and a first down-denying hammering of sentient boulder Mike Tolbert. A bewildering flag denied him credit for an acrobatic blocked field goal at the end of the first half. With Charlotte deep in Seattle territory, and aiming to pull within 7 with six minutes left, Chancellor jumped the route and sped 90 yards for the clinching score.</i></div>
1386. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1387. <br /></div>
1388. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1389. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601220sea.htm">1. 1/22/06 Seahawks 34, Panthers 14</a></div>
1390. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1391. A quick personal story about this one... </div>
1392. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1393. <br /></div>
1394. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1395. I was at the game, and I was unfathomably nervous and jacked-up on Red Bull beforehand. I was in Touchdown City and they had this little obstacle course set up where you'd jump over a couple of hurdles and then take down a tackling dummy. When my turn came up I SPRINTED through the course and came at the dummy so hard that I actually flew over it and ended up face-planting ala Jon Ryan last week. I got up, dazed and a bit horrified. Someone handed me a free t-shirt. I was probably concussed. I was lucky I didn't knock out my teeth or end up watching the NFC Championship from an emergency room. </div>
1396. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1397. <br /></div>
1398. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1399. Here I am after almost ruining everything: </div>
1400. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1401. <br /></div>
1402. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1403. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWIiqtYzJ4AnjfKsMI4iP2dO1jhcUOC4hHZVEdoUIW3QH0UjZHE0PveJuS-usKLhKi7_4CaSfKIjGfaK7UVmV4P6AEuV4ZC4O_sYUN2UxK-2oG95vnmbe8t9hdw5ATlEIWF5hHxI9LXE/s1600/101939984_22341cb13b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWIiqtYzJ4AnjfKsMI4iP2dO1jhcUOC4hHZVEdoUIW3QH0UjZHE0PveJuS-usKLhKi7_4CaSfKIjGfaK7UVmV4P6AEuV4ZC4O_sYUN2UxK-2oG95vnmbe8t9hdw5ATlEIWF5hHxI9LXE/s400/101939984_22341cb13b_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1404. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1405. <br /></div>
1406. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1407. Here's my brother and I after the Seahawks clinched their first trip to the Super Bowl.. I cried a lot. </div>
1408. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1409. <br /></div>
1410. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1411. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEYrjJGYGjJy-siFg6ynB1D1aNMfboeOAm-8fY3_JeeIoklLVcYEZTGwyNGygOscwyjTC1bO_HgSuc5DZAPUFcqXAH4qisgrzofBhXc1nIS2WBmuUVSyzXk3XBwac584EUeU2jPSIQkc/s1600/101940277_d72d76c505_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEYrjJGYGjJy-siFg6ynB1D1aNMfboeOAm-8fY3_JeeIoklLVcYEZTGwyNGygOscwyjTC1bO_HgSuc5DZAPUFcqXAH4qisgrzofBhXc1nIS2WBmuUVSyzXk3XBwac584EUeU2jPSIQkc/s400/101940277_d72d76c505_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1412. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1413. <br /></div>
1414. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1415. So um... Yeah. Lots of changes since then... </div>
1416. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1417. <br /></div>
1418. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1419. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0kdC1uv3nXNFX3Ek9bqGOi3K4NwnZCUieizGRGRV3XpC56ZnKbuwGBsCaKkPZleKEsYMLpSl280l4vJ6cHBW1mg3iGYki7Ubw0RR5uGQTD-3pNppo6oJnE-dyHSnsWsWPOFKVGnkkUk/s1600/12507475_10153936634883267_5883782618748619665_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0kdC1uv3nXNFX3Ek9bqGOi3K4NwnZCUieizGRGRV3XpC56ZnKbuwGBsCaKkPZleKEsYMLpSl280l4vJ6cHBW1mg3iGYki7Ubw0RR5uGQTD-3pNppo6oJnE-dyHSnsWsWPOFKVGnkkUk/s400/12507475_10153936634883267_5883782618748619665_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
1420. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1421. <br /></div>
1422. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1423. <br /></div>
1424. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1425. Would You Like To Know More? </div>
1426. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/8391503508482938189/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=8391503508482938189&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/8391503508482938189'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/8391503508482938189'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/01/top-5-seahawks-beat-panthers.html' title='Top 5: Seahawks Beat Panthers!'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BWqMVgQP2JL1bMG8YWWOfZmCkywujbUwr0MbAUpoZyESQOcb_QmGRdta1nZL_Kk4UQq1-_Pm1UK7YjFAJkwmGjC7WgGLQfMBMnLJQHSaY96WWVzxrvGPNvtyMU0bC11SjvFFawtmMGM/s72-c/Seneca.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-5324171361510862338</id><published>2016-01-11T15:00:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2016-01-11T15:00:23.625-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 10, Vikings 9</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1427. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gCgrtcl3Pr6gt6OxgaL4mE4Yz7xDK5MCfyyHSM2DB5k1b7y95Tj_HOT7qI9h_aLIGmYVw7bMunbTLvbFJSSCRAM8iW0BZN2K0o9vTHQyCpgdeJdP_iC5CeZJKG4t9nFtqugWVrSK7eA/s1600/12400963_10153940802573267_5365535782712139443_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gCgrtcl3Pr6gt6OxgaL4mE4Yz7xDK5MCfyyHSM2DB5k1b7y95Tj_HOT7qI9h_aLIGmYVw7bMunbTLvbFJSSCRAM8iW0BZN2K0o9vTHQyCpgdeJdP_iC5CeZJKG4t9nFtqugWVrSK7eA/s400/12400963_10153940802573267_5365535782712139443_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1428. <br />
1429. The best team won.<br />
1430. <br />
1431. The team that gained more yards? They won.<br />
1432. <br />
1433. The team that held the league's best running back to 45 yards on 23 carries? They won.<br />
1434. <br />
1435. The team that fought back from a 9-point fourth-quarter deficit on the road not only in a hostile environment, but in one unfit for human habitation? They won.<br />
1436. <br />
1437. The team with the better quarterback, whose improvisational skills turned a broken play into a season-saving masterpiece? They won.<br />
1438. <br />
1439. The team with the receiver that did this? They won.                                                                                                             <br />
1440. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1441. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRkCbsl0y1yJac2BW3qpsiqsteCsrlXhr-ZE5500zNKhRZ3Cof8JY0DLWmdpsjL0b2nViWlOIqHklw-py41lXFHlTjoADq3Q2CFzoL80GUYoZT0SGzm3ggPGfTV8LyoKjY_bJc9jkx_g/s1600/1470093_10153940880373267_4001820981510606766_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRkCbsl0y1yJac2BW3qpsiqsteCsrlXhr-ZE5500zNKhRZ3Cof8JY0DLWmdpsjL0b2nViWlOIqHklw-py41lXFHlTjoADq3Q2CFzoL80GUYoZT0SGzm3ggPGfTV8LyoKjY_bJc9jkx_g/s400/1470093_10153940880373267_4001820981510606766_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1442. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1443. <br /></div>
1444. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1445. The team with the future Hall-of-Fame safety who did this? They won. </div>
1446. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1447. <br /></div>
1448. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1449. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYuYhvsj9jJNM6RWOn9SJUiUjQADRRi54CRPm69pPG4wXy97rm7MPHWPZjiG0o6dY-QHMncOl36p8J4c03a7LTWhb3fWaTm9Bnq6E0djHKCXvoyrf4WUbw2rr6okPf4PNsqB3dwJDBeM/s1600/941000_10153942204283267_396092174868495195_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYuYhvsj9jJNM6RWOn9SJUiUjQADRRi54CRPm69pPG4wXy97rm7MPHWPZjiG0o6dY-QHMncOl36p8J4c03a7LTWhb3fWaTm9Bnq6E0djHKCXvoyrf4WUbw2rr6okPf4PNsqB3dwJDBeM/s400/941000_10153942204283267_396092174868495195_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1450. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1451. <br /></div>
1452. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1453. Sure, Blair Walsh should have made that kick. But that miss didn't take place on a holodeck. It happened in the most pressure-packed of situations- and not long after Richard Sherman came within nanometers of blocking an earlier kick. Snapper, holder and kicker were all likely thinking about that. The entire battery felt the weight of that moment. And they collapsed, burying Minnesota's season in frigid, jagged rubble. </div>
1454. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1455. <br /></div>
1456. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1457. The popular imagination wants to distill the entire result down to that single moment, ignoring what the Seahawks did in order to be up by one with seconds remaining. The only Minnesota points on Sunday came after Seahawks miscues set the Vikings up with great field position. It would have been ridiculously easy for any visiting team playing in Sunday's inhumane, laughable conditions to fold after what befell the Seahawks early on. Lesser teams could have reacted to ANY ONE of a botched punt, a failed 4th-down conversion, or a 3rd-quarter drive-killing interception with slow-motion surrender. ALL THREE of those things happened to the Hawks, on top of their superstar running back (Marshawn Lynch) suddenly taking himself out of the starting line up on Friday. </div>
1458. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1459. <br /></div>
1460. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1461. Negative six degrees. Down by nine. No Beast. No hope, right? </div>
1462. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1463. <br /></div>
1464. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1465. There was a moment where even I thought "Shit. It's over." Early 4th quarter. The shotgun snap flies right past Russell Wilson's head and skitters 15 yards in the wrong direction. The prudent play? Fall on the ball. Even that probably would have been a drive-killer, and would have ended up burning precious minutes off the clock before Seattle got the ball back. With FIVE Vikings defenders closing, RW3 got up off the ground, scrambled right, and fired a pass downfield to Tyler Lockett an instant before getting absolutely blasted. 35-yard gain. Seattle was in position to score the games's lone touchdown. After Wilson once again found Doug Baldwin in the end zone, the Hawks were within 2. </div>
1466. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1467. <br /></div>
1468. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1469. The Vikings decided to rely on their one true superstar to close out the win. They went to Adrian Peterson on the next two plays. Peterson is one of the best rushing talents the NFL has ever seen, but for the 2nd time in just over a month, he was absolutely embarrassed by the Legion of Boom. Kam Chancellor straight-up stole the ball out of Peterson's grip and set up Seattle for the go-ahead field goal (a 46-yarder absolutely DRILLED by Steven Hauschka- with assists from Clint Gresham and a bloodied-but unbowed Jon Ryan). </div>
1470. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1471. <br /></div>
1472. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1473. The teams traded punts until the final two minutes. One more defensive stop would send the Seahawks to Charlotte for the NFC Divisional Playoff. Then a questionable pass interference call against Kam. Then Chancellor got beat by Kyle Rudolph to set the Vikings up well within Blair Walsh's range. I sank. I fell silent. I started composing the blogging equivalent of a concession speech in my head. The best-case scenario felt like getting the ball back with 20 seconds left and no time-outs. No chance. </div>
1474. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1475. <br /></div>
1476. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1477. But the defense realized something I didn't: If they allowed a touchdown, defeat would be ensured. Hold them to a field goal try, and there was some tiny probability of survival. One last time, the Seattle defenders rose up, and they stopped Peterson just short of the sticks on 3rd down. Next, the formality of Walsh's winning kick. </div>
1478. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1479. <br /></div>
1480. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1481. Here's a <a href="http://insidethepylon.com/film-study/film-study-nfl/special-teams-film-study-nfl/2016/01/10/explaining-blair-walsh-missed-field-goal/">great article about why Walsh missed</a>... The images will stay stamped into our brainpans forever: Sherm collapsed on the field. John Schneider kissing Pete Carroll and all but saying "Keep it. It suits you." Mike Morgan sprinting, arms splayed outward, in triumph. Michael Bennett standing in stunned silence after perhaps the best performance of his dominant career.  </div>
1482. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1483. <br /></div>
1484. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1485. Victory. Once again, Pete Carroll's Seahawks found some way to win when most of America was watching. For reference, here I am before the game, compared to right after Walsh's miss: </div>
1486. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1487. <br /></div>
1488. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1489. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGHhB-XPzPoiSXfvC8NlBf-VMce0cZZNbt0R-c6h4KFEQxHSIcNUGeSUprfocp3dqXVYFffYUZ6F2164O_mrr5QUYkN0DDjRxxFqGOAAw4F5Gbzb96RucLgqZABQpRlk_gYlJaPYMn9g/s1600/tumblr_o0rbg8WolE1swvjkho1_540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGHhB-XPzPoiSXfvC8NlBf-VMce0cZZNbt0R-c6h4KFEQxHSIcNUGeSUprfocp3dqXVYFffYUZ6F2164O_mrr5QUYkN0DDjRxxFqGOAAw4F5Gbzb96RucLgqZABQpRlk_gYlJaPYMn9g/s320/tumblr_o0rbg8WolE1swvjkho1_540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
1490. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1491. <br /></div>
1492. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1493. I've seen some crazy shit in my 32 years of Twelving. I've seen last second wins at Arrowhead. I've seen Jay Feeley miss FOUR field goals in the 4th quarter and OT. I've seen Romo drop the snap. I've seen BeastQuakes. I've seen the greatest 4th-quarter comeback in NFC Championship Game history. If these Seahawks go on to win the Super Bowl, Walsh's miss will go down as one of the most important moments in franchise history... But NEVER forget this: This was a game the Seahawks RICHLY deserved to win. </div>
1494. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1495. <br /></div>
1496. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1497. It's off to North Carolina to play the Paper Panthers, who have seemed ripe for a beatdown for the last few weeks. Bobby Wagner and Jeremy Lane didn't play when Charlotte edged us back in October, and Seattle's offense wasn't the mutant juggernaut it evolved into over the second half of the season. </div>
1498. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1499. <br /></div>
1500. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1501. I'm ready for this. So are the Seahawks. It will be a meat-grinder of a game, and a stomach-churning three-plus hours for all us 12s- But Seattle will survive and advance. Why? </div>
1502. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1503. <br /></div>
1504. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1505. Because the best team is going to win. </div>
1506. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1507. <br /></div>
1508. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1509. Would You Like To Know More?</div>
1510. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/5324171361510862338/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=5324171361510862338&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5324171361510862338'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5324171361510862338'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/01/seahawks-10-vikings-9.html' title='Seahawks 10, Vikings 9'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gCgrtcl3Pr6gt6OxgaL4mE4Yz7xDK5MCfyyHSM2DB5k1b7y95Tj_HOT7qI9h_aLIGmYVw7bMunbTLvbFJSSCRAM8iW0BZN2K0o9vTHQyCpgdeJdP_iC5CeZJKG4t9nFtqugWVrSK7eA/s72-c/12400963_10153940802573267_5365535782712139443_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-5778521120793023313</id><published>2016-01-04T18:39:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2016-01-04T18:39:41.028-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Seahawks 36, Cardinals 6</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1511. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWVjoJRVGQ-Q2m5GRCYXFOgo6dWSmazyRu3nOr0N96WvGklVhCMP4aHkM0HHgB-P0HKoN7BbwNJPqUAGFdPqo44fiVPJluxQ2oWg2IioxkLaotKeEFJeFhfxIWxTUpKZv_MDXRMp7zVU/s1600/1510994_10153929389243267_5417673619116904575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWVjoJRVGQ-Q2m5GRCYXFOgo6dWSmazyRu3nOr0N96WvGklVhCMP4aHkM0HHgB-P0HKoN7BbwNJPqUAGFdPqo44fiVPJluxQ2oWg2IioxkLaotKeEFJeFhfxIWxTUpKZv_MDXRMp7zVU/s400/1510994_10153929389243267_5417673619116904575_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1512. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1513. <br /></div>
1514. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1515. They thought it was over. </div>
1516. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1517. <br /></div>
1518. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1519. The back-up quarterback danced on the sideline like a kid hopped up on Pixy Stix. The starting quarterback crotch-chopped the Seahawks Stadium crowd like he had just won the PBA Championship. They treated escaping Seattle with a narrow win after blowing a 19-point-lead like they had just killed the bad guy, gotten the girl, and saved the world. </div>
1520. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1521. <br /></div>
1522. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1523. To be honest, at the time I thought they might have been right. I felt nauseous after that loss. It felt worse than the collapses against Cincinnati and Charlotte. It felt like a fulcrum, and in a bad sort of way. I'm very much a "don't give up until mathematical elimination" sort of girl, but after losing to our bitter divisional rivals and falling to 4-5, 2015 felt destined to be an unpleasant footnote in Seahawks history ala 1985: An aberrant stumble into mediocrity by a supremely talented team. </div>
1524. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1525. <br /></div>
1526. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1527. Then, the completion of a sweep of the execrable 49ers, followed by a rousing victory over the loathsome but lethal Steelers. The benching (and release) of Cary Williams helped. The offensive line coalescing into collective greatness helped. The emergence of Thomas Rawls helped. Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin suddenly becoming drift compatible? That helped a LOT. Seattle tore through Minnesota, Baltimore, and Cleveland. They dropped a weird decision to the otherwise ordinary Rams, and entered Sunday's game at Glendale against the surging Cardinals at 9-6. </div>
1528. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1529. <br /></div>
1530. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1531. Arizona boasted one of the NFL's best offenses, led by legitimate MVP candidate Carson Palmer. They also had plenty to play for, given that they still had a chance at securing home field through the playoffs at kickoff. The Seahawks were missing five key starters, and were 6-point underdogs according to Las Vegas. </div>
1532. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1533. <br /></div>
1534. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1535. The Seahawks proceeded to go at everyone's trendy Super Bowl pick with steel wool and rusty straight razors. Seattle ran out to a 30-6 halftime lead before their beret-wearing fake-ass coach cried uncle and pulled Palmer from the game before Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril could split him in twain. </div>
1536. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1537. <br /></div>
1538. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1539. The defense, maligned by so many all season, ended up leading the league in scoring defense for the 4th consecutive year. Deshawn Shead and Kelcie McCray have filled in capably in the secondary, and Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are playing dominant football- But this defense has become absolutely smothering against the run. They only allowed Arizona 27 rushing yards, and no defense in the NFL has allowed fewer yards on the ground than Seattle this season. While the Legion of Boom remains dangerous, it's the front seven that is now the biggest strength of the Seahawks defense. </div>
1540. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1541. <br /></div>
1542. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1543. The Seahawks have the best defense in football. Based on the last two months, they might have the best offense, too. Despite losing first Marshawn Lynch and then Thomas Rawls, the Hawks have still run the ball effectively. Christine Michael has seemingly resuscitated his career, running for 102 yards on 17 carries yesterday (his 2nd highly effective performance in 3 weeks). Doug Baldwin wrapped up easily the finest season of his career, scoring 14 TDs and going over 1000 yards receiving for the first time. Tyler Lockett had another stunning outing, shredding Arizona's punt coverage team over and over and making tough, important veteran catches like.. well... Doug Baldwin. Even Jermaine Kearse has become a reliable target for Russell Carrington Wilson. </div>
1544. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1545. <br /></div>
1546. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1547. Wilson? He's just ascending faster than the Ares IV MAV whisking poor ketchup-deprived Mark Watney from the Martian surface. He just had the best season ANY Seahawks quarterback has ever had, my 12s, 34 touchdowns. 4000+ yards passing. Only 8 picks. A QB rating of 110. Oh.. and over 500 yards rushing. NO ONE is playing the position better than the WolfBadger right now. Not Carson Palmer. Not Tom Brady. Not Cam Newton. Nobody. </div>
1548. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1549. <br /></div>
1550. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1551. So Seattle is now the 6 seed in the NFC. They'll have to win in Minneapolis, Charlotte and (probably) Glendale to get to Super Bowl 50. It seems improbable, but the 2010 Packers won the title from EXACTLY this position- and these Seahawks are a demonstrably better team. These Seahawks have also won five straight road games. They are talented, confident and battle-tested. You'll hear about how it's going to be 12 degrees in Minnesapolis Sunday. Who gives a fuck? They could play this game in a clearing on Starkiller Base and it wouldn't affect this team. </div>
1552. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1553. <br /></div>
1554. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1555. The Seahawks have the best defense. They have the best offense. They have the best quarterback. And, oh hi Marshawn... They'll have the best playoff running back since Emmitt Smith on the field Sunday, too. </div>
1556. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1557. <br /></div>
1558. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1559. Turns out that it's not over, is it? </div>
1560. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1561. <br /></div>
1562. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1563. Would You Like To Know More? </div>
1564. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/5778521120793023313/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=5778521120793023313&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5778521120793023313'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5778521120793023313'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2016/01/seahawks-36-cardinals-6.html' title='Seahawks 36, Cardinals 6'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWVjoJRVGQ-Q2m5GRCYXFOgo6dWSmazyRu3nOr0N96WvGklVhCMP4aHkM0HHgB-P0HKoN7BbwNJPqUAGFdPqo44fiVPJluxQ2oWg2IioxkLaotKeEFJeFhfxIWxTUpKZv_MDXRMp7zVU/s72-c/1510994_10153929389243267_5417673619116904575_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-5303657914284425</id><published>2015-12-08T17:30:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2015-12-08T17:30:30.708-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Breaking the Surface, Tasting the Air</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1565. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRY8SfR66PkGVoNLpOMmwZY_iM43PdUsIQGBjCwrDM5A5zTcwTL6IQ58KmLwBmRuXk1WdL68asfxOWF2fdDwWLsnGtUWnNMkb9IzQtCP8lJbYVjAKKkLMdjLB7hLJxZg5-fbU6ZIT4CA/s1600/CrewSeahawks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRY8SfR66PkGVoNLpOMmwZY_iM43PdUsIQGBjCwrDM5A5zTcwTL6IQ58KmLwBmRuXk1WdL68asfxOWF2fdDwWLsnGtUWnNMkb9IzQtCP8lJbYVjAKKkLMdjLB7hLJxZg5-fbU6ZIT4CA/s400/CrewSeahawks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1566. <div style="text-align: center;">
1567. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Me at noon and at 3 pm last Sunday) </span></div>
1568. <div style="text-align: center;">
1569. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
1570. For the second time in ten months, I got to experience a team I love reaching the Championship- Only to end up <a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2015/12/07/gaffe-in-opening-seconds-controversial-call-help-portland-win-1st-mls-cup/">watching the enemy celebrate</a>. Columbus Crew SC fell in the MLS Cup 2-1 to Portland Timbers FC. For me, there were (faint) echoes of Super Bowl XL in the <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/06/mls-cup-columbus-crew-sc-still-stunned-missed-call-it-was-probably-yard-out">horrible officiating that went against the Crew</a> and in Columbus' weirdly flat, error-sprinkled performance.  It was a crushing disappointment and a stressful way to spend a beautiful, unseasonably warm December afternoon.<br />
1571. <br />
1572. This was a big deal to me- For the first time since I was 8 years old, I was missing a significant chunk of a Seahawks' non-preseason, non-replacement game. My girlfriend and I are both rabid Crew SC supporters, and my Christmas present to her (and to myself) was a day at the MLS Cup (and what was supposed to be a rare Non-Ohio State-related Championship moment for the Arch City). I had experienced three NFC Championship Game victories at Seahawks Stadium, and I was hoping (and honestly kind of expecting) a similar dizzying high on Sunday at MAPFRE Stadium... But it wasn't meant to be.<br />
1573. <br />
1574. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1575. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2WOl9D7pidsLtcN9aAW77hTjZ7H0aSsXur1vQGSZZ6hv26MG_eSc8ZR3bKGcTQcPdp1pyUmt_TZMUu5nvuCCK6noDD2TMz9I8ceM_Qs-jYx5ewVpxA3d75I1iGq7o41VH0nHXQrXHWw/s1600/12308268_10153870679273267_4768807607763473308_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2WOl9D7pidsLtcN9aAW77hTjZ7H0aSsXur1vQGSZZ6hv26MG_eSc8ZR3bKGcTQcPdp1pyUmt_TZMUu5nvuCCK6noDD2TMz9I8ceM_Qs-jYx5ewVpxA3d75I1iGq7o41VH0nHXQrXHWw/s400/12308268_10153870679273267_4768807607763473308_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1576. <div style="text-align: center;">
1577. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(My girlfriend and I at the MLS Cup)</span></div>
1578. <br />
1579. Even at the MLS Cup, I couldn't escape Twelvedom. I saw a Timbers FC supporter wearing a Seahawks hat, and for an instant I wanted to bond with him over that... But I was stopped cold by two startling realizations:<br />
1580. <br />
1581. 1. It would have been a bizarre "breaking of the 4th wall," so to speak. I was there to root for Columbus, not be chummy with the enemy's supporters.<br />
1582. <br />
1583. 2. I wasn't wearing any Seahawks gear, which while appropriate, suddenly left me feeling absolutely naked when I realized I was in the presence of another 12.<br />
1584. <br />
1585. When the final whistle blew after an unfathomably frustrating 90-plus minutes of soccer, I consoled myself with two thoughts: "At least the Seahawks won!" and "At least I didn't miss anything that affected the outcome in Minneapolis!"<br />
1586. <br />
1587. Before we headed to MAPFRE, my girlfriend and I ducked into a nearby sports bar to catch the first half of the Seahawks game (Well, I was watching the Seahawks- My girlfriend was engrossed by <a href="http://www.avclub.com/review/carrie-brownstein-finally-lets-down-her-guard-engr-224976">Carrie Brownstein's memoir</a>. And with good reason! We had just been to the <a href="http://moderngirlarchcity.blogspot.com/2015/03/no-outline-can-ever-hold-us-sleater.html">Sleater-Kinney</a> <a href="http://www.columbusalive.com/content/blogs/thelatest/2015/12/sleater-kinney-concert-review.html">show</a> the night before, and that got her good and hooked on all things S-K-related). By the time we had to leave for the match, Seattle had already built a 14-0 lead. Given that the Hawks would end up pummeling the Vikings 38-7, it turned out that I got to see the "winning" touchdown run by Russell Wilson.<br />
1588. <br />
1589. I know that when and how and if I watch the Seahawks on TV doesn't impact the outcome of the games, but I would have felt horribly guilty anyway if the Hawks had lost after I stopped watching. Thanks for letting me off the hook, boys!<br />
1590. <br />
1591. I'll leave detailed <a href="http://www.hawkblogger.com/2015/12/the-morning-after-seahawks-kill-all.html">descriptions of the entire game</a> to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hawkblogger?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">immensely talented Brian Nemhauser</a>, but I do want to mention one thing that leapt out at me early in the game. Russell Wilson's perfect pass and spectacular catch in traffic by Tyler Lockett was punctuated by a helmet-to-helmet flag that set up a later touchdown. That was ALL gold, but did you see Richard Sherman run down the sideline and FREAK THE FUCK OUT celebrating the catch and congratulating Flash? It reminded me of all the times the defense lost their damn minds on the sidelines during/after punishing touchdown sprints by Marshawn. The Legion of Boom fed off the toughness and explosiveness of Lynch and the offense during the crazy-hot streaks during the 2012 and 2014 stretch runs, and we're starting to see something similar brewing now. Not only are the Seahawks clicking, but they are very clearly back to a total commitment to playing FOR each other- And that should terrify the rest of the NFL.<br />
1592. <br />
1593. The defense just throttled the best running game (outside of Seattle) in the NFL. They might just be back their natural state as an immovable object festooned in jagged spikes and razor wire. The offense? Holy FUCK. No one is playing better at QB than Russell Carrington Wilson right now. Get a 50-yard TD run called back on a holding flag? Just throw a 50-yard TD on the next play (to Doug Baldwin, who is blossoming into the league's most underrated wideout). Thomas Rawls' emergence continued, and defensive coordinators from Charlotte to Glendale must be losing sleep now that they are confronted with the possibility that they'll have to scheme for Wilson, Rawls. Baldwin, Lockett AND a healthy/HANGRY Marshawn Lynch.<br />
1594. <br />
1595. Seattle's next three opponents have a combined record of 10-26. The Hawks should hit Glendale in week 17 at 10-5 (and hopefully with the 5th NFC seed already clinched). It's now PROBABLE that the Seahawks will get the top Wild Card slot and visit a 7-9ish NFC East Champ in the 1st round of the tournament. Charlotte's prize for 16-0 might be a rematch with a Seattle side VASTLY improved since the Panthers edged the befuddled OctoberHawks. Arizona might end up regretting all that shit-talking and crotch-chopping from last month if they are unlucky enough to host us in the NFCCG.<br />
1596. <br />
1597. After the MLS Cup, my girlfriend was nearly inconsolable. I comforted her by telling her it was OK to be upset, that it was good to feel things so intensely, even if those feelings come from defeat. I told her I was the one sobbing back in February, and she might need to comfort ME after a season-ending Seahawks loss in the not-too-distant future.<br />
1598. <br />
1599. But... Maybe not? They really might not lose again this season. And that consolation reciprocity might have to wait until next winter (if then). <br />
1600. <br />
1601. Until then, this song's for her....<br />
1602. <br />
1603. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1604. <iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zdNgHnLJWgw/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zdNgHnLJWgw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
1605. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1606. <br /></div>
1607. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1608. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Throw me a rope, give me a leg</span></div>
1609. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1610. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I haven't seen daylight in what must be day</span></div>
1611. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1612. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I took the long way down, lost track of myself</span></div>
1613. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1614. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Confidence fell down the steepest of slopes</span></div>
1615. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1616. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I'll row you an ocean, I could do more</span></div>
1617. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1618. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I feel so much stronger, now that you're here</span></div>
1619. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1620. <span style="font-size: x-small;">We've got so much to do, let me make that clear</span></div>
1621. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1622. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
1623. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1624. <span style="font-size: x-small;">We win, we lose, only together do we break the rules</span></div>
1625. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1626. <span style="font-size: x-small;">We win, we lose, only together do we make the rules</span></div>
1627. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1628. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
1629. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1630. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm breaking the surface, tasting the air</span></div>
1631. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1632. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm reaching for things like never before</span></div>
1633. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1634. <span style="font-size: x-small;">The anchor is heavy, I can't hold the weight</span></div>
1635. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1636. <span style="font-size: x-small;">The guilt holds me down, won't let me be myself</span></div>
1637. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1638. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Suck it all in, suck it all up</span></div>
1639. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1640. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Let go of thoughts holding me back</span></div>
1641. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1642. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I'll push twice as hard towards it you see</span></div>
1643. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1644. <span style="font-size: x-small;">And the past falls away to the bottom of the deep</span></div>
1645. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1646. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
1647. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1648. <span style="font-size: x-small;">When we leave say goodbye to your old way of life</span></div>
1649. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1650. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I can breathe way up high now it's our turn to fly</span></div>
1651. <br />
1652. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/5303657914284425/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=5303657914284425&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5303657914284425'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/5303657914284425'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/12/breaking-surface-tasting-air.html' title='Breaking the Surface, Tasting the Air'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRY8SfR66PkGVoNLpOMmwZY_iM43PdUsIQGBjCwrDM5A5zTcwTL6IQ58KmLwBmRuXk1WdL68asfxOWF2fdDwWLsnGtUWnNMkb9IzQtCP8lJbYVjAKKkLMdjLB7hLJxZg5-fbU6ZIT4CA/s72-c/CrewSeahawks.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3237610160312318565.post-2355876262825973390</id><published>2015-12-02T17:37:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2015-12-02T17:37:36.812-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Felling the Timbers, Pillaging the Vikings</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1653. </div>
1654. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1655. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSDqw1eUqttEfbu-qH6wDaPZws3HDM9MYNhfTM3hsX06OK6inRcLBFoEMD-ENwRmtMo23_aimM7BNnxV7tA0wA5Oz8Jjiu9V4uesUOB7Rc-ASygg6BR75eWHRYE10olN7bnSJPp0me9k/s1600/CrewHawks490px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSDqw1eUqttEfbu-qH6wDaPZws3HDM9MYNhfTM3hsX06OK6inRcLBFoEMD-ENwRmtMo23_aimM7BNnxV7tA0wA5Oz8Jjiu9V4uesUOB7Rc-ASygg6BR75eWHRYE10olN7bnSJPp0me9k/s1600/CrewHawks490px.jpg" /></a></div>
1656. <br />
1657. For the first time since 1983, this Sunday I won't be watching a Seahawks (regular-and-post-season, non-replacement players) game in anything approaching its entirety. By my count, it's been a streak of 540 games. It started when Dave Krieg came off the bench in relief of Jim Zorn in a mid-season game against Pittsburgh in 1983. The Hawks were down 24-0 at the half, but Krieg rallied the Hawks for three touchdowns and a stupendous near-comeback in a 27-21 loss. Mudbone was given the starting gig, and the <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/6/7/1505367/talk-about-the-passion-my-1983">magical playoff run of '83 hooked me on the team for life</a>. From then on, I haven't missed a significant play in a Seahawks non-strike regular season or playoff game.<br />
1658. <br />
1659. The closest I came to missing a game came in 2008. I had flight arrangements that were going to keep me from seeing that glorious snow-globe win over Brett Favre and the Jets in Mike Holmgren's last home game- But my flight got canceled and I got to witness <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2008/12/seahawks-13-jets-3.html">one of the most satisfying wins in franchise history</a> (at least pre-PCJS). Nothing will keep me from missing at least part of this Sunday's HUGE game in Minneapolis, though. Why?<br />
1660. <br />
1661. The Seahawks kick off at 1 pm Columbus time.<br />
1662. <br />
1663. The MLS Cup kicks off at 4 pm Columbus time...<br />
1664. <br />
1665. <b>AND I'LL BE AT THE MATCH!!! WOOOOO!</b><br />
1666. <br />
1667. It's a Christmas present for my girlfriend (who is also a big Crew SC supporter), and to myself. I've <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/05/12-for-lifecolumbus-til-i-die.html">written in this space before about my Crew fandom</a>. The whole piece is worth a read, but the short version is that when I moved to Columbus back in 1999, I quickly realized that while the culture surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes was too frightening, oppressive and suffocating for my tastes, I still wanted to have local sports rooting interests in my new home. I quickly adopted the Columbus Blue Jackets because I had no existing NHL allegiance, and I spent my adolescence rooting on the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. My path to becoming a Crew supporter was longer and more circuitous, but as my roots in central Ohio grew deeper (and my appreciation for soccer evolved over about a decade), the Crew became my (distant) 2nd biggest sports obsession after the Seahawks (I also <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2013/08/kinda-off-topic-my-appearance-on.html">participated in a Crew podcast</a> explaining how I ended up as a Twelve and a Crew SC supporter a few years back).<br />
1668. <br />
1669. I've been to five matches so far this season (including our defeat of Sounders FC back in May and our loss to Timbers FC in September), but this Sunday's MLS Cup Final is going to be BY FAR the most important match I've ever attended. I went to a USMNT World Cup Qualifier against Jamaica back in 2012, and that night Columbus Crew Stadium had an vibe something like a Seahawks playoff game- I've now been to three NFC Championship Games at Seahawks Stadium, and I expect MAPFRE Stadium's atmosphere Sunday to be at that fevered, raucous level. How often do ANY fans get the chance to see their side win the League Championship IN THEIR HOME STADIUM? This is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Crew SC hoist the MLS Cup in person, and I couldn't pass it up.<br />
1670. <br />
1671. <i><b>...but I am kinda freaking out about missing a big chunk of a very important Seahawks game.</b> </i><br />
1672. <i><br /></i>
1673. I'm hoping I can at least catch the first half before heading to MAPFRE. But even that might be pushing it. Sigh. My only hope (HINT) is that some kind, generous 12 (HINT) might give me access to their mobile NFL Sunday Ticket subscription (HINT). But I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that A) We're gonna win and B) I'll be at the games against Cleveland and St. Louis in a few weeks.<br />
1674. <br />
1675. <b>PREDICTIONS FOR SUNDAY: Seahawks 25, Vikings 20; Crew SC 2, Timbers FC 1</b><br />
1676. <b><br /></b>
1677. A couple of years back I wrote about the <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2013/04/seahawks-v-vikings-revisiting-sordid.html">surprisingly contentious history between the Seahawks and Vikings</a>. The Hawks have won 8 of the previous 13 meetings between the teams, but let's look back at the Top 5 Seattle wins over the Purple Norsemen...<br />
1678. <br />
1679. 5. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197810080sea.htm">10/8/78 Seahawks 29, Vikings 28</a><br />
1680. The 3rd-year expansion Seahawks hosted the 4-time NFC Champion Vikings and gave Bud Grant, Frank Tarkenton, and the Purple People Eaters more than they could handle. The Hawks sprinted out to a 19-7 advantage, but then fell behind 28-19 going into the 4th quarter. Jim Zorn had a proto-Russell Wilson kind of day, passing for 256 yards and also rushing for 45 more (including one passing touchdown and two more via ground). Sherman Smith chipped in 74 yards rushing, San McCullum snared 5 catches for 98 yards and a TD, and Efren Herrera nailed the winning field goal that help put Seattle on the NFL map.<br />
1681. <br />
1682. 4. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201211040sea.htm">11/4/2012 Seahawks 30, Vikings 20</a><br />
1683. I was <a href="http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2012/11/seahawks-30-vikings-20.html">at this game</a>! Despite 182 yards from NFL MVP Adrian Peterson, the Seahawks outslugged the Vikings for a 10-point victory. The Hawks held Minnesota to a mere 44 yards passing, Russell Wilson threw for three TDs, and Marshawn Lynch racked up 124 yards on the ground.<br />
1684. <br />
1685. 3. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198711010sea.htm">11/1/87 Seahawks 28, Vikings 17</a><br />
1686. Ahh, the strike year. The Vikings visited Seattle for a key early November matchup, and much of the pre-game talk was about how the "real" Vikings came into the game undefeated, but the team's overall record was only 3-3 because Minnesota's replacement players were putrid even by the low standards applied to those scab games. The Seahawks were 4-2, based in part on the 2-1 record posted by the SeaScabs. Seattle showed they weren't frauds that day- Behind three Dave Krieg TD passes (and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPRvm95wYL1KNBUI-Kad8_3LJ31qTX53qG77wAAdyHxDI1AFgWQhV8y3o5EoHAdhHRC51J1ACUceMPWwnWNfRYT0kDGRLPOIYoc7-F1WU8N78WzqgQ24xXEC35eBlqwgSiGRkPhFBPcU/s1600/kriegbeardsmall.JPG">that glorious beard he grew during the players' strike- Hmm. That seems relevant!</a>) and 132 all-purpose yards from Curt Warner the Hawks ground out a crucial 28-17 victory. Both teams would make the playoffs, with Seattle falling at Houston in OT in the AFC Wild Card game, and Minnesota ending up a 4th-and-goal away from XXII in a heartbreaking NFC Championship game loss at DC.<br />
1687. <br />
1688. 2. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200209290sea.htm">9/29/02 Seahawks 48, Vikings 23</a><br />
1689. Seattle got off to a miserable 0-3 start, and the desperately needed some kind of spark going into the first national showcase for Seahawks Stadium: An appearance on Sunday Night Football. Thankfully their opponents that night were the similarly 0-3 Vikings, and the football-watching nation was treated to a historic performance by Shaun Alexander, who scored five first-half touchdowns on his way to a 221-yard rushing/receiving day. The Hawks would lead 45-10 by halftime and cruise to a 48-23 victory.<br />
1690. <br />
1691. 1. <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200412120min.htm">12/12/04 Seahawks 27 @ Vikings 23</a><br />
1692. Almost exactly 11 years ago, the Hawks headed to Minnesota needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They were on the road and coming off a short week after a heartbreaking MNF loss to Dallas. In addition, Darrell Jackson was weighed down with grief immediately after his father's death. No one gave Seattle any chance to win.<br />
1693. <br />
1694. D-Jack had perhaps the best game of his career, snagging 10 balls for 135 yards and a TD. Hasselbeck went wild, throwing for 334 yards and three scores... The win was sealed when Michael Boulware picked off an inexplicable Randy Moss option pass in the end zone late in the 4th quarter.<br />
1695. <br />
1696. Would You Like To Know More?</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/feeds/2355876262825973390/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3237610160312318565&amp;postID=2355876262825973390&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2355876262825973390'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3237610160312318565/posts/default/2355876262825973390'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com/2015/12/felling-timbers-pillaging-vikings.html' title='Felling the Timbers, Pillaging the Vikings'/><author><name>Ramona P. </name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12287491380049695397</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSxbk9sr-Fyd_-G7L32_x3vzXSrx8rbbURhoPyE1ia8-74zlwfTx_K4QpxLg7Faps3uveei6zlf8RwGnJcE00XYpElo-kNH2EM6OddPCwpX40S9WqpyuiHU-aeWFxDY/s220/22770016_10155708010218267_6059264518035043451_o.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSDqw1eUqttEfbu-qH6wDaPZws3HDM9MYNhfTM3hsX06OK6inRcLBFoEMD-ENwRmtMo23_aimM7BNnxV7tA0wA5Oz8Jjiu9V4uesUOB7Rc-ASygg6BR75eWHRYE10olN7bnSJPp0me9k/s72-c/CrewHawks490px.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry></feed>

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