Seattle's Super Team

"We Dat", Richard Sherman tweeted after trouncing the Saints (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

It's been five years since the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City, but Seattle has a new Super team playing within city limits.

At 11-1, the Seahawks hold the best record in the NFL, and are two games above the next best team in the conference. However, after dismantling the Saints on Monday Night Football, the gap between Seattle and the rest of the league looks much more dramatic.

Hardly a joyful expression. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Saints entered Seattle with a lot riding on the outcome of the game. 

The showdown between the two top seeds in the NFC would likely determine home-field advantage for the playoffs. A win by New Orleans would even their record with Seattle, but give them the tiebreaker via head-to-head victory, thus supplanting Seattle as the number one seed and earning home-field advantage.

A win by the Seahawks would solidify their stranglehold on the conference and likely force any path to the Super Bowl to pass through Seattle.

This would be especially important given both teams' impregnable home records: Russell Wilson has yet to lose a game in Seattle, while Sean Payton and Drew Brees have won 14 straight home games in New Orleans.

Consider too the fact that New Orleans plays in a dome, a controlled environment starkly different from the cold and rainy Northwest, especially in January. Weather conditions can make all the difference, especially when you rely on a high-flying passing attack to win games. The Saints would much rather stay home and indoors for the duration of the playoffs.

Lastly, the red-hot Panthers, winners of 8 straight games, are nipping at the heels of the Saints. With their victory on Sunday, Carolina remained just one game back of New Orleans, and a loss to Seattle would drop the Saints into a tie for first in the NFC South.

All together, this was an absolute must-win game for New Orleans.

Michael Bennet's TD dance expressed the feeling as a whole of Seattle.

How disappointing, then, that the outcome was decided by the end of the first quarter.

The Saints' received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out on their first possession of the game. Seattle turned their first opportunity into points, eating up 5:44 of clock-time in the process of their 11 play, 61 yard drive. Their drive stalled short of the end zone, however, and they settled on a field goal.

3-0 Seattle.

The Saints' got the ball back hoping to respond. Instead, Drew Brees was stripped of the football on second down and Michael Bennet returned the fumble for a touchdown.

Make that 10-0 Seahawks.

New Orleans then received their third kickoff of the game, only to go three-and-out once more. This would be a theme for the night. They punted to the Seahawks and watched Russell Wilson lead his offense on a 73 yard drive for a touchdown.

17-0.

The Saints had time to run three plays before the quarter ended. It might as well have been the game.

On their first three drives, then, the third-best offense in the league had mustered only 9 yards, on 9 plays, for a total of zero first downs. This had never happened before in the Sean Payton / Drew Brees era. Their first three possessions resulted in two punts and a fumble, and they found themselves down 17 points after 15 minutes of football. It was the largest first quarter deficit Sean Payton and Drew Brees had ever faced, one that would prove too deep to overcome.

(ESPN)

Sean Payton is regarded as one of the top offensive-minded coaches in all of football. Unfortunately for him, he faced one of the top defensive-minded coaches in football, Pete Carroll.

The Seahawks totally and completely dominated the Saints' offense. New Orleans entered the match averaging over 400 yards of offense per game. They were held to just 188 total yards on the day. Drew Brees was absolutely stifled, and mustered only 144 passing yards-- his lowest total since 2006.

5 of their first 8 drives were three-and-outs. Of the three that weren't, one was a kneel-down at the end of the half. Another was extended by a "roughing the passer" call on third down. The penalty gave the Saints their first fresh set of downs since their lone scoring drive in the second quarter. Three plays later, they punted anyway.

Seattle came off their bye-week ready to play, and had an answer to everything that New Orleans tried. Their defense played chippy and physical, at times going out of their way to assert themselves-- even drawing penalties in the process.

But 15 yards is a small price to pay for the number one seed in the NFC.

Players aren't the only ones intimidated. (Twitter)

Their smash-mouth style of play is a cause for concern for most offenses for many reasons.

Turnovers of course play a huge role in the outcome of the game, and Seattle's defense ranks first in the league with 27 takeaways. This tendency creates more opportunities for their offense, and with a cool and composed QB in Russell Wilson to take care of the football, they also enjoy the best takeaway/giveaway ratio in the NFL.

But pass break-ups are often overlooked and hard to keep track of, and last night a large number of passes fell incomplete due to the punishing hits the receivers took before completing the catch.

The Seahawks fans absolutely love it, as well as all other aspects of their team, and have become one of the loudest crowds opponents can finds themselves pitted against, giving Seattle-- a team that already possesses the number one defense and the number two scoring offense-- just another advantage.

When you come to Seattle, you don't just face the players on the field. You face the cold, you face the rain, and you face the 12th man.

11.5 might be more accurate. (Raider Nation)

And, as the 34-7 blowout of the next best team in the NFC showed, you just don't win.

"DOH!" (Raider Nation)

Can anyone beat the Seahawks at home? Can anyone beat them anywhere? You tell me! Comment below. 

Raiders Recap-- Week 13: Cowboys

A Thanksgiving Game with One Extra Turkey

The Seat Grows Hotter. (AP Photo, Bob Leverone)

The game started about as well as you could have hoped.

Terrance Willams fumbled the game's opening kickoff and the Raiders were able to scoop and score, establishing a 7-0 lead over the Dallas Cowboys in only twelve seconds. This year, the Raiders have made a habit of getting off to quick starts, but this opening sequence happened so abruptly that it surprised even those aware of the trend.

It seemed too good to be true, and it was.

The Raiders extended their lead to 21-7 with less than 2 minutes to go in the second quarter before surrendering yet another late touchdown drive that allowed Dallas to half their deficit heading into the break. The Cowboys would then go on to score 17 unanswered points on their way to victory.

Oakland's only second-half points came on a Janikowski FG-- a curious attempt on second down with less than a minute to go in the game, down ten.

(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

In other words, it was hardly redeeming.

Still, the Raiders had many opportunities to win the game.

Oakland drove the ball deep into Dallas territory in the 4th quarter, and, down only 7 points, found themselves in the red zone with a chance to tie the game late. QB Matt McGloin could not complete the drive, and inexplicably threw a jump ball to the shortest guy on the field. Jacoby Ford had no chance, and the pass was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback.

"Their guy gets paid too. He made a good play," said McGloin on the pass. "It was an opportunity ball."

Debatable. An opportunity for an interception, perhaps, but definitely not what might be known as a "50-50" ball.

"I mean, if it was a touchdown, nobody would have thought anything about it," he shrugged.

These words make me cringe.

Somewhere, RG3 is applauding, for he too recently denied responsibility for throwing a terrible interception with the game on the line. Instead of standing up and using the magic words "me" or "I", Griffen accused his coaches of developing a simplistic game-plan that the Eagles were able to dissect with ease. This led to much criticism from commentators and even from his own teammates.

But when you are the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year with an NFC East banner sitting in your trophy case next to your Heisman, you might be able to get away with these type of shots. Meanwhile, McGloin has nothing comprable under his belt. The only other commonality he shares with RG3 is a winning percentage of .333 and a tenuous grasp on the position for the remainder of a doomed season.

Say what you want about Pryor and his mechanics, at least he knew when to take responsibility for his mistakes. Hell, he took responsibility for the entire team's mistakes.

So as the QB controversy continues in Oakland, fans are left to ask themselves: "Do we want a passer? Or a leader?"

Apparently, you just can't have both.

IF McGloin doesn't throw that interception, and the Raiders are able to punch it in, we are potentially looking at a different outcome to that game. IF Oakland's defense was able to stop Romo and the Cowboys just before the half, the momentum changes completely before the third quarter. IF the Raiders do not allow DeMarco Murray to scamper into the end zone, untouched, on three separate occasions, perhaps they settle for 3, 6, 9 instead of 7, 14, 21.

If... If... If...

Untouched. Thrice. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, the focus cannot be on what might have been. Instead, we must look at what HAS been, and speculate on what lies ahead for the 4-8 Oakland Raiders.

So, what HAS been?

At 4-8, the Raiders have competed in very game except 2, and in those oh-so-fleeting moments, have looked much better than anyone expected with a team of replacements and one-year contracts.

Credit is due to Dennis Allen for turning this team into something no one thought possible, if only for one of the two halves of each game. However, these flashes of potential have only increased the expectations that the fans have for their team, making each return to earth more painful than the last.

It wasn't until the kickoff against Tennessee that anyone realized how close the Raiders were to wildcard contention, and a win against the Titans would have allowed Oakland to control its own destiny. 60 minutes later, they were back at the bottom.

Flashes of Brilliance? Or Gaps in Idiocy?
(Elsa/Getty Images)

Say what you want, the talent to win games IS there. Reggie McKenzie has put good players in place, if only temporarily, and given Dennis Allen enough tools to compete this year. Their shortcomings, then, must fall at the feet of the head coach, and his inability to get his team to play when it needs to play.

The Raiders are not a "first half team". There is no such thing. Their ability to jump out to early leads continues to surprise me, and though they have benefitted from early turnovers, they still have made enough plays to dispel the notion that this is pure luck. I'd call it about 50-50. (Not sure how McGloin would evaluate it.)

And the Raiders are definitely, astoundingly, 100% NOT a "second half team". Check the box score.

In their past 6 losses, the Raiders have been outscored in the second half by a combined score of 96-23. Even in their wins, they have been beaten in the second half: San Diego put up 17 to Oakland's 3, while Pittsburgh put up 15 and shut out the Raiders in the third and fourth quarters. Add those into the equation and the ratio becomes 128 to 26-- a difference of over one-hundred points.

What is going on at halftime? Are the players switching jerseys with the opposing team? Are the opponents chugging bottles of MJ's "Secret Stuff"? On Thanksgiving, did the Raiders sit down for a tryptophan-laced meal in between the 2nd and 3rd quarters and return to the field sluggish and half-asleep?

It's much simpler than that. At halftime, coaches are doing what they are supposed to do: making adjustments.

And that is where Dennis Allen is proving woefully inadequate.

How else can you explain such a disturbing trend? The Raiders have blown halftime leads in their each of their last three losses. Eight times they have been outscored in the second half, and eight times they have ended up on the wrong side of the scorecard.

The team has a lot of problems, but perhaps the issue is much simpler.

Factor in Dennis Allen's abysmal 2-12 road record (2-16 if you include preseason) and you have a trend that is simply too hard to ignore. His record at home is not stellar, but his continual inability to prepare his team to compete on the road is a glaring mark on a resume in desperate need of some bright spots.

The Raiders have 4 games to go in their 2013 season (unless... never mind). They face the Jets next week before finishing out against the AFC West, aka the best division in the NFL. With the playoffs likely out of reach, the focus will shift from this year to next, and Reggie McKenzie will be watching his team very closely. Make no mistake, jobs and contracts will be won and lost over the next four weeks, including that of the head coach. A respectable finish will solidify some positions and may help save Dennis Allen's job.

A loss on the road to the train-wreck Jets will certainly not.

Misspelling aside, the point is clear.

Is Dennis Allen officially on the hot seat? Can he save his job? If so, what does he have to do to keep it? Comment below!

Turkey Day Preview!

Your Guide to the NFL Games this Thanksgiving

(fangsbites.com)

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to be thankful of many things: family, food, football, and the fact that forced family gatherings only happen a few times a year. Table conversation can get awkward, especially if you are answering questions about your goals in life for your distant relatives-- by the time you see them next, you might have already reached them! Don't get caught sounding unsure. This Thanksgiving, prove that you know what you are talking about by familiarizing yourself with the top story lines heading into Thursday's three games.

First Course: 

Green Bay at Detroit - 9:30 AM (PST)

(Packers.com)

Since losing QB Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone, the Green Bay Packers have had little to be thankful for. They lost three games in a row before tying the lowly Vikings last week, and therefore have yet to record a win without the former MVP at the helm. Early in the season they enjoyed a sure grip on first place, but with a rotating QB cast that has included Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzein, and Matt Flynn, the Packers have seen their course shift dramatically. Incredibly, they remain just one game back in the win column (and are burdened with an awkward 5-5-1 record), but can increase their odds greatly with a win in Detroit on Thursday.

Three teams are currently vying for the NFC North crown, and the record within the division is the second-highest tiebreaker in the event of a draw, behind head-to-head record. The Lions have swept their series against the Bears, and own the tiebreaker there, but need a win against Green Bay to earn the series split. They have seen two winnable games slip through their fingers in the past two weeks, and have done little to take advantage of Aaron Rodgers' absence from their division rivals. They wasted a record-setting first-half performance from their QB and WR against Pittsburgh, then followed that debacle by losing to a team that started the season 0-8, at home against the Buccaneers.

I might also remind you that this is the team that lost eight straight games to close last year's season and miss the playoffs. The Lions desperately need a win to get back on track and prevent a nauseating sense of deja vu from permeating their fan base.

QB Matt Flynn will be starting the game for Green Bay, the same Matt Flynn who has already been cut by two teams this season alone. He will need help from the ground game to relieve some of the pressure, but will be going up against the 4th ranked rush defense in the league. However, the matchup through the air does favor him, as the Lions defense is 28th of 32 against the pass.

One can only assume that, because these stats are publicly broadcasted by ESPN, the Lions surely will take measures to force Green Bay to try to run on them. But then, Jim Schwartz is hardly conventional, as he has proven time and again-- most recently in the loss against Pittsburgh when he attempted an ill-advised fake FG, that ended in a fumble and a turnover instead of three points and inked a glaring ZERO under the category of "second half points".

(Rebecca Cook / Reuters)

Also, it could not be Thanksgiving without recalling the matchup of these same teams two years ago, in which Ndamukong Suh blatantly stomped on a Green Bay offensive lineman. This of course launched Suh into the discussion for the NFL's dirtiest player, hardly a desirable award to be nominated for.

He won, by the way.


To spice things up in advance of their Thanksgiving rematch, Green Bay OL Josh Sitton took to the media to announce his opinion of the Detroit Lions:


"I don't think there's any question about that... Their entire defense takes cheap shots all the time. That's what they do. That's who they are. They're a bunch of dirtbags or scumbags. That's how they play, and that's how they're coached... It starts with the head coach, Schwartz. He's a d---, too. I wouldn't want to play for him... They're all just scumbags, and so are the D-line."

His remarks certainly add a little spice to the match-up, and I am looking forward to their response as much as the Turkey itself. I'm not sure Matt Flynn is of the same mind, though.


Second Course:

Oakland at Dallas - 1:30 PM (PST)

(sfxoak.com)

After the beat-down that Drew Brees and the Saints put on the Cowboys three weeks ago, many have expected the inevitable collapse to come early this season for Dallas. Their victory over the surging Giants last week proved many doubters wrong, but still the pervading feeling is that it is only a matter of time. 

Statistics tell us that Tony Romo and the Cowboys usually do not collapse until AFTER Thanksgiving. His career record in November is 25-6, while he sinks to a paltry 13-17 in the month that follows (and a glaring 1-2 in January). Since the holiday comes late this year, Raiders fans are hoping the tradition arrives a bit ahead of schedule. 

Problems in the passing game have lead to heated exchanges between star WR Dez Bryant and his teammates and coaches. The return of (former?) star Miles Austin should help to lighten the load. So too should a matchup against the 25th ranked Oakland secondary. However, the Raiders have ridden rollercoasters with Romo all season long, and it is really anyone's guess as to which team will show up ready to play. (Point and case, I personally have missed each and every Raiders prediction I have attempted this year.) 

Meanwhile, the Raiders look to get back on track after suffering yet another loss at home. Their road record has been abysmal for two consecutive seasons, and they lost their last matchup against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 2009 (Justin Fargas, Bruce Gradkowski, anyone?). 

QB Matt McGloin has performed well in his first two career starts, splitting one win and one loss, but dissenters are already calling for Terrelle Pryor to reclaim the starting job once healthy. The ailing QB is getting closer each week, and may even be featured in select packages on Thursday. In any case, McGloin's margin for error is growing thin, and he needs a strong performance in Dallas to solidify his hold on the starting job. 

(jason farmer / times-shamrock)

Speaking of former-starters desperately hoping for a chance to prove their worth to the franchise, RB Darren McFadden is healthy (lol) enough to play this week. The delicate former Heisman contender has really only contributed a handful of respectable outings in his injury-plagued professional career. In his stead, RB Rashad Jennings has played very well, despite being hampered by the same battered offensive line that DMC struggled behind. Dennis Allen has said he will feature both backs in the game on Thursday, and with McFadden as healthy as he may ever be, fans and coaches alike may be able to see the competition for the next season's starting job unfolding before their very eyes. 

Dessert: 

Pittsburgh at Baltimore - 5:30 PM (PST)

Another chapter in the hardest-hitting rivalry in football will be written as many Americans slip into food comas across the nation. The teams have split their last 10 match-ups, and 8 of those games have been decided by 3 points or less.

This year, the stakes are at an all-time low, as both teams are mired by disappointing 5-6 records, two games behind the division-leading Bengals. However, a hope for a wildcard berth is still alive, and neither team can afford to lose many more games. Despite the lackluster circumstances, this heated rivalry should shape up to be as entertaining as always.

After winning the Super Bowl last season, the Ravens have been emphatically average, and have dropped 4 of their last 6 games. The vaunted defense, once ranked the best in the league, is not in the top ten in either passing- or rush-defense, but their offense is the cause of even more concern.

(Don Wright/AP)

"Elite" QB Joe Flacco is currently ranked 29th in passer rating and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns-- 14. Lately, he has even voiced his disgust with his offensive coordinator, publicly announcing his disdain for the "wildcat" system and comparing his team to a "high-school offense". As Tony Kornheiser pointed out, if Flacco would actually make plays with his arm, they likely would not be running it. But the team is not running the ball effectively either, and is averaging a meager 81.7 rushing yards per game.

On the other side, Ben Roethlisberger has been enjoying a renaissance over the past few weeks. The Steelers have won three straight games, and over that span Big Ben has passed for 7 touchdowns, compared to 1 interception. Antonio Brown has been on the receiving end of many of them, and the Ravens will need to stifle the WR if they hope to contain the Pittsburgh attack. The Steelers are the third-worst rushing team in the league, so Baltimore will most likely take away the pass and force Le'Veon Bell to make plays on the ground, increasing the already likely odds that you will see some hard-hitting plays made on both sides of the ball.

Good Food and Good Football... What a holiday!

Lastly, the Faded Raider would like to wish all his readers a Happy Thanksgiving. May your food be blessed and your bellies full, and remember to be thankful for what you have in life, especially those little things that are so often overlooked.