After a four-game absence, Kam Chancellor returned to the field Sunday and made a big difference in the Seahawks' 31-24 win at New England. And for his impressive play, Chancellor was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week Wednesday.
Chancellor finished the game with eight tackles, forced a fumble and provided the coverage on New England's final incomplete pass that secured a Seahawks victory. Chancellor was also a big part of a team effort that limited All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski to three catches.
"He played really well, he was very aggressive," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He really was attacking the football. He was getting after the ball on a number of plays. Knocked a couple balls loose, that's as good as you can do on our defense and working on the football. Good hits, good coverage, good challenge."
This is Chancellor's third time in his career earning Defensive Player of the Week honors, the second highest total by a Seahawk behind Richard Sherman, who has been named Player of the Week four times. Chancellor's return to the lineup was an obvious factor on Sunday, and his presence is something the Seahawks are counting on helping them down the stretch.
"He brings years of experience and years of counting on a great player to be a part of it," Carroll said. "All that he brings football-wise, savvy-wise, adjustments, communication, all those things. He's also as hard of a hitter as anybody who plays this game, and that factor—knowing he's out there and looming, ready to make a hit—is a factor in our favor. It's coming, so you have that anticipation. He's a great leader too, so he affects people on both sides of the ball with his intensity and focus that he brings, all that stuff. He played really well too, he did a nice job."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive photos from the Seahawks' Week 10 win over the Patriots on Sunday Night Football at New England.
On Friday afternoon, defensive lineman Jarran Reed brings lunch for his position group teammates as he heads to the bus for the trip to New England.
Family members and friends of assistant coach Rocky Seto wave to the team as the buses depart Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Friday for the cross-country trip to New England.
Seahawks fans including the loyal "Big Lo" (holding Sea-Fence) sign, send the team off near SeaTac Airport.
Kevin Pierre-Louis and Tyvis Powell sport Celtics basketball jerseys for the trip to Boston. Pierre-Louis has repped a basketball team from the opposing city for each road trip.
Receiver Tyler Lockett pauses to "photobomb" safety Earl Thomas, who is already studying game tape on the flight east.
On Saturday, the team took to a local high school for their walk thru, and Earl Thomas stretched amid the autumn color of fall in New England.
Justin Hamilton moves to the center of the team at walk thru to call the team up after being named Service Team captain for the next day's game against the Patriots.
After walk-thru, the team made a visit to Gillette Stadium, where head coach Pete Carroll took some time to talk to family on the phone.
On Sunday morning, quarterbacks coach Carl Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson reviewed strategy in the team's meal room.
Two hours before kickoff at Gillette Stadium, Earl Thomas stretched out on the field.
Head coach Pete Carroll shows his excitement for the game during the team's pregame stretch period.
Russell Wilson, flanked by Garry Gilliam and Justin Britt, leads the team out of the tunnel for pregame introductions.
Seattle's Russell Wilson and New England's Rob Gronkowksi share a laugh at the pregame coin-toss.
Head coach Pete Carroll stands for the national anthem with Kam Chancellor and Russell Wilson.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin falls into the end zone with his second touchdown of the game.
Seahawks safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor went high and low to put a hard hit on New England's Rob Gronkowski.
Seattle's DeShawn Shead intercepts a pass by New England's Tom Brady in the first half.
Quarterback Russell Wilson drops back and is provided protection by Germain Ifedi, Justin Britt, Mark Glowinski and George Fant.
Receiver Tyler Lockett cuts towards the middle of the field after a reception in the second quarter.
Quarterback Russell Wilson listens to last-minute advice from head coach Pete Carroll just before halftime.
At halftime, defensive line coach Travis Jones talked to his players in the locker room.
Linebackers Bobby Wagner and Brock Coyle, along with defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, stop New England's LaGarrette Blount.
Seattle's Jarran Reed and Demontre Moore combine to sack Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the third quarter.
Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham heads upfield after a reception.
Rookie running back C.J. Prosise provided an offensive spark in his first NFL start.
C.J. Prosise also made his mark as a receiver, catching, among others, this deep ball from Russell Wilson up the left side.
Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka was 4-4 on field goals in the victory.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman heads upfield with the football after recovering a fumble caused by teammate Kam Chancellor who knocked the ball free from Patriots receiver Julian Edelman.
Seahawks defensive backs Kam Chancellor, Kelcie McCray and Steven Terrell celebrate a fumble caused by Chancellor and recovered by the Seahawks in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin hauls in his third TD catch of the night, which would provide the eventual game-winner.
The Seahawks defense held the Patriots out of the end zone with a goal line stand to preserve the victory inside the final minute.
Seahawks Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman celebrate after Chancelor's defense on New England's Rob Gronkowski resulted in an incomplete pass in the end zone, preserving the win.
Linebacker Brock Coyle lets out a yell as he enters the victorious Seahawks locker room.
Frank Clark dances in the locker room after the hard-fought victory over the Patriots.
Quarterback Russell Wilson and his position coach Carl Smith share a quite moment amid the raucous celebration inside the winning locker room.
The Seahawks were still grinning as they knelt in joint prayer after the game.
Kam Chancellor leads the Seahawks in a victory yell after the victory at New England.
Sometime after midnight on Monday morning after the late Sunday game, defensive backs Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman share a congratulatory moment on the tarmac in Boston as the team arrived for the return flight to Seattle.
The Seahawks disembark from their Delta charter, home safely at SeaTac airport at 6am Monday after flying all-night across the country, victorious after defeating the New England Patriots.
