The Seahawks are back home this week to face the Philadelphia Eagles, who at 10-1 own the NFL's best record. But before we shift our attention fully to this week's game, it's time once again to answer questions from you, the fans. As always, thanks to everyone who took the time to submit a question this week, and apologies if I wasn't able to get to yours this time around.
@HolliWinters asks, "Why does the Seahawks offense seem to start slowly in games? Though I'm thankful Russell Wilson throws a lot of touchdowns in the fourth quarter!"
A:The Seahawks have had a solid season on offense, ranking eighth in total offense at 363.1 yards per game, and 10th in scoring at 24.1 points per game. But as Holli notes, they've been a little lopsided at how they've gotten to those numbers. Of the Seahawks' 266 points this season, 165 have been scored in the second half, including 102 in the fourth quarter.
As Seahawks coach Pete Carroll always says, it's not how you start, it's how you finish, so he'd rather his team start slow and finish strong than do the opposite, but of course ideally he'd prefer to see his team get off to better starts. Quarterback Russell Wilson is part of that equation, and he'd be the first to admit there are things he could have done better early in some games this year, but on the plus side, he has been nearly unstoppable late in games, leading the NFL in fourth-quarter passing yards (973), touchdown passes (14) and passer rating (134.9).
"Well, I wish I knew it so I could make it happen in the first half," Carroll said when asked why Wilson was so good late in games. "But we have talked about it some. In particular he's a great finishing quarterback. His numbers in the fourth quarter are tremendous. His efficiency and his touchdowns, those are really special. I think he's such a tremendously instinctive football player, the more game he gets the better he feels, the more he understands how to take advantage of the opportunities, and he just continues to play better. I think he and (offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell) work really well together as they grow in the game. They communicate all game long, and they zero in and really seem to really hit it right as we finish. There's no question that he's a great finisher. His wins in the fourth quarter show that, but also just the numbers are there. I really think he gets a better feel for the game, he really gets a sense for how things are going to work and the defense he's playing against and the style and all of that, and takes full advantage of it."
@ConradKrueger16 asks where Thomas Rawls stands in the running back rotation after playing one snap against San Francisco.
A:Pete Carroll was asked this same question during his Monday press conference, and the short answer is that with Eddie Lacy finally fully healthy and ready to go, the Seahawks wanted to see what he could do in a bigger role. And with J.D. McKissic serving a specific role as a third down/change-of-pace back, Rawls was unfortunately the odd man out.
"He's still in there battling," Carroll said. "Thomas is healthy and this week, we just had to make a choice, and we had been anxious to see how Eddie does, so we'll see how this week turns out.
"Only so many guys can get it. If we try too much mix, then you don't get enough information. I think that was really evident in how we try to go about it this week with Eddie and make sure he is fine and back. He was ready for us last week to play but didn't have a great week in preparation and I think after the week, we knew this week now he would be ready to go and handle the load, so we took a chance to see how he did. We are just gathering information and fortunately we got a win and we will keep going. There is a lot of football left and we are hoping that we can continue to find the very best of it and be really effective, so we will see what happens."
The Seahawks are obviously still trying to sort everything out at running back, and with Mike Davis coming back this week, they'll have another option. How it plays out this week and beyond remains to be seen, but one thing that is clear is that, since the injury to Chris Carson—who could return later this season—the coaching staff is willing to tinker to try to find the right fit, so it's entirely possible Rawls will still be a factor before everything's said and done.
SeattlePI.com reporter and Seahawks beat abandoner @scohenPI asks, "Do you believe in life after love?"
A:Well, Stephen, I haven't given this a lot of thought, but I can feel something inside me say, I really don't think you're strong enough.
@RichardBoas wonders if Richard Sherman could someday be an option at safety?
A:Sherman himself has joked that if he hangs on long enough in the NFL, he'll probably be moved to safety. And that's a move some very good cornerbacks have made successfully in their careers, most notably Hall of Famers Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott, as well as likely future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson.
First off, I'd say this discussion is premature, because at 29, Sherman should have several good years left in him at cornerback. He is one of the smartest and most studious corners in the game, so if he wanted to, I think he could still play that spot at an elite level even if he eventually loses a step. All of that being said, yes, I do think Sherman could someday make that transition if he wanted to. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he might want to bulk up a bit to do so, but he has proven to be one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the game, and his instincts and smarts would help make that transition an easy one from a mental perspective, but again, I think we're talking about a hypothetical for the distant future, not the immediate one. In other words, I don't think Sherman needs to reinvent himself as a safety anytime soon, but I think he absolutely could if he chose to do so at some point in his career.
When the Seahawks signed Dwight Freeney earlier this season, Sherman was asked if he could see himself playing into his late 30s like Freeney, and said he could, mentioning the idea of playing safety.
"They'd probably move me to safety at some point, but I can tackle, and I know ball, so I'll find a way to last," Sherman said last month. "I think at this point in the game, at this point in football, there's a lot less teaching of ball, a lot less fundamentals. I think that's why you see some guys that have incredible fundamentals last as long as you want to last, because these young kids don't have fundamentals a lot of times. They have talent, and talent is awesome, until it runs out, until it's no longer there, until your speed is not what it used to be, and until your jumping isn't what it used to be. Then all you have is your mind, and if your mind was never your number one priority, if it was never your best tool, then it's difficult to turn it on at the end. For the guys that last a long time, their minds were always their most dominant trait. Once their body went, it's not that much of an adjustment to change your body around to move this way, or to move this way, because I'm beating guys to the spot anyway. I'm playing the game above the shoulders."
@TheCrappyTotals asks, "Why do some late Sunday games start at 1 p.m., while others start at 1:25 p.m.?"
A:Basically, the league made this move a couple years back to avoid early and late games overlapping. So when FOX or CBS has a double header on a particular Sunday, the games will be at 10:05 a.m. PT and 1:25 p.m. PT. The 1:05 starts are games that aren't on the back end of a double-header.
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive behind-the-scenes images from the Seahawks' 24-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers during Week 12 at Levi's Stadium.
On Saturday afternoon, running J.D. McKissic walks to the Delta charter flight for the flight to the Bay Area for the game against the San Francisco 49ers.
On Sunday morning, Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin and Doug Baldwin walk from the team hotel to the bus for the ride to Levi's Stadium.
The Seahawks had plenty of support for the game as 12s packed Levi's Stadium.
In the visitors locker room, receivers coach David Canales confers with Doug Baldwin prior to the game.
Defensive lineman Nazair Jones listens to music as the team prepped for kickoff.
Left tackle Duane Brown focuses in a corner of the locker room just prior to the team leaving for pregame introductions.
Receiver Doug Baldwin speaks to the team and Jeremy Lane shakes hands with a teammate before the team left the locker room prior to kickoff.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson shakes hands with 49ers safety Eric Reid as the captains met at midfield for the pregame coin toss.
As rain fell in the first quarter, Bradley McDougald made a tackle on San Francisco's Trent Taylor.
Wide receiver Paul Richardson breaks into the open after catching a pass from Russell Wilson in the first quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson escapes pressure in the first quarter.
Seahawks defensive lineman Branden Jackson grabs ahold of 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard for a sack.
Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy looks for an opening as Ethan Pocic, playing at right guard, looks to block.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner tackled San Francisco's Trent Taylor, and at the same moment took the ball away from him for an interception.
Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown provides the lead block for running back J.D. McKissic near the goal line in the second quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson scores on a two-yard keeper to give the Seahawks a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.
Seahawks fans were visible throughout Levi's Stadium, as Luke Joeckel and Duane Brown protect quarterback Russell Wilson.
Seattle's Bobby Wagner pressures San Francisco quarterback C.J. Beathard in the second quarter.
49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard fumbles as he is sacked by Seattle's Marcus Smith, but Beathard recovered the loose ball.
Seattle's Jon Ryan unleashes a 74-yard punt from his own goal line near the end of the first half.
At halftime, Eddie Lacy and offensive teammates paid attention as assistant coach Tom Cable diagrammed on the white board in the locker room.
Doug Baldwin, J.D. McKissic and Tyler Lockett have a discussion in the locker room at halftime.
Receiver Doug Baldwin lays out for a flying catch for a first down in the third quarter.
Tight end Nick Vannett catches a 17-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson in front of 49ers defender Antone Exum, Jr. in the third quarter.
Seattle's J.D. McKissic finds open space in the middle of the field during the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, not many fans remained as the Seahawks won their fifth straight game at Levi's Stadium, defeating the 49ers 24-13.
Near the end of the game, offensive coordinator and quarterback Russell Wilson chat on the sidelines.
The stadium clock reads 0:00, but the Seahawks Doug Baldwin and Bobby Wagner waited on the bench as the 49ers kicked an extra point with no time remaining in Seattle's 24-13 victory.
A reunion of current and former Seahawks linebackers took place near midfield after the game with (L-R) Malcolm Smith, K.J. Wright, Brock Coyle and Bobby Wagner.
Michael Bennett brings the team together in the locker room after the win.
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed sports a robe befitting his first class seat for the victorious flight back to Seattle.
