Good morning, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Tuesday, Jan. 6 - about your Seattle Seahawks:
Seahawks Tops In Toxic Differential
For the second straight season, the Seahawks were No. 1 in the League in 'Toxic Differential.'
Its name doesn't make it sound like a category you want your team to lead the NFL in, but the statistic is actually one you want in your favor. It gained popularity in recent years thanks to former NFL head coach Brian Billick, who brought it to light in his work for NFL.com.
Toxic Differential combines a team's turnover differential with its passing big-play differential and rushing big-play differential. Adding the three categories together gives you a team's Toxic Differential. The higher the Toxic Differential the better.
According to SportingCharts.com, a site that tracks Toxic Differential, the Seahawks led the League in the category for 2014, posting a Toxic Differential of 76 after finishing the regular season with a plus-10 turnover margin and plus-66 big-play margin (tallied by SportingCharts.com as creating/preventing passes of 25 yards or more and creating/preventing runs of 10 yards or more).
At the season's midway point, based on his 20 years of tracking the statistic, Billick predicted nine or 10 of the top-rated toxic teams to be in the NFL's field of 12 playoff teams. His judgement was nearly on point, with eight of the top 12 toxic teams at SportingCharts.com having qualified for postseason play - the Seahawks (1st, 76 Toxic Differential), Denver Broncos (2nd, 53), Green Bay Packers (3rd, 37), Baltimore Ravens (T-5th, 28), Detroit Lions (T-5th, 28), Dallas Cowboys (8th, 23), Carolina Panthers (10th, 12), and Cincinnati Bengals (11th, 8).
Scientists To Monitor 'Earthquakes' During Seahawks' Playoff Run
The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) will follow up on an experiment they installed during last year's postseason run at CenturyLink Field that saw seismographs record fan-generated "earthquakes" after big plays from the Seahawks.
"During a real earthquake or volcanic sequence we need to be able to produce and distribute not only data and automated analysis but also interpretations and responses to legitimate questions and concerns," PNSN's Steve Malone wrote in a blog post announcing the project. "Social media plays a part in this. While no where near as stressful and dangerous as a real geophysical event, a Seahawks game can allow us to test and practice many of the capabilities we will need sometime in the future….. and will be fun, besides."
We'll have more outlining what the PNSN will be up to later in the week, but in the meantime you can check out their Seahawks monitoring page right here.
Seahawks Fill 53-Man Roster
The Seahawks signed sixth-year defensive tackle Landon Cohen to their active roster yesterday, filling the open spot vacated by defensive lineman Travian Robertson, who was released prior to the team's regular-season finale against the St. Louis Rams.
The 6-foot-1, 290-pound Cohen originally entered the League as a seventh-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions back in 2008. Cohen was on the Seahawks' roster for six days two seasons ago and most recently spent time with the Buffalo Bills this past year.
Tweet of the Day
Today's "Tweet of the Day" comes from ESPN Stats & Information, who shares a rushing statistic involving Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
Song of the Day
KIRO Radio's Dave Ross remixes an ode to the Seahawks he released prior to the team's NFC Championship game against the Panthers in the 2005 season. In his latest rendition, to the tune of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," Ross switches up the lyrics to reflect this year's ballclub, but the "Beat Carolina" message remains.
More From Around The Web
Here at Seahawks.com, Clare Farnsworth writes about how 11 weeks changed the fortunes of the Seahawks and Panthers and leads his recap of Monday's events in Hawkville with a focus on the All-Pro trio of Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas.
Panthers safety Roman Harper, who has had his playoff hopes dashed twice at the home of the Seahawks during his time with the New Orleans Saints, calls CenturyLink Field "the hardest place to play in the NFL."
Photos of the Seattle Seahawks playing the Carolina Panthers.
Danny O'Neil at 710Sports.com has three things we learned and three things we're still trying to figure out from this past weekend's wild-card round.
Gregg Bell at the Tacoma News Tribune wonders which NFC team is the Seahawks' biggest threat.
John Boyle at the Everett Herald says Bruce Irvin is thriving in his second season at linebacker.
Art Thiel at SportsPressNW.com says Russell Wilson's durability is a big asset for the Seahawks.
Larry Stone at the Seattle Times says don't expect Sunday's game against the Panthers to be easy.
And Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times profiles Seahawks long snapper Clint Gresham.
D*id I miss anything you think is worthy of inclusion? Let me know on Twitter *