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| Other Week 12 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAL at SD | BUF at JAX | DEN at CHI | GB at DET | HOU at CLE | IND at ATL | MIA at PIT | MIN at NYG |
| NO at CAR | NYJ at DAL | OAK at KC | PHI at NE | SEA at STL | SF at ARI | TEN at CIN | WAS at TB |
Week 12 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 24, St. Louis Rams 19
What you need to know
| Seattle Seahawks |
The Seahawks once again found a way to win. It wasn't pretty; it wasn't remotely good looking, but they got it done.
The running game was AWOL, save for one big gain late in the game, and the passing game was non-existent until the final play of the first half. The defense kept them within reach, and then got a little lucky at the end as Frerotte fumbled the snap on fourth and goal from the one.
Hasselbeck remained poised, and whatever adjustments the coaching staff made at halftime paid off. Their only score in the first half was a return touchdown, but they had been otherwise shut out. He was able to connect with Deion Branch for a few big plays and a touchdown, but unfortunately lost WR D. J. Hackett, who aggravated an ankle injury.
Kicker Josh Brown missed two long field goals; Maurice Morris was unable to convert any short yardage first downs; even the return TD was somewhat fluky, as Josh Wilson stepped in front of what was clearly Nate Burleson's ball to catch, and then took it all the way. In short, Murphy's Law struck the Seahawks, big time. And they still won.
| St. Louis Rams |
Marc Bulger left in the first quarter and did not return; Gus Frerotte replaced him and seemed to favor Isaac Bruce at least in this game. While he had his moments, Bulger also had the opportunity to win it for the Rams in the final seconds but blew it when he fumbled a good snap.
The Rams had a promising start, but fizzled down the stretch. They didn't get beaten; it was a classic case of a team beating letting one slip away. A bright spot was the defense, which was aggressive and got to the quarterback often, as well as doing a great job containing the running game.
Steven Jackson ran with power but was contained for the most part. His long touchdown of 53 yards was a bright spot, but unfortunately was the exception rather than the rule for the Rams ground game.
The passing game was largely inconsistent with Frerotte at the helm. The combination of erratic throws and lack of a deep game limited the receivers. Torry Holt was never a deep threat, and Steven Jackson was rarely targeted out of the backfield. Instead, Frerotte turned often to Isaac Bruce on short crossing patterns. In the end, the Seahawks capitalized on that by allowing the short play while slowly creeping back on the scoreboard.
What you ought to know
| QB Matt Hasselbeck, Pass: 21 - 38 - 249 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0 |
Hasselbeck had a rough day. The Seahawks first four plays from scrimmage: two sacks, an incomplete pass, and a safety. That sums up the direction his first half went; in the second, he was pressured just as much and was sacked twice, but finally found his wide receivers and put some points on the board. His patience and poise won the day as he took what the Rams gave him. His longest pass play of the half was 22 yards, but he completed enough of them to give the Seahawks the lead late in the game. He hooked up with Deion Branch a lot, and especially late in the game after Hackett aggravated his ankle.
| RB Maurice Morris, Rush: 16 - 79 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Morris was largely ineffective, but padded his numbers with a 46 yard rush in the second half. Granted it was a huge play for the Seahawks, but it was pretty much his entire contribution. Once Hasselbeck improved his game, some holes started to open up for him. He continued to struggle in short yardage situations, which cost the team several potential first downs, and a safety early in the game.
| RB Leonard Weaver, Rush: 1 - 5 - 1 (1 targets) |
Weaver touched the ball exactly once, but he made it count.
| RB Shaun Alexander |
Alexander was inactive due to injury (knee)
| WR Bobby Engram, Rec: 7 - 70 - 0 (9 targets) |
Engram was the most consistent of the Seahawks receivers. He was able to snag almost everything that came his way, and all of his second half catches were for first downs.
| WR Deion Branch, Rec: 5 - 92 - 1 (10 targets) |
Branch got the majority of looks in the second half, catching three balls for first downs and a fourth for a TD. He didn't catch his first one until the last play of the first half, but picked up his game after that. With Hackett out later in the game, he became Hasselbeck's go to guy.
| WR D.J. Hackett, Rec: 4 - 41 - 0 (6 targets) |
Hackett was getting a lot of the looks on passing downs, but aggravated his ankle injury after catching a pass in the third quarter.
| WR Nate Burleson, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (3 targets) |
Burleson's looks were limited, but when he was targeted, the throws were all of the deep variety.
| TE Marcus Pollard, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (2 targets) |
Pollard was rarely utilized in the passing game. Since the Rams were blitzing heavily all day, he was called on to help protect Hasselbeck.
| TE Will Heller, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (4 targets) |
Heller was actually targeted more often than starting TE Marcus Pollard, but only brought in one short reception. He was more of a dump off option than a threat in the passing game.
| PK Josh Brown 1 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Brown missed two field goals and kicked one successfully. The misses were from 46 and 52 yards, but were also in a domed stadium.
| SEA Rush Defense |
The Seahawks did an excellent job keeping Steven Jackson contained. He escaped for a long TD run, but that was their only miscue.
| SEA Pass Defense |
They were able to limit any big play damage through the air. Most of the Rams completions were of the ten yards or less variety. In fact, in the second half, the longest completion was for eleven yards. Most importantly, they effectively neutralized Torry Holt.
| QB Gus Frerotte, Pass: 20 - 32 - 161 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 2 - 0 |
Frerotte came on in relief of Bulger, and promptly got sacked and fumbled. He led the Rams to the end zone in that same drive, however. As the game went on, he got worse, not better, and displayed a lack of patience in the pocket, leading to many incompletions. Completing the downward spiral, on the final play of the game with a chance to win the game, he fumbled the snap.
| QB Marc Bulger, Pass: 3 - 5 - 32 - 0 TD / 1 INT |
Bulger left the game with an apparent concussion (initially reported as "rib and back soreness"). He was three for five and had been intercepted, fumbled, and sacked.
| RB Steven Jackson, Rush: 23 - 90 - 1, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jackson had plenty of chances, but only broke free once for a 53 yard touchdown run. He looked to be healthy and ran with power, but the Rams offensive line struggled to give him running room.
| RB Antonio Pittman, Rush: 5 - 11 - 0 |
Pittman was the only back other than Jackson to rush the ball for the Rams. He was strictly used to spell Jackson, however.
| RB Brian Leonard, Rec: 2 - 0 - 0 (2 targets) |
Leonard did not carry the ball, but did receive a couple of looks on passing downs.
| WR Isaac Bruce, Rec: 6 - 63 - 1 (14 targets) |
Bruce topped Holt by two targets, which is significant if Bulger misses any time. Frerotte seemed to often look to Bruce first and then Holt. His touchdown early in the game was from Frerotte, not Bulger.
| WR Torry Holt, Rec: 5 - 54 - 0 (12 targets) |
Holt was unable to break free for any big gains, but still hauled in five catches, four of which were for first downs. He suffered the most from Bulger's absence, as Frerotte was unable to find him on any of his usual game breaking deep routes.
| WR Drew Bennett, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (5 targets) |
Bennett took a clear back seat to Holt, Bruce, and Jackson in the offense. He did catch four of the five passes thrown his way though, so remained consistent.
| WR Dante Hall, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0, Rec: 1 - 0 - 0 (1 targets) |
Hall is a returner first, then a receiver. He was also used on a reverse, but did no damage this game.
| TE Randy McMichael, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (3 targets) |
Both catches were for first downs, and he showed good hands in the process. The lack of catches is due more to the need to use him as a blocker, since the Rams offensive line is still banged up.
| PK Jeff Wilkins 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points |
Wilkins hit a chip shot and both extra points.
| STL Rush Defense |
The run defense was not exactly fearsome, but were very good when it mattered, stopping the Seahawks in virtually every short yardage situation -- once resulting in a safety, and frequently stalling their drives before they could get on a roll.
| STL Pass Defense |
The Rams blitz carried the day, as they were in Hasselbeck's face all day -- and it made a difference. They shut out the Seahawks offense in the first half, but got beat just enough in the second to let it slip away.
