SEATTLE — As the old saying goes, to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, and on Sunday, a young Seattle Seahawks defense more than held its own in a showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, who for years have been the benchmark for NFL defenses.
Obviously defenses don’t face each other on the field, but for a Seattle defense full of young players who aren’t well known outside of the Northwest, showing they can keep up with the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata was important.
“We definitely want people to know we’re something to reckon with,” said defensive tackle Alan Branch. “We’re definitely a good defense. We’ve got every piece of the puzzle that we need. We’re just showing everyone else in the league.”
The Ravens and Seahawks put up very similar offensive numbers, but Seattle’s defense was able to force a turnover and get stops when it needed them most, while the Ravens defense was unable to get off the field at the end of the game while the Seahawks ran out the clock.
“It felt great, especially when they’ve got big names out there,” said safety Earl Thomas. “I’m just excited. I feel like our defense played well. We were the best defense out there today and it showed. We got the W.”
While the Ravens were able to gain yards, particularly in the second half while playing from behind, they weren’t able to make big plays. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco completed 29 passes, but none for more than 19 yards. In fact only five of those completions went to receivers while he spent much of the day checking down to tight ends and running backs.
“They’re a high-powered offense,” Thomas said. “But we took the deep ball away, man.”
Injury update
Receivers Doug Baldwin and Sidney Rice both left the game with concussions, as did safety Kam Chancellor. All will have to be cleared medically before returning to action. Right guard John Moffitt left in the first quarter with a knee injury, and will undergo an MRI Monday to determine the severity of the injury. Safety Atari Bigby and defensive end Anthony Hargrove both left the game with hamstring injuries.
Golden finish
Pressed into duty because of the injuries to Rice and Baldwin, second-year wide receiver Golden Tate came up huge on Seattle’s final possession, helping turn a first-and-20 into a first down that sparked the game-clinching drive.
On first-and-20 from the Seattle 10-yard line, Tate caught a 10-yard pass at the right sideline. Then, on third-and-five, he ran a route up the left sideline and hauled in a 24-yard reception, his longest of the season.
With the acquisition of Rice and the surprising play of Baldwin, an undrafted rookie, Tate has not played as much as you might think for a player who was a second-round draft choice last season.
“I did the easy part. I just caught the ball when it was thrown to me,” Tate said. “I’m just happy for the chance to help this team and make some plays.”
Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said it was good to see Tate play a key role in the victory.
“It’s good for him. He’s been practicing well for the last two months and he’s been doing a pretty good job,” Jackson said. “When those guys (Rice and Baldwin) went down, the other guys stayed focused.
“He stayed focused,” Jackson said. “He knew the whole game plan. He knew all the different positions because on a couple of plays he was at a different position, so he was able to make sure he got himself in the right position. My hat goes off to him for making those plays today.”
Ugly trend
The Seahawks committed 13 penalties worth 100 yards on Sunday, their third straight game with at least 10 penalties. They have 83 penalties this season, second in the NFL behind only, you guessed it, the Oakland Raiders, and have committed 10 or more penalties in five of eight games.
On Baltimore’s touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, Seattle committed two penalties for 20 yards and two automatic first downs. Had the Seahawks not run out the clock after the ensuing kickoff, those could have proved catastrophic.
“I don’t know how fast we can grow up,” said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll “It’s about making decisions and choices and stuff like that. We don’t have this corralled yet, and we just keep working at it. It could have lost us the football game today.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
