Seattle Seahawks ~ DYK? The Seahawks not only led the NFL in fewest explosive plays allowed, they also had more explosive plays (12-plus yard runs, 16-plus yard passes) than any team in the league.The Seahawks not only led the league in fewest explosive plays allowed, they also had more explosive plays (12-plus yard runs, 16-plus yard passes) than any team in the NFL. Tuesday in Hawkville: Staying defensive amid an offensive avalanche. The numbers put up by the Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked defense during the regular season are even more impressive when you consider what offenses were doing in record-setting fashion in 2014. FOCUS ON: NUMBING NUMBERS Four NFL teams averaged more than 400 yards in the just-completed regular season – the New Orleans Saints (411.4), Pittsburgh Steelers (411.1), Indianapolis Colts (406.6) and Denver Broncos (402.9). And that’s the most of any season in the 95-year history of the league. Nine teams scored at least 400 points – the Green Bay Packers (486), Broncos (482), Philadelphia Eagles (474), New England Patriots (468), Dallas Cowboys (467), Colts (458), Steelers (436), Baltimore Ravens (409) and Saints (401). And that ties for the second-most in league history. The league-wide completion percentage (.626), passer rating (88.9) and touchdown passes (807) also were surpassed the previous marks that were set last season – .612, 86.0 and 804. And, a league-record nine quarterbacks passed for at least 30 touchdowns – the Colts’ Andrew Luck (40), Broncos’ Peyton Manning (39), Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (38), Cowboys’ Tony Romo (34), Patriots’ Tom Brady (33), Saints’ Drew Brees (33), Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (32), San Diego Chargers’ Philip Rivers (31) and New York Giants’ Eli Manning (30). The previous record had been five. What does all of this have to do with the Seahawks? They continue to play record-setting defense in this age of offensive abundance. The Seahawks ranked No. 1 in average yards allowed for the second consecutive season, and allowed the fewest average points in the league for the third season in a row – making them the first unit since the Minnesota Vikings in 1968-71 to do that. And they did it while facing several of the offenses and players who contributed to yet another record-setting season. The Packers averaged 30.4 points, but got 16 in their opener against the Seahawks. The Broncos averaged 30.1 points, but scored 20 in their overtime loss to the Seahawks. The Eagles averaged 29.6 points, but got 14 in their Week 14 loss to the Seahawks in Philadelphia – where the Eagles had averaged 35 points in winning their first six home games. The Cowboys averaged 29.2 points, and had to convert a third-and-20 play late in the fourth quarter to reach that average against the Seahawks. A Broncos’ offense that averaged 402.9 yards got 332 in the Week 3 loss to the Seahawks, and had 102 in the first half. As for the record-setting completion percentage (.626), passer rating (88.9) and TD passes (807), those numbers against the Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked passing defense were .617, 80.4 and 17. During the six-game winning streak to close the regular season, those numbers were .540, 54.6 and 2 (with seven interceptions). As for the 30-plus-TD-pass QBs, Peyton Manning had two against the Seahawks; Rodgers one; Romo two; Rivers three; and Eli Manning one. That’s nine TD passes against the Seahawks, compared to 163 against the rest of the league. “The fact that we’re doing what we’re doing in a season when offenses are doing so much just makes what we’re doing even more impressive,” All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman said. seahawks
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 02:18:38 +0000
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