Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Below is some copy from Ken Trahan's article on SportsNola.com regarding the Saints vs. Seahawks playoff match-up this weekend. His analysis is brutally honest about the first match up between the two teams, but ends with an important question - have the Seahawks peaked already?

Finally some stats:
Read the entire brutal early analysis at SportsNola.com

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I sure hope so!

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

They will be rested and ready. 2nd season just starting. Turnovers. That's why they rolled us. Stop that and we can beat them.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Couldn't have said it better. Get off to a fast start and stop the turnovers. The rest will take care of itself. Just cannot go up there and have a slow start. We have started faster the past 2 games and let's hope we see a pattern.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Good stats in there. No 1 seeds are only 7-9 in div rounds the last 8 years. It also seems as though Seattle has cooled off a bit since beating us.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Not so much turnovers in that one as an amazing number of 3 and outs. We only had one giveaway, but it set the tone early and we never recovered.

10 possessions
6 - 3 & outs
2 - Failed 4th down conversions

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

We will play much better this time. I don't expect a lopsided game. They will be more focused.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

They will be coming off a bye again this time. They did play a near perfect game against us last time, and we made way too many mistakes.
They too are playing for a chance at the NFCCG, and they want it as bad as we do.
It should be good one.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

If we are just now starting to peak they are the one's that are in trouble!!

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I just can't help but think they're looking past us to some degree. It's human nature. That, plus all the media hate offering an endless amount of motivation for Sean and Drew and the rest of the Saints -

Seattle is going to be tough, but anyone looking for the same result as last time isn't playing attention. That's what I think.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Hope so.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Saints must start fast and score as early as possible.
If you look at the Seattle/Saints game (if you can stomach it) we scored in the 2nd quarter and their defense started emotionally falling apart - looking at each other and complaining. Fired up or no, their team plays on emotion and without that emotion they can go flat.

Score first or early, get a lead and take their fans out of the game and quiet them. If they do that then it can definitely be a dog fight against one heck of a team. If we come in and start super slow like we did in the first matchup, then everyone can eat Gumbo and get drunk and talk about the draft coming up in a few months.

We MUST start fast, score and take their fans, the stadium and fans out of the equation if we want a chance to win mono y mono.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

So... we're a lock.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Awesome.... Forty Burger coming up!

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I don't see us starting fast.. we normally go thru a feeling out process but I'm all for it.

1) Drew must play better and not hold the ball as long as he did last game. Whether he has to check down or run like Wilson (if given time and space) + that will make them second guess drew.

2) Win the turnover battle and cut down penalty's. I know we had alot of holding penalty's that game and we had some drive killing turnovers/penalties vs eagles. They have to earn the win we can't give it to them.

3) Hopefully we call good plays. Cant go 3 and out so much.. And throw away the earplugs definitely didn't help any.

I'm hoping we walk out of there with a win. Who dat!

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Per Pete Presser today Percy Harvin will most likely play. From a Seahawks fans perspective:

What happened if the Saints Win:
Got Heavy Prassure from front four and didn't need to bring a heavy dose of blitz. I though Ryan might blitz more but with secondary concerns, I don't think he will.

Running game getting 3.5 yards per carry mixed in with a healthy dose of play action pass. Drew has shown he can dink and dunk all the way to the end zone with the occasional fly pattern to keep the defense honest. I highly doubt Breeze with throw it much at Sherman and will target Thurmond and Maxwell more. No interceptions period.

Seahawks Victory:
Make the Saints play in space. Use Harvin to minimize pressure in the box and allow receivers to operate. This would put the Saints in a pick your poison, Lynch or wide outs.

Stop the Run make Breeze one dimensional without putting eight in a box. I have a feeling the Hawks will stuff the box and see if Breeze can throw or not. If the Hawks can pin their ears back they will make Drew's life miserable.

That's how I see this game...

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

yes

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Here's what I posted on 12-2-2013...

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

IMO, the pressure is all on their side of the ball.

Everyone expects them to win and for the Saints to lose.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Its only our injuries that worry me.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Remember this from the 2010 NFL season:

Patriots defeat Jets on Dec. 6 by a score of 45-3.
Divisional playoff: Jets defeat Patriots on Jan. 16, 2011 by a score of 28-21, shocking the number one seed.

Just sayin'. :)

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

That is because their D is excellent. Our O-line and our D will have to play like it is for their lives.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

That is possibly one way. The other is how Arizona did it. They kept SEA out of the end zone. Both Ds did. It was 3-3 till the 3rd or 4th quarter. Seattle would move up and down the field -- but the Cards D wouldn't let them in. They made 2 or 3 goal line stands. It was demoralizing. Then, their D got tired. That's when the Cards woke up, recovered from Carson Palmer's 4 INTs and started scoring. SEA answered -- but -- a bad interception call went against SEA and the Cards won. They might have won anyway -- but a couple of questionable but favorable calls went ARI's way in the 4th quarter.

The good news is SEA will beat themselves with penalties. I'm glad Drew is getting some practice arguing for calls.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I think we are kidding ourselves if we give any credence to this article. It was written by a local with high hopes like the rest. I don't think we realize how good this seahawks team is at home. Yeah they lost to the cardinals, one loss in 16 at home in two years. And that loss is the one they had to get out of the way.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I hope its the sophomore jinks just setting in on Wilson, he surely never went through it yet ,so start throwing some pics dude,

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I really think the hawks wont match the night they humiliated us up there. they were all pumped to break sound barrier and all that bullshyt .their going to get it i'm tellin u their going to eat green turdd wings. yall remember when we were all pumped about undefeated and going for 14 when dallas busted our bubble. seattle will get same taste in there mouth. there so dammed arrogant about winning super bowl, wait thy didn't win shyt yet.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I am of the opinion we take the first drive and don't force anything. We take what is given on each and every play and march slowly down the field.

Don't go long unless a receiver is clearly alone and in position to catch uncontested.

Don't try and force a run when they are giving up 5 yard passes.

Don't force 5 yard passes when they are giving us running lanes.

Don't phuch up trying to be brave.

Finally.. Don't throw the GAWDDAMNED ball to any receiver that is not PAST THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, or PAST THE 1st DOWN MARKER. It chaps my arse when we lose yardage on a frikken pass, or throw it to a receiver on 3rd down and he is 4 yards inside of a 1st down. Receivers need to know where the sticks are.:bng:

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Our receivers have to play much better. Play physical football, don't let them push you around, create separation, fight to the end. Step up Jimmy. No alligator hands. Drew will be fine. We win 27:23!

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

Total agreement. Take what they give -- wear them down. Don't let them in the end zone. Run the freakin' ball. Play action RUN ( don't know the technical name if there is one :-)).

Oak, the last paragraph: +3. I heard that.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

I agree, don't let Drew go long until they see how his ball is flying that day. He has been underthrowing terribly outside in the first half recently.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

It's going to be windy and rainy. Run the ball and give Drew an opportunity to warm up on short passes.

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

The not fit for long passing weather is what bothers me. Play calling is a game of chess. When the weather isn't fit for a long pass what is the defense least likely to expect? Watch Drew throw long off the bat.


:brood:

Re: Did the Seahawks peak against the Saints?
 

The Seahawks will take the long 1 on 1 passes in the rain. Wilson will try and throw the back shoulder fade or go over the top. They will always do this between the 30s. The last 3 games the Hawks had basically 2 kinds of pass plays, 1 on 1 shots, and play action to TEs on the seam. Obviously, there is the outlet to Lynch and bubble screens to WRs, but those are almost like runs.

Seattle does this low-risk high-reward type of passing game. Because of that they end up punting a lot. Fans wish they would add some wrinkles, like a slant, or cross or something. It is shocking to see them throw underneath.

Seattle receivers aren't that special. How do you Saints fans think your corners will hold up in the play action game against Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin, and sometimes Jermaine Kearse? None of them are household names, but they are play makers. If the Saints blitz like last time, it is likely that Wilson will just chuck up the teardrop and hope his receiver can run under it, you remember the last time. Can the Saint corners hold their own?