Sleepless In Seattle

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We have two fantastic matchups Sunday that are sure to have any football fan excited. While the Broncos were the first team that I took a real interest in back in 2008 when I initially got into football, I have found myself to be a subconsciously bigger Seahawks fan since last year. While Dylan and I had them #1 in our Power Rankings PRE-SEASON, it’s been much more than favorites. Yes, the bandwagon jokes and pokes are sure to come my way, but I just can’t help but love this team.

When Russell Wilson came onto the scene last year, nobody thought he’d be this good. It didn’t exactly help that he was in one of the best rookie classes in history. Like with Nick Foles, I became a big fan of Wilson before all of the accolades and mainstream buzz. Why? Well to begin with, he is undersized and was overlooked by many people. I love an underdog. More than that, I love the guy’s character. He’s a humble, hardworking leader, and extremely smart. He tweets about God, bible verses, and frequently his love for Chipotle. Who doesn’t like that? And while many people are quick to point out that his success is due to walking into a near perfect situation, let’s not forget that having an incredible opportunity and doing something amazing with that opportunity are two completely different things. Wilson did the latter.

DangeRuss has became my favorite athlete, a breath of fresh air in an arena where true role models are less than scarce. And I’m certainly not the only person to notice. It’s no secret that the Seahawks fan base is legendary, not only setting noise records, but also truly passionate and knowledgeable. I don’t just mean about their own team, but about the game as a whole, which always makes for better conversation. As I’ve become more active on Twitter, the majority of football fans I have followed and been followed by are Seahawks fans. They’re just fun, crazy, loud football fans who are interactive all season, and I know we’re all amped headed into Sunday’s showdown with the 49ers.

OK, enough of the mushy stuff. What can we expect from this team? To begin with, it’s obvious that their opponents are the real deal. Love them or hate them, the 49ers are built for deep playoff runs and are more similar to the Seahawks than most other teams, which should make this game very interesting purely on a mind-game level.

Defense wins championships, and both teams have it. What’s intriguing is that both of those defenses don’t just possess, but will also be charged with the duty of stopping a strong, dual-threat QB. While the home crowd is sure to add an advantage, I think Seattle would be a favorite in a neutral setting as well. The Seahawks obviously have the better running game with an elite talent who can’t be stopped, only limited. The Hawks also have a better overall defense. But this game isn’t won on paper. We all know what BeastMode will do, so what else will it take to come away with the W?

X-FACTORS  

DangeRuss- He has had a phenomenal sophomore campaign. The dual-threat QB has put up some monster numbers against some darn good teams, but Harbaugh and his talented defense are sure to have a game plan, especially with the knowledge that comes with having a dual-threat QB of their own.

Richard Sherman- This guy has all the talent in the world, but it’s also no secret that his attitude is less than sparkling. While I still laugh at YouTube videos of his past interview with Skip Bayless, this game is not a joke and he has to maintain his composure. No stupid penalties, no taunting, just shut up and play the kind of elite defense we all know you can. Your team needs you.

Golden Tate- Anyone for maddeningly inconsistent? He’s made a number of ESPN highlight reel catches this season, but like Richard Sherman, it’s a well-known fact that this guy has attitude problems. Unlike Sherman, Tate is not elite at his position, so what’s up with all the taunting penalties? And how about the times where he just seems to pout and disappear when he’s not having a good game? The Hawks need him to step up as a receiver. Play the whole game. Don’t let the previous play affect you. You’re from Notre Dame, which means you’re probably smarter than you’re acting. And if you get the chance, for the love of God…please don’t prance around and drop the ball before you’re in the end zone.

Prediction:

Seahawks 23

49ers 19