Seahawks Dump Saints, Jets Boot Colts

Honestly, did you see that one coming? If you're saying you did see the Seattle Seahawks defeating the New Orleans Saints, you're going to have to have some proof because no one will believe you. I am Seahawks fan and I don't believe you.

In my take on this game, I thought two things would be paramount for Seattle to win, the crowd and turnovers. The crowd prodded the Saints into a few illegal motion calls, the norm at Qwest Field, and the turnover margin was 0. Both favored the home team.

Hasselbeck had his best game
of the season against the Saints.
Image: Chad Riley via Flickr

Now, I did not anticipate the Seahawks putting up 41 points against the NFL's 4th rated defense. I also did not foresee QB Matthew Hasselbeck (22-35, 272 yds, 4 TD, INT) having as good a game as I've ever seen him have. I also did not think Marshawn Lynch (19 carries, 131 yds, TD) would be as big a factor. His TD run with 3:22 remaining was the deciding score...and what a run it was.

I did expect Saints QB Drew Brees to have a good game, but going 39-60 for 404 yards with 2 TD was a bit more than I thought. The Saints running game wasn't as much as they needed except for Julius Jones rushing for 2 TD. Reggie Bush sustained an injury and was never a factor. No QB should ever have to heave 60 passes.

But make no mistake about it, the Seahawks offense was the story in this one. If you had told me New Orleans would score 36 points, it wouldn't matter what you would tell me what Seattle would have. No one would guess 41. To put the offensive outburst into perspective, realize this.

The only main offensive stat the Seahawks were not ranked in the league's bottom third for the regular season was in passing. They ranked 19th with almost 209 yards a game. Hasselbeck surpassed that. The Seahawks averaged only 89 yards a contest for the 2010 season. Against the Saints, that number was 149, 60 yards above their average.

For next week, the Seahawks will be on the road either in Atlanta or Chicago. Pete Carroll might be thinking too bad the Qwest Field crowd can't travel with his team.

Then again, you never know. That's why they play the games.

And I can hear it again about Seattle being 7-9 and not only making the playoffs, but hosting a game.

In the nightcap, Rex Ryan and the New York Jets avenged last year's AFC championship game loss with a last second 32 yard field goal by Nick Folk to defeat the defending AFC champs, 17-16. Neither Super Bowl participant from last season will be returning.

This game was not a thriller in the pure sense. In fact, when the Colts scored a go-ahead, 50-yard field goal off the foot of Adam Vinatieri with 53 seconds to go, you thought it was over. There's no way Jets QB Mark Sanchez could lead the Jets back, right? The Jets are a defensive team ,right?

Did we witness the real "Sanchize"?
Image: Ed Yourdon via Flickr

I believed we all witnessed the cool that is Mark Sanchez. The former USC Trojan led the Jets on the game-winning, five play, 40 yard drive in that 53 ticks. Nothing rattled him at all. In fact, the last offensive play before Folk's heroics, Sanchez completed an 18 yard pass to Braylon Edwards.

Edwards did not get out of bounds, yet Sanchez showed composure in getting his offense to the line. It didn't really matter in the end as the Jets still had a timeout, but you want to keep the TO in case something goes awry.

Nothing did. Those that have grown to hate the Jets and Ryan will have another week to deal with the blowhard and his ego. If you're one of those, gear up for next week. Why? The Jets now have to go to New England.

Remember that "rant" Ryan had about Pats QB Tom Brady not studying as hard as Peyton Manning? Again, Ryan's boys must cash a check their coach wrote.

Soon, that check won't be able to be cashed.