The Obstructed NFC Divisional Playoff Preview: Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons
We are now two weeks of football away from finding the Super Bowl participants. And this week is an interesting one as we have rematches from the regular season. The first one is the Seahawks and Falcons as earlier this year, Seattle edged Atlanta in the land of the 12th Man. The Seahawks got off to an early lead, held Atlanta's run game in check and it looked like it was smooth sails. However, Atlanta stormed back to take a 2nd half lead and nearly won the game, but a late deflected pass to interception allowed Seattle to take the lead, which they held controversially on what many believed was a blatant pass interference call that went uncalled, thus continuing the whole moniker that "Seattle gets all the calls, especially in Seattle." Well, the good news for Falcons fans is that the Seahawks are in the Georgia Dome this weekend.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ ATLANTA FALCONS, 4:35, FOX
SEATTLE WINS IF
Devonta Freeman only had 40 yards rushing in Seattle.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
1. THEY KEEP THE FALCONS ONE-DIMENSIONAL: That's what happened the first time these two teams met. The Falcons, who had one of the best offenses in NFL history this year, struggled to move the ball on the ground. Atlanta only had 53 yards total rushing in Seattle, which contributed to Atlanta's slow start. Granted, Atlanta's offense is strong enough to be one-dimensional, if behind, but it also means if the Falcons have a late lead and are unable to move the ball on the ground they can put themselves in position to win the game late.
Atlanta has issues putting teams away in 2016.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
2. KEEP THE GAME CLOSE: Atlanta's struggles in the 4th quarter this year have cost them at least 3 games as they either blew leads to the Seahawks, Chargers, or had a chance to take the lead and beat the Chiefs before they lost it. They have an inability to put games away as even shown against the Saints in Week 17, the Broncos & Raiders earlier this year, and such. A part of it is their young defense. Sometimes it feels like the team gets too comfortable with their lead and sit on it, thus costing Atlanta's easy wins to become nailbiters or in certain cases, losses. If Seattle keeps it close, the bigger advantage goes to the Seahawks.
The Falcons did not get a whole lot of pressure on Wilson in the first meeting.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
3. PROTECT WILSON: Seattle has had an issue keeping Wilson upright this year, being sacked 41 times and he is facing Vic Beasley, the NFL sack champion of 2016. That does not bode well. Part of it is Russell likes to keep plays alive and stay on his feet, but I am not sure if you can do it to the Falcons. The good news however was Seattle only allowed 1 sack to Atlanta in the first meeting. But if Seattle cannot keep Wilson upright, the Seahawks can be in for a long game in Atlanta.
Ryan's MVP caliber season has been aided in the fact of being able to throw the ball with time.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
4. MAKE MATT RYAN UNCOMFORTABLE: Ryan will get his numbers mostly. 280 yards, 2 TD is about the norm. But the Seahawks have to make sure that the completion rate is not too high and get enough pressure for Ryan to get into happy feet mode. Even Ryan this year has had moments where he has been pressured at times and made some bad throws. If they do that, Seattle has a good chance of winning this.
Taylor Gabriel has been a key factor in Atlanta's strong finish of the 2016 season.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
5. TAKE AWAY RYAN'S WEAPONS NOT NAMED JULIO JONES: Julio is definitely a top 5 WR in this game and you're not going to fully stop him. That said, when Atlanta was without Julio they had two incredibly strong offensive games in his absence, including a game where the Falcons put up 500+ yards of passing. Granted it was San Francisco they played, but still impressive nonetheless. But it is the other guys, the Taylor Gabriels, Mohamed Sanus, and the Justin Hardys that have gotten in on the action, as well as Freeman and Tevin Coleman. That is where Seattle's problem lies is trying to stop all of these weapons as well as stopping the run.
Seattle will need Rawls in order to beat Atlanta.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
6. NOT PLAY SHOOTOUT WITH THE FALCONS: Yes, Atlanta is near dead last in passing defense, but don't let it fool you. Some of those yards have been when the Falcons have been well ahead, but even when it is "close," Atlanta is an offense built for shootouts. Seattle's offense isn't. They have to run the ball and keep Ryan & Co. on the sideline.
ATLANTA WINS IF:
Devonta Freeman is a key guy in Atlanta's fast starts.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
1. GETS OFF TO A FAST START: Atlanta is a team that needs that rhythm early on and put up a lot of points early to dictate the rest of the game. Yes, they don't close out games like they should, which could be their downfall in these playoffs, but if they jump out to a 14-0, 17-0, 21-0 lead by the half, I don't see Seattle's offense really coming back and playing shootout with the Falcons.
Even Detroit had some success getting to Wilson in the Wild Card game.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2. ATTACK WILSON ALL GAME: Normally I am not one to think this is the best of ideas with a running quarterback like Wilson, but he seems like he gets too happy and tries to do too much now, which can be Atlanta's advantage. If Atlanta can pressure him constantly, the passing game of the Seahawks will be hurt badly. And they cannot let up, which has been a problem this whole season. If they can get 3 or 4 sacks, they will probably be big loss sacks which will be huge as well and possibly turn the tide for the Falcons offense with field position.
Tevin Coleman is somebody the Seahawks also have to keep an eye on.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
3. FREEMAN AND COLEMAN HAVE BIG GAMES: Well, I don't think both will get 100 yards each, but if Freeman finds holes and gets big runs while Coleman has those homerun plays, Seattle will be in big trouble. And remember, the Seahawks have no Earl Thomas, which has been somewhat exposed in the defense. This could actually happen so Atlanta needs to really establish the run game big time.
Atlanta has shown they can move the ball on Seattle's defense time after time.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
4. CHALLENGE THE LEGION OF BOOM: Sounds funny with that group, but Atlanta is one of the few teams that has generated success against Seattle's defense over the years, dating back to the last playoff meeting in 2012. Seattle isn't a team that really likes to face those big, physical wideouts and really physical offenses. If Atlanta punches them in the mouth, Seattle MIGHT self-destruct.
MY PREDICTION: One thing I didn't hit was Seattle's struggles away from CenturyLink Field as they were 3-4-1. That said, Atlanta was only 5-3 at the final season in the Georgia Dome. But to me, making a trip from the west to the east is more problematic. I think Seattle will have issues all game and the loss of Earl Thomas does not help, especially with a team like Atlanta. I think the Falcons get off to a strong start and keep Seattle at bay for the first half and I do think Freeman will have a far better game compared to the last time these two teams met. On the flip-side, I think Atlanta does enough to keep Wilson out of sorts for a half. But it will be the second half that will decide it though as I think Atlanta will make just enough plays to fend off any Seattle comeback, thus being the second team from the state of Washington to have their season end in the Georgia Dome in 2 weeks. FALCONS 31, SEAHAWKS 20
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
