Page 19 - Aruba Today
P. 19
SPORTS A19
Thursday 24 December 2015
Seahawks look to avenge opening week loss to the Rams
JEFF MEZYDLO With Marshawn Lynch set Seattle Seahawks’ Derrick Coleman runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns in the first half
Associated Press to miss a sixth consecutive of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Seattle. The Seattle Seahawks have come a
(AP) - The Seattle Seahawks game because of an ab- long way since opening with a loss to the St. Louis Rams, and they are looking to avenge that loss
have come a long way dominal injury and Thomas this Sunday.
since opening with a loss to Rawls done with a broken
the St. Louis Rams. ankle, Christine Michael (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
With a wild-card spot se- ran 16 times for 84 yards
cured, the Seahawks don’t in last Sunday’s 30-13 win
expect to let up while try- over Cleveland.
ing to win a sixth straight ‘’He cherishes this oppor-
contest and continue their tunity more than he ever
home dominance of the has,” Carroll said of Mi-
Rams on Sunday. chael, whom Seattle trad-
Seattle (9-5) fell 34-31 in ed to Dallas in September
overtime at St. Louis and and re-signed after he was
dropped to 0-2 with a released by Washington
10-point loss at Green Bay. last week.
The Seahawks sat 2-4 be- Paced by a run game that’s
fore winning seven of eight averaged 166.6 yards dur-
to secure a fourth consec- ing the five-game winning
utive playoff trip. streak, Seattle has put up
‘’I think you have to stay 33.8 points per game over
with what you know and the last six. The Rams (6-8)
stay the course and make have allowed an average
it work out for you,’’ coach of 23.0 points to go 1-5 on
Pete Carroll said. ‘’That the road compared to 19.5
doesn’t mean you don’t while going 5-3 at home.
adapt. You’re always ad- The Seahawks have held
justing and adapting. But two of their last three home
the main themes that you opponents to 13 points.
live by, you need to stay St. Louis, which scored a
true to it.’’ season high against the
That means continuing to Seahawks, recorded 24 or
play at a high level though more points four times at
Arizona has clinched the home. The Rams totaled 52
NFC West and the Se- while beating Detroit and
ahawks are locked into a Tampa Bay over the last
wild-card position. Seattle two weeks in what could
owns the fifth seed based be their final games in St.
on its tiebreaker over Min- Louis if a relocation plan to
nesota (9-5). Los Angeles is approved by
“I really don’t believe that the league owners.
you should ask players However, they’ve aver-
to take a break,” Carroll aged 13.7 points on the
told the Seahawks’ official road and 10.4 during a 10-
website. “I think they’ve game skid at Seattle that
got to go. If we decide not dates to a 33-27 overtime
to play guys for a different win Oct. 10, 2004.
reason, that could hap- “We know who they are.
pen. That’s not going to be They know who we are,”
because we’re going to Rams offensive coordina-
take a step off of the gas tor Rob Boras said. “It just
pedal right now.” comes down to us doing
It doesn’t appear Carroll what we do better than
will reign in Russell Wilson or they do what they do. They
Doug Baldwin. haven’t changed a whole
Wilson is the first quarter- lot (since Week 1).”
back in league history to Seattle didn’t face Todd
throw at least three touch- Gurley in that contest and
down passes - 19 total - now gets a look at the tal-
and no interceptions in five ented back who became
straight games. Baldwin the first Rams rookie since
has 10 TD receptions over Jerome Bettis in 1993 to
a four-game span, joining rush for 1,000 yards (1,023)
Jerry Rice as the only play- despite being held to 48
ers to accomplish that feat. on 21 carries in last Thurs-
‘’It’s really been great to day’s 31-23 win over the
watch and everybody has Buccaneers. The Seahawks
enjoyed the heck out of it, have held their last five op-
and everybody’s play has ponents to an average of
been elevated by it,” Car- 54.0 rushing yards.q
roll said. “It takes every-
body to do things like that.”
