Open Offense and Solid Defense the Key in Hawks 24-0 Shutout Win

Posted by Matt Loede on November 13th, 2007 filed in Game Stories

 

Maybe letting the offense throw more is truly the way for the Hawks to be successful in 2007. That’s at least the case after watching Monday night as the Hawks easily disposed of the San Francisco 49′ers, dumping them 24-0 in a game that had little drama. For the now 5-4 Seahawks, it was their most complete win of the season.

The game showed the new look Seattle offense, as they threw the ball 40 times and opened the game with 11 straight passes to move from their 16 to the 9′ers 6-yard line before they finally attempted a rush with Maurice Morris, who was playing for an injured Shaun Alexander. One play after the rush QB Matt Hasselbeck threw a 1-yard TD to Will Heller for the only score the Hawks would need the entire night.

San Fran’s offense was no match for the Seahawks defense, as they held the 49′ers to 173 total yards, and shut the door on third downs, only allowing San Francisco to convert 1-of-12 third downs the entire night. Time of possession also heavily favored the Hawks, as they held the ball for 39:54 to just 20:06 for the 9′ers. The play of 49′ers QB Alex Smith again appears to be going the other way, as against Seattle he was just 12-for-28 for 114 yards. He was sacked three times, and never mounted much of any sort of threat against Seattle. “This shows how dominant we can be if everyone plays their positions and are in the right place,” Hawks linebacker Julian Peterson said.

Seattle had a lot of soul searching to do this past week, as last Sunday in Cleveland they allowed the Browns 33 points and blew a 15-point lead before falling in overtime. This time once they got the lead they would not let it go, as with Hasselbeck throwing two scores they built a 17-0 halftime lead and then let their defense control the game the rest of the way, and then once the outcome was sealed, they ran the ball for the most part in the second half. Hasselbeck threw for 278 yards total and the Hawks offense put up 380 total yards.

The West leading Hawks will sit at home and prepare for another NFC team coming to town, as they host the Chicago Bears Sunday.