Our Seahawks defense didn’t just play well in Week 7, they absolutely stifled Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker, a performance that should have the rest of the league sitting up and taking notes.
Seattle’s Defense Flexes Its Muscle
Seriously, how good was that? Shutting down *the* Patrick Mahomes? And slowing down a player like Kenneth Walker? That’s the kind of statement win that tells you this defense under Coach Macdonald is for real. They came out, did their job, and sent a clear message. When our D is playing like that, you just know we’re going to be in every single game. The 12s at Lumen Field have got to be pumped about what we’re seeing.
The 49ers Are Missing Their North Star
Meanwhile, down south, our rivals in San Francisco? They took a 29-20 L in Atlanta, and it knocked them right back into the pack in the NFC. Why? Because Mike Evans, their absolute go-to guy, was out. This was their first game without him, and man, did it show.
Evans wasn’t just *a* receiver for them, he was their North Star in the passing game. He was literally moving the chains on third down more than the rest of the team combined: 11 times in the first six games, compared to just 10 from everyone else. Against the Falcons, Purdy and the Niners managed only two third-down receptions for first downs, both to George Kittle early in the first quarter. Purdy’s third down numbers were brutal: 3-of-7 for 23 yards, a pick, and a pathetic 11.9 passer rating. The dude looked lost without him.
You saw it on critical plays. Take that third-and-17 in the second quarter. They needed a decent gain to get into field goal range. Purdy had Brandin Cooks, Evans’ stand-in, isolated with a clear crease for a deep in-breaker, but he never even looked his way. He took a two-yard checkdown instead! We’ve seen Purdy throw that exact route to Evans with blind faith all season long. If number 5 is running that route, that ball is getting chucked, no doubt.
Then late in the game, fourth-and-10, rally on the line. Atlanta showed blitz and sent six guys. Purdy had Cooks one-on-one with A.J. Terrell. If that’s Evans versus Terrell, Purdy takes that matchup every single time. But with Cooks out there, Purdy didn’t even glance his way. He dropped his eyes, got pressured, ran himself into a dead end of pass rushers, and took the sack. Rally snuffed out. This was the toughest test Purdy has faced all year, coming into the game with a league-low 71 dropbacks on high pass probability plays. He just couldn’t handle the heat without his main guy.
So, what does this Week 7 tell us? It tells us our Seahawks defense is a force to be reckoned with, capable of shutting down the best in the league. And it tells us that our rivals, the 49ers, are in some deep trouble if they can’t figure out how to function without their top receiver. For us, it’s about building on this defensive dominance and keeping that momentum rolling. Let’s keep that Emerald City energy high, 12s, because this team is showing us something special.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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