Play Like Eleven

Here’s my request on this once-a-century date consisting entirely of elevens. Instead of relying on the 12th Man to make life difficult for the fearsome Baltimore Ravens when they battle us in Seattle on Sunday, how about if the Seahawks play like they have the allotted eleven players on the field for the whole game? In stumbling to a 2 and 6 mark so far this season, the Seahawks have seemed outnumbered at times. How else to account for a lack of offense in the first half all year, big yardage given up by the special teams in the Cincinnati game, and a takeway/giveway count of -5? There’s no penalty in the rule book for playing like ten; if there were, we might get one.

The idea of the 12th Man didn’t originate in Seattle, but the Seahawks benefit from it. When they are really into making noise, Seahawks fans (the 12th Man) are loud enough to totally disrupt the visiting team’s snap count, rhythm, and communication. In past seasons Century Link (formerly Qwest) Field has been one of the NFL’s most difficult venues to play in—let alone win in—for road teams. But not this year (so far anyway) as the Seahawks are 1 and 2 at home. Simple plan for Sunday: suit everyone up who is healthy, substitute a lot, and get all eleven players involved in every play beginning with the opening kickoff. That’s what the Ravens will be doing.