Russell Wilson Elevates Seahawks to Higher Level in NFC While Regaining MVP Form

Not long ago, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had a live-in physical therapist. He would wake up in the middle of the night for intensive round-the-clock treatment on his sprained MCL suffered in Week 3.

That came after an ankle sprain in Week 1, and combined, those early injuries reduced one of the league’s most athletically gifted quarterbacks to an unfamiliar form. He was hobbled and at times a one-legged passer. Wilson was still effective enough, but the Seahawks offense just isn’t the same without a quarterback who invites chaos and then thrives on it.

That Wilson—the one who turns dead plays into six points—has been re-emerging for several weeks now. He opened a door by leading his team to a statement road win over the New England Patriots in Week 10. Then he busted it down Sunday when the Seahawks soundly defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 26-15.

That’s two straight wins over playoff-contending teams, and this one came as Wilson returned to his quarterback magician act.

Like any good entertainer, Wilson seems to know he should spice things up sometimes and give us a different flavor. Observers crave variety, you see, and they yawn when you dazzle with the same wand waves every week.

Wilson, for the eighth time this season, threw zero interceptions and, for the fifth time, averaged over 8.5 yards per pass attempt. But did he do anything new this week?

Why yes, yes he did.

Wilson leaked out to catch a 15-yard touchdown pass from Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin midway through the third quarter. By the end of that period, Wilson's receiving production was still even with all Eagles wide receivers.

The creative connection also resulted in the answer to a future Seahawks trivia question, as Wilson is the team’s first quarterback to record a receiving touchdown. That’s both a quirky info nugget and kind of unfair. Opposing defenses don’t need a new way to get beat by Wilson.

There was no stumble after Wilson threw for a career regular-season high 348 yards in Week 10, not that one should have been expected. Instead Wilson did what’s become common for him: He showed a sense of remarkable calm amid a sometimes crumbling pocket while making throws most others wouldn’t even attempt.

The latter skill is the root of his magician-like qualities. There were a few such throws Sunday, but as is often the case, one in particular stands out as the play that made fans say, "Nooooo, don’t do that!" as he released the ball:

You really can’t stare at that freeze frame long enough while appreciating either its beauty or insanity (I’m still not sure which is more appropriate).

It was 3rd-and-11 at the Eagles’ 35-yard line, and the play had broken down. Wilson was sprinting to the sideline as he escaped pressure. Which is why his momentum is headed in that direction, and nearly all of Wilson’s body is facing away from the play, too.

Look at the line-of-scrimmage marker, and then look at Wilson’s left shoulder. They’re almost directly in line as he whips the ball around behind his head. That maniacal body contortion would have ended in disaster for pretty much anyone else.

But Russell Wilson isn’t anyone else. He’s an MVP-caliber quarterback when fully healthy. So instead of either doom or nothingness and a punt, that throw sailed safely to tight end Jimmy Graham, who then turned it into a 35-yard touchdown.

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Wilson completed five passes for 20-plus yards. Those chunk plays were the difference during what started as a close slugfest between two physical defenses ranked among the top three in points allowed per game.

The Eagles came into Week 11 giving up only 17.8 points per game. Wilson and company soared past that number with ease because of the quarterback's deep-passing precision.

Wilson hooked up with Baldwin and fellow receiver Tyler Lockett on back-to-back long heaves right after his free-wheeling touchdown pass to Graham. Those two throws—a 44-yarder to Baldwin and a 30-yard pass to Lockett—led to a nine-point lead, which was plenty for Seattle’s defense that swarms, suffocates, punishes and then wins.

The Seahawks held an opponent to 15 or fewer points for the fourth time in 2016. They lead the league in average points allowed, which means that suddenly as we round the bend toward Thanksgiving, a 7-2-1 team is rising to another tier atop a muddled NFC.

That’s the Seahawks’ usual late-season perch, and they arrive there through a combination of Wilson's pinpoint tossing, a defense that routinely lowers its backfield boom and an ability to deploy a grinding, hammering running back.

Check marks are scattered all around now. Wilson is healthy, and he has averaged 300.7 passing yards over his last three games after throwing for 272 yards Sunday. He also continues to be the ideal careful quarterback for a defense-oriented team, with only two interceptions on 335 attempts.

For the record, he has Baldwin's MVP vote, per Gregg Bell of the News Tribune:

A shoulder injury to running back C.J. Prosise could sting after head coach Pete Carroll told ESPN’s Adam Schefter "there's a chance he comes back this year … [but] it’s gonna be a while." But any concern about the backfield behind Wilson should fade after Thomas Rawls returned with authority. The second-year running back finished with 88 yards from scrimmage against the Eagles.

All the ingredients are in place for another deep January playoff run, and the Seahawks are solidly in control of the NFC West. The next step? Going stumble free during a schedule that includes a trip to Lambeau Field and three more division games.

If the Seahawks hold serve down the home stretch, they’ll stay on a conference-championship collision course with the Dallas Cowboys. And if that happens, we all win.