Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has confirmed that star running back Marshawn Lynch aka Beast Mode is ready to roll in this weekend’s wild-card matchup against in the Minnesota Vikings.
“He’s ready to go,”
Beast Mode underwent abdominal surgery on November 25th and hasn’t played since November 15th. In their two previous super bowl runs Marshawn Lynch has been the centerpiece to their offense but in his absence Russell Wilson has taken his game to greater heights. With Carroll proclaiming that Lynch should be able to handle a full load, it will be interesting to see who the Seahawks intend to feature, Wilson or Lynch.
Traditionally it is a necessity to have a punishing running game to succeed in the playoffs and that has also been the calling card for the two previous Seahawks super bowl teams. As the 6th seed the Seahawks will not have the advantage of playing at home in front of the rabid hometown fans known as the “12.” The Seahawks will have to travel first to Minnesota and if they win, Carolina, and then possibly Arizona. Being able to run the ball and stop the run are the main ingredients to the recipe for quelling a home crowd. According to NFL.com the Seahawks are the number one rated defensive team against the run and the number three rated offensive team in rushing. With Beast Mode coming back you could make the argument that the 6th seed Seahawks are the most dangerous team in the NFC.
I don’t like to make predictions but both Arizona and Carolina went into Seattle and beat the Seahawks. The Panthers 15-1 record is no fluke. They have a punishing defense and the likely NFL MVP under center. If the Panthers and Seahawks meet in the divisional round my gut tells me that the Seahawks will win because they have the pedigree of two super bowl runs and one championship under their belts. But my heart tells me to trust in Cam because he has shown the ability to lead a team to the promised land as he did with the 2010 Auburn Tigers. And to be honest, I want to see him dab his way to the super bowl.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The Seahawks still have to get by the best running back of this era in Adrian Peterson and Minnesota Vikings. This is shaking up to be an exciting wild-card weekend. Get your popcorn ready!