Momentum. It's a funny thing. In sports, momentum can often trump talent. It serves as a intangible force that drives a team to victories and performances that didn't seem possible just weeks earlier. The Seattle Seahawks look to build momentum off last week's blowout of division rival San Francisco 49ers when they fly into Denver this weekend.
The Denver Broncos know first hand what momentum can do for your team. Coming into last season the Broncos were in flux. Long time head coach Mike Shanahan retired and was replaced by rookie head coach Josh McDaniels. Their budding quarterback, Jay Cutler was traded and they were starting a rookie at runningback. The Broncos defense was full of unknown players with no real identity. Needless to say, the Broncos were not picked to win the AFC West.
But a funny thing happened. They won their first game in dramatic fashion on a deflected pass that landed in the right receiver's hands and he dashed for a game winning touchdown with time expiring.
Denver built off that crazy win by dominating their next two games in which they only allowed nine points total. The defense was rolling and the team's confidence was a mile-high in Denver. The Broncos entered their week 7 bye with a 6-0 record. Pretty amazing considering their preseason outlook.
Seattle has momentum and confidence entering this Sunday's battle with their old AFC West division foe. The Seahawks need to replicate their high energy performance from last week to keep this intangible monster unleashed on the unsuspecting NFL.
The key to the Seahawks win last week was their ability to wrap up on every tackle and fly to the ball on every snap. The performance against the 49ers was exciting for Seattle fans because they showed so much of the intensity that last year's team lacked.
That passion was ignited by head coach Pete Carroll, a man who doesn't know the meaning of indifferent. Carroll will do everything he can to raise his players to his heightened energetic level.
Carroll was so visibly fired up after each defensive stop and offensive score that I got chills watching from home. You see, there is an difference between a positive, player friendly coach and a professional motivator, player friendly coach.
Carroll demands accountability from his players. He won't let his men slouch or play any other way but full-throttle. Carroll has proved that by cutting and trading half of last year's roster.
The Broncos are coming off an opening week loss to the hapless Jaguars and once again look mediocre. But as the Broncos proved before, looks can be deceiving. Led by 'average Joe' quarterback, Kyle Orton, the Broncos feature a balanced offense with an above average defense.
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck proved to the critics that he has some gas left in the tank by throwing two touchdowns and scrambling for another. Hasselbeck will need to keep his team focused on the field this Sunday because the Seahawks typically do not play well on the road. A couple early Seahawk defensive stops will calm the schziophrenic offense.
Both the Seahawks and Broncos enter week two trying to assert themselves and find an identity.
They stack up pretty evenly on paper; except for one thing, momentum.
No comments:
Post a Comment