Monday night, the winless Lions were one foot from taking what likely would have been a four-point lead in the final 1:51 of the game when — and this word has never been more appropriate — BAM! Chancellor knocked the ball out of Calvin Johnson’s hand to preserve Seattle’s win.
Just took a straw poll: Kam Chancellor is forgiven.
The man who infamously held out is now the reason the Seahawks held on.
Monday night, the winless Lions were one foot from taking what likely would have been a four-point lead in the final 1:51 of the game when — and this word has never been more appropriate — BAM! Chancellor knocked the ball out of Calvin Johnson’s hand to preserve Seattle’s win.
For four weeks during training camp, Chancellor watched his reputation morph from darling to deserter. For two weeks during the regular season, the soul of the defense was looking out solely for himself.
Fans were fuming. The Seahawks were losing. It would take something huge to sway public opinion Kam’s way.
And then, well — then Monday night happened.
“Big-time player making a big-time play,” said Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin after his team’s 13-10 win.
“Just a great play by Kam,” added cornerback Richard Sherman.
And then there was defensive end Michael Bennett, who video-bombed Chancellor’s postgame interview and screamed “pay the man!”
No, we’re not going to make this about money, but it doesn’t seem as though Chancellor’s value could spike much higher. Ever since he returned to the lineup two Sundays ago against the Bears, the Seahawks’ defense has given up just three points.
Say what you will about Seattle’s strength of schedule over that two-game stretch. Yes, the Bears and Lions have combined for just one win this season.
But any time a defense allows no more than a field goal during an eight-quarter span in the NFL — sorry, but it deserves a five-star review.
“This was an incredible night of playing defense,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
Damn right it was.
Forget about the mere 203 passing yards posted by Lions quarterback Matt Stafford — who threw for more than 5,000 last year. Disregard the modest 56 receiving yards Calvin Johnson put up, or Detroit’s 53 net rushing yards.
Sure, those numbers are paltry. Those are shut-down statistics regardless of circumstance. But when you consider the burden the Seahawks’ offense and special teams repeatedly put on the defense — Monday’s performance goes from superb to supernatural.
First, there was Tyler Lockett’s muffed punt in the third quarter that gave the Lions the ball on the Seahawks’ 46. Three plays and minus-4 yards later, Detroit punted it away.
Then, there was Russell Wilson’s fumble in the fourth quarter that gave the Lions the ball on their own 45. Three plays and 1 yard later, Detroit punted it away.
Finally, there was Wilson’s mid-fourth-quarter fumble that the Lions returned for a touchdown to cut the lead to three. And after Seattle went three-and-out on the ensuing series, Detroit suddenly had a chance to win a game the Seahawks’ defense thought it had long put away.
But win they would not. Not on Monday, they wouldn’t.
No, at the end of the Lions’ best drive, Seattle made the biggest play. Chancellor — who laid bruising hits on Johnson for four quarters — caused one of the NFL’s best receivers to lose the ball and force a touchback.
Yes, linebacker K.J. Wright illegally smacked the ball out of the end zone, a non-reviewable play, but that was beside the point. Chancellor had technically come back to the Seahawks a week and a half earlier, but Monday? That marked his official return.
“Watching my team play, I knew I could be a factor,” Chancellor said postgame, thereby delivering the understatement of the evening. “We fight till it’s over. We fight till the clock says zero.”
The Seahawks couldn’t have walked away from Monday night’s game thinking many of their problems had been solved. Their offensive line is still feeble. Their quarterback still seems to have a proclivity for turnovers. And with Marshawn Lynch banged up, their running game is still one giant, glistening question mark.
But it pales in comparison to the exclamation point that is the defense.
There will still be 12s who are reluctant to embrace Kam Chancellor. And hey, perhaps they have the right.
Most fans will tell you, though: It’s pretty easy to forgive a man who gives you a moment you won’t forget.
| Defense is trending the right way | ||
| Seattle’s defense has clamped down the last two games, both victories. Here’s total net yards and points allowed by the Seahawks’ defense in each game this season (Note: The Rams scored a special-teams touchdown and the Lions scored a touchdown on a fumble return). | ||
| Opponent | Total net yards | Points allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | 352 | 27 |
| Packers | 361 | 27 |
| Bears | 146 | 0 |
| Lions | 256 | 3 |