Originally published January 18, 2014 at 12:31 AM | Page modified January 18, 2014 at 8:47 PM
RENTON As Pete Carroll met the media four days before the Seahawks played their season opener at Carolina, he excitedly declared the championship season is on.
And every week since, Carroll has used some version of that phrase, often settling on calling each game a championship opportunity, be it Jacksonville in September, St. Louis in October or Tampa Bay in November.
Finally, though, comes a real, true, undisputed championship opportunity as the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at CenturyLink Field with the NFC title and a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII on the line.
Its one, in fact, that might be as big as any championship opportunity in Seattle sports history given the ever-increasing interest in the Seahawks and the heightened intensity of the rivalry with the 49ers.
But the Seahawks insist they will treat the game no differently than they did those against the Jaguars, Rams or Bucs or even as they would a July practice even if the prize for beating the 49ers would be the teams second Super Bowl appearance in 38 years as a franchise.
Its that mentality treating each day, each game, the same as that they say got them here, and the one they say can take them to New Jersey on Feb. 2.
Everybody thinks thats (BS) when we say that, said receiver Doug Baldwin. But its not. We honestly believe when we go into a week that its a brand new week, the most important week of our lives at that point. So it doesnt change.
No doubt, thats easier said than done.
Seattle players, though, say buying into that concept has been critical in going along with everything else Carroll has tried to instill since taking over as coach in 2010.
It sounds good to say, said fullback Michael Robinson. But when you are going through the grind of the National Football League every week, you start to say to yourself, Man, this is not a championship game. But this year, and some last year, you started to really feel it. Every single game had that juice about it, that electricity about it. And that came from us it wasnt the media hyping the game or something like that. It came from us. So I feel like this team is growing up.
Or as linebacker K.J. Wright said of treating Sundays game the same as any other, Its not a factor with us. Weve had hype throughout the whole season. Everybody has been watching us. Its just football to us. We know everybody will be watching and its a big game. But at the same time, weve just got to go do what we do.
Certainly, thats worked well against the 49ers in the past, particularly in Seattle, a formula the Seahawks will try to replicate.
Seattle has beaten the 49ers by a combined 71-16 in the past two games at CenturyLink, including a 29-3 win Sept. 15. Those two wins stand as among the biggest testaments to the power of Seattles home-field advantage, and why winning one more regular-season game than the 49ers Seattle was 13-3 to San Franciscos 12-4 proved so vital.
In each game between the teams in Seattle the past two years, the Seahawks were able to shut down San Franciscos running attack (especially running back Frank Gore, held to a combined 44 yards) and force quarterback Colin Kaepernick to beat them, instead. Kaepernick couldnt do it, particularly in the game earlier this year when he recorded a career-low passer rating of 20.1, throwing a career-high three interceptions.
San Franciscos receiving corps, though, is healthier now, notably with the return of Michael Crabtree.
Offensively, Seattle got Marshawn Lynch going in each home game (a combined 198 yards), which helped set up quarterback Russell Wilson for timely big plays.
Seattle had the second-most rushing attempts in the NFL this year (509) and the 49ers were third (505). They were the bottom two teams in passing attempts (Seattle 420, the 49ers 417).
We know them really well, they know us well, Wright said. Its just going to come down to who wants it the most. Who hits the hardest.
Or as offensive tackle Breno Giacomini put it: They dont do much on defense, so its really just us executing, just targeting right on the runs and the pass, beating your guy.
If the Seahawks do that, then a chance at football immortality awaits. If they get there, then, they say, maybe theyll acknowledge its more than just a regular championship opportunity.
If were fortunate enough to make it to next week, we might sit there and think, Man, weve made it to the big game, said cornerback Richard Sherman. But were not at the big game.
Just one step away.
Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com
Source: http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2022697226_seahawks19xml.html
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