Following the Seahawks’ improbable Week 5 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, coach Pete Carroll talked about the play that set up the Seahawks’ unforgettable final drive, the red zone stop on 4th-and-inches.
This defense has a tendency to make crucial plays with the game on the line regardless of prior struggles. Carroll praised them for doing just that with that play.
“It was awesome. A freaking great moment in the game and a great moment in football when you can stop somebody,” Carroll said in his Monday press conference. “And the whole game relies on that foot and a half that they’ve got to make, so we’re going crazy because we know we have a chance to win the game right there.”
On the play, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins handed off to running back Alexander Mattison. Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton pushed the RB’s lead blocker back, and a split second later, Bobby Wagner and Benson Mayowa crashed down on Mattison short of the line of scrimmage for the turnover on downs.
“Our guys kicked down in there and were ready for the sneak and both linebackers – Cody made a great scrape to turn the ball to Bobby – and a phenomenal job by Benson Mayowa when you really dig in to what he had to do and throw his body at that play and made it happen,” Carroll said.
The Seahawks found the perfect way to enter their well-deserved bye week at 5-0 atop the NFC. They will play the Cardinals on the road in Week 7.
