Sun. Dec. 23, 2012
Big games call for big performances. And when the lights shine down on the field during any championship game, it is often times the last person you would think of that steps up to win the big game. Mike Jones. Adam Vinatieri. David Tyree. And now another player performance when the stakes are the highest will go into the record books: the Seattle Defense in Will Carter Bowl VI.
Losing 90.08-84 with only the Sunday night game to go, Tim put everything on the line (an 11-3 regular season record, wins in 12 of his last 13 games, and a Will Carter Bowl VI championship) with the Seattle D in a home match-up with the San Francisco 49ers. Not only did the Seattle D need to make up the deficit created by the early games, but they also had to hold off San Francisco’s Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree, who had combined for 40.4 points the week before for Mike. Before the night game even began, Tim seemed to be giving up all hope. Instead of laying down some confidence in the smack talk box, Tim stated “Yup. I’m fucked. Congrats Mike.” Little did Tim know that he was about to be given the greatest Christmas present of all-time two days early.
And with the odds stacked against Tim, the Seattle D came out fighting. Allowing no points in the first quarter, the Seattle group made one of the biggest plays of the game three plays into the second quarter. Seahawks DT Red Bryant blocked a 21 yard David Akers FG, and the loose ball was picked up by Richard Sherman, who returned the blocked kick 90 yards for a touchdown. Allowing only 13 points and racking up an INT, fumble recovery, blocked kick, defensive touchdown, and one sack while holding Gore to just 28 yards rushing and Crabtree to only 65 yards receiving, the 17 point performance by the mighty Seahawks D was enough for Tim to pull off the improbable; a 101-98.38 Will Carter Bowl VI victory.
Though Calvin Johnson would later be named MVP for his 20+ point performance, the Seattle D was the role player that made Tim’s championship dreams become reality.