Die Saalfelds » On Sunday night the Seattle Seahawks host the Kansas City

Chiefs Patrick Kerney Color Rush Jersey , with playoff implications at stake for both teams. The Chiefs bring their high powered offense and a defense that is, simply put, not good. Specifically, the Kansas City defense ranks28th in points allowed, 31st in yards allowed, 25th in yards per play, 32nd in passing yards allowed, 26th in rushing yards allowed, 29th in opponent scoring drive percentage and32nd in defensive penalties. Basically, their defense is about as bad as their offense is good. As such, there is the distinct possibility that several members of the Seahawks could finish tonight having surpassed personal milestones for production, so here are some things to watch for during the game. 87Seahawks running back Chris Carson currently sits at 913 rushing yards on the season, meaning he is just 87 yards away from reaching 1,000 yards on the season. Reaching that threshold would make Carson the first Hawk to reach that level since Marshawn Lynch in 2014, and the first member of the team not named Lynch to reach 1,000 yards in a season during Pete Carroll’s tenure. Carson already holds the title of most yards by a Seahawks running back other than Lynch under Carroll, and only five running backs in franchise history have surpassed 1,000 yards in a single season. Those five areShaun Alexander (5 times)Marshawn Lynch (4 times)Chris Warren (4 times)Curt Warner (4 times)Ricky Watters (3 times)That’s not a bad list of names that Carson could join this week or next. 200While Carson sits just 87 yards away from 1,000 yards rushing, Tyler Lockett is just 200 yards away from a thousand yards receiving on the season after having been given a contract extension this past summer. Lockett has stepped up his game in the face of Paul Richardson leaving for the Washington Redskins, Jimmy Graham taking his lack of production to the Green Bay Packers and Doug Baldwin not playing nearly as much this year due to injuries. The reward for Lockett has been the best season of his career by far, and he is within striking distance of becoming just the second Hawks receiver since 2010 to gain 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. 11Russell Wilson currently sits with just 6 interceptions on the season, with an interception rate of just 1.5915%. Eleven more pass attempts without an interception would put his interception rate at just 1.5464%, which would be better than the 1.5486% he posted in 2014. 3First, for the good: Wilson needs just three more touchdown passes to tie the career high of 34 he set in both 2017 and 2015. The Chiefs allow an average of1.93 touchdown passes a game, so there’s definitely hope that Wilson can match, or exceed his career high during Week 16. Now for the bad: Wilson is just three sacks away from tying his career high of 45 sacks. If he reaches that career high, he will likely reach his career high in sack yards, as he is just 27 yards short of tying that as well. 2,833If that number seems big, it is. Take for a moment and think back to Week 3 of the 2016 season. Trent Baalke was still the General Manager for the San Francisco 49ers Germain Ifedi Color Rush Jersey , Chip Kelly was still the head coach and the Seahawks obliterated the Blaine Gabbert led 49ers 37-18 behind a career high 106 rushing yards and 2 TDs from Christine Michael. That was the game in which Wilson injured his knee, which limited his mobility for much of the 2016 campaign. In the fourth quarter, with just thirteen seconds to go in the game, Trevone Boykin took the snap and took a knee for a two yard loss to run out the clock. Seems like forever ago, doesn’t it? In football terms it was. The significance of that game to the matchup against the Chiefs may not be readily apparent to most, but it is quite simple. That kneel down by Boykin to end the game was the last time the Hawks ran an offensive play during the regular season without Germain Ifedi on the field. Since he took over at right guard for J’Marcus Webb in Week 4, and then moved out to right tackle in 2017, Ifedi has been on the field for every single snap that the Seahawks have run. That’s quite a feat, however, with a groin injury making Ifedi a gametime decision for Week 16, the Hawks could be looking at having a third string right guard lining up next to the second string right tackle. If that proves to be the case, don’t be surprised if we spend a lot of the night listening to the announcers calling, “Chris Carson to the left” on repeat. 4.5Frank Clark already has the most sacks in a single season by a player since Carroll became head coach. Four and a half sacks in two weeks is certainly a tall order, however, making a dent in that number against the Chiefs could put Clark in position to have an outside shot at getting the record against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17. The Cardinals beleaguered offensive line is ranked dead last in the NFL for Pass Blocking Efficiency by PFF, and has allowed 14 sacks over the last four games. The Arizona line is currently comprised of LT Korey Cunningham, a 2018 7th round draft choice, LG Colby Gossett, a 2018 6th round draft choice,C Mason Cole, a 2018 3rd round draft choice, RG Oday Aboushi, who Seahawks fans are familiar with andRT Joe Barksdale, who was cut by the Los Angeles Chargers on December 3 this season. In short, the Arizona offensive line is beat up and missing most of the players who they had expected to be on the field for the team this season. Specifically, here’s a rundown of the players they expected to start this year: LT D.J. Humphries: on IR with an undisclosed knee injury suffered in Week 10,LG Mike Iupati: on IR with an MCL injury suffered in Week 13,C A.Q. Shipley: on IR with a torn ACL suffered during the preseason,RG Justin Pugh: on IR with a torn MCL in Week 10 andRT Andre Smith: cut after the Cardinals 45-10 loss to the Chargers in Week 12.Basically, what I’m trying to say is that no matter how rough the Hawks injury luck has been in recent weeks on the right side of the offensive line, things could be worse, and worse is what the Cardinals offensive line looks like. In any case Marshawn Lynch Color Rush Jersey , that horrible injury luck for the Cards is what could give Clark a glimmer of hope in setting the single season franchise record for sacks in Week 17 if he can come up with a sack or two against the Chiefs in Week 16. The Associated Press will hand out its individual NFL awards on the night before the Super Bowl in Atlanta. Until then, here are some off-the-beaten track honors to consider:BEST GAME: Eagles 32, Texans 30. Aside from the meaning for both teams — the defending champs desperately trying to find a way into the postseason, the visitors seeking an AFC South title and to hold onto a wild-card bye — it was a tremendously dramatic, well-played Week 16 contest with twists and turns galore.And it ended on a last-second winning field goal by one of Philly’s heroes from last season, Jake Elliott.Runners-up: Chargers 29, Chiefs 28 in Week 15 — too many flying flags to make it a classic; Rams 54, Chiefs 51 in Week 11 for anyone who likes video-game shootouts; Cowboys 13, Saints 10 in Week 13, if your tastes tend toward defense.WORST GAME: Go all the way back to the season opener for Miami’s 27-20 victory over Tennessee in, yawn, the longest game ever played. Two weather delays not only stretched out the day, it also led to CBS going in and out of the telecast. At least it featured a tiebreaking 102-yard kickoff return by Jakeem Grant. The game took 7 hours, 8 minutes.Runners-up: Lots of Cardinals games, maybe their 17-3 loss to Detroit the worst; a Thursday night 6-0 win for Jacksonville over Indianapolis in Week 14 marked not so much by stingy defense as inept offense.BEST GAME SCENE: When Drew Brees became the NFL’s all-time leader in yards passing — with a 62-yard TD throw to rookie Tre’Quan Smith in Week 5 — officials stopped the game at the Superdome and the game ball was handed to Pro Football Hall of Fame officials on the sideline while the crowd offered a loud and loving ovation. Brees removed his helmet, held out his arm to salute the crowd and hugged his wife, Brittany, and children on the sideline.“I love you guys so much,” Brees said while hugging his three boys as Brittany held their daughter nearby. “You can accomplish anything in life if you’re willing to work for it.”BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR: No surprise here, except perhaps to the Patriots trying to defend Miami’s final-seconds play in Week 14. Ryan Tannehill threw a 14-yard pass to Kenny Stills, who lateraled to DeVante Parker, who quickly lateraled to Kenyan Drake along the sideline. He cut toward the middle and found a seam, helped by a block from guard Ted Larsen at the 30. Drake beat two Patriots to the corner of the end zone — defensive back J.C. Jackson and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was on the field as part of New England’s prevent defense. Touchdown, and a 34-33 victory.“I mean, honestly, I’m sitting before you all and I still don’t believe it,” Drake said during interviews after the improbable conclusion sent New England to its fifth loss in the past six visits to South Florida. “I just saw it was Gronk in front of me and I was just like, ‘Look, I’ve got somewhere to be.’ So I had to get in the end zone.”Runners-up: Hard to find anything close to that. Try Derrick Henry’s 99-yard TD run for Tennessee against Jacksonville, also in Week 14, to tie the NFL record set by Tony Dorsett in 1983. Or Donte Jackson’s pick-2 in which he intercepted Brees’ 2-point conversion pass and sped 100 yards the other way to give Carolina the deuce in Week 15. Or Dwayne Harris‘ 99-yard punt return in Oakland’s Week 16 win over Denver.WORST PLAY OF THE YEAR: The Lions let Seattle rookie punter Michael Dickson run for a first down when he actually was trying to take an intentional safety in the Seahawks‘ 28-14 victory in Week 8.Dickson took the snap in his end zone and was supposed to give up the safety Earl Thomas III Color Rush Jersey , but Detroit reacted so poorly that after drifting across the back of the end zone, Dickson figured he had a chance for a first down and took off running, gaining 9 yards. Mission accomplished.Runners-up: Roughing-the-passer call on Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews when he made a textbook sack of Alex Smith in Week 3. Officials soon backed off on the overemphasis on such mistaken flags.As part of an outstanding play, when San Francisco’s Richie James Jr. returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in Week 15, Seattle kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s feeble (to be kind) attempt to make a play.BEST CELEBRATION: Just allowing more intricate and creative celebrations was a positive. And positively the best of a strong group, individually, was Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill catching a TD pass against Arizona in Week 10, then jumping into the stands to operate the CBS TV camera.The group trophy goes to the Vikings for their limbo dance , using Adam Thielen as the bar, in a Week 12 victory against Green Bay.BEST COACHING MOVE: The gutsiest calls usually wind up as the best — or worst — coaching moves. What Anthony Lynn did at the end of the Chargers’ visit to Kansas City in a pivotal Week 15 game stamped LA as a championship-caliber squad. Trailing 28-27, he ordered a 2-point conversion try with 4 seconds remaining. In other words, do or die. And the play worked so stunningly well that Mike Williams was absolutely uncovered in the end zone.Runners-up: Any team that eschews the prevent defense late in a game; Pete Carroll emphasizing old-time football, defense and the run game, to complement Russell Wilson’s brilliant quarterbacking.WORST COACHING MOVE: Some critics will say anything Jon Gruden tried in his return to the NFL with Oakland. We’ll stick with trading away Khalil Mack and then Amari Cooper, sending the Raiders spiraling down the Black Hole.Runners-up: Bill Belichick using Gronkowski at safety to defend a Hail Mary pass that never figured to happen; Hue Jackson keeping Baker Mayfield on the bench to begin the Browns season.MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (OFFENSE): We’re looking for guys who played enough in 2017 to be able to judge their improvement in 2018. So a Patrick Mahomes doesn’t quite fit after one game last season. But Steelers RB James Conner, placed in such a difficult situation replacing holdout Le’Veon Bell, is the right choice.Runners-up: Bengals RB Joe Mixon and WR Tyler Boyd; Seahawks RB Chris Carson; 49ers TE George Kittle; Giants K Aldrick Rosas; Lions WR Kenny Golladay; Colts RB Marlon Mack; Rams G Austin Blythe.MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (DEFENSE): Kansas City DT Chris Jones has become a sacks machine, force against the run, and one of the few Chiefs earning his keep all season on defense. He’s not quite at the Aaron Donald level, but he’s getting closer.Runners-up: Jets S Jamal Adams; Seahawks DT Jarran Reed; Saints DT Sheldon Rankins; Rams LB Cory Littleton; Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith; Bills LB Matt Milano; Falcons S Domantae Kazee.BEST PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER: Close your eyes and listen to a game being done by Kevin Harlan of CBS on television, Westwood One on radio. You get a description like none other on the airwaves, so much so that you needn’t be watching to have a clear vision of the action. Explanatory, passionate and humorous, Harlan is simply the best.Runners-up: Mike Tirico — sure he does limited games for NBC, but he’s elite and deserves more; Ian Eagle (CBS); Kenny Albert (Fox); Kevin Kugler (Westwood One).BEST ANALYST: We recognize that 2002 NFL Most Valuable Player Rich Gannon partners with Harlan on Sunday afternoons, which no doubt raises his level of performance. Not that Gannon needs the help. No one gives a better breakdown of what’s happening and why, who is deserving credit and who gets blame, and what game situations call for. Another MVP showing for the former quarterback.Runners-up: Troy Aikman has had a very strong season on Fox with his frank and fair appraisals and criticisms; James Lofton, Dan Fouts and newcomer Bruce Arians (all CBS); Kurt Warner (Westwood One).