Different Game Plan in Seattle
Can the Seattle Seahawks win without their reigning NFL MVP?
Shaun Alexander, last year's most dominant force in the NFL, has a broken foot, forcing the Seattle Seahawks to completely change their offense to get back elite status.
Most Valuable Player is a milestone not many players can say they have accomplished in the NFL - or any other sport, for that matter. It is an award that receives ultimate respect from everyone who has the opportunity to compete as a professional athlete. In the 2005-06 season, the NFL's MVP was running back Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks.
Number 37 is a dominant rushing force against any opposing team the Seahawks have faced. Last season Alexander torched NFL defenses every week , so much so, that the Seahawks had the best running game in the NFL and made their first-ever appearance in the Super Bowl, with Alexander shattering NFL records all the way.
The Seahawks' running back was simply unstoppable last year, rushing for 27 touchdowns and grabbing one receiving TD for a league record for a running back of 28, breaking the previous record set by Priest Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003. Along the way Alexander accumulated 1880 rushing yards total, and incredibly only one lost fumble.
The biggest question for the defending NFC champs this season is, how do you replace an MVP?
This Sunday is week seven in the NFL and Alexander has only played three games, rushed for two touchdowns, gained 187 yards rushing and broke a foot, with a scheduled return changing from week to week. That is an obvious blow to a team that is used to having a solid running game and multiple rushing touchdowns per contest. Yet the Seahawks have shown some amazing resolve with the loss of their reigning MVP, going 4-1 and solidifiying their new-found passing game against NFC West rivals, the St. Louis Rams.
It was an absolute thriller in St. Louis on Sunday, a classic quarterback-to-wide receiver showcase with Marc Bulger connecting to Torry Holt of St. Louis for two TDs, and Matt Hasselback and newly aquired wide receiver Deion Branch of the Seahawks doing the same. The NFC showdown ended with a nail-biting, last-second, game-winning field goal by Seattle kicker Josh Brown resulting in a 30-28 win, making the Seahawks the favorite to come out of the NFC West and showing people they can still put up numbers, despite a non-existent running game.
Even with the loss of a excellent running game, the Seahawks are still a dominant force in the NFC and will be a contender once again for another NFC title come December.
