Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Wednesday

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Seahawks.com Blog | Christmas Eve in Hawkville: Making the playoffs just a step in the journey
Christmas Eve Eve. For Pete Carroll, Sunday night began with him holding his grandson, Dillon, on the sideline before the Seahawks’ game against the 49ers. It ended with the team’s third-year coach embracing a playoff berth after a beyond-convincing 42-13 victory. But Carroll is not satisfied. Far from it.

Ghosts of Christmases past: Baldwin, Farwell & Sherman remembers
To help celebrate Christmas Day, the Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin, Heath Farwell and Richard Sherman share their memories of the best gifts they got while growing up.

NFC West Stock Watch - NFC West Blog - ESPN
1. Seahawks' coach/GM. Pete Carroll and John Schneider are looking better all the time. Their 2012 draft has transformed the team. First-round pick Bruce Irvin has eight sacks. Second-rounder Bobby Wagner, an every-down linebacker, deserves mention as a candidate for defensive rookie of the year. Third-rounder Russell Wilson has become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Fourth-rounder Robert Turbin backs up Marshawn Lynch and has had a 100-yard game this season. Sixth-rounder Jeremy Lane is starting at cornerback while the team deals with injuries and a suspension at the position. Seventh-rounder J.R. Sweezy started at right guard Sunday night and made a key block on Patrick Willis to spring Lynch's 24-yard touchdown run. Another seventh-rounder, Greg Scruggs, is part of the nickel rotation on the defensive line. The Wilson selection alone should get Schneider mentioned as the NFL's executive of the year.

QBR ranks: Wilson, Bradford in focus - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Seattle's Russell Wilson and St. Louis' Sam Bradford were the most impressive quarterbacks in the NFC West for Week 16.

A turning point in the Windy City | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Contrary to how it might appear, Seattle’s recent offensive explosion did not come out of nowhere. There are roots to be found four weeks ago in the final two possessions of Seattle’s overtime victory in Chicago. Quarterback Russell Wilson led Seattle on back-to-back touchdown drives first to take a fourth-quarter lead and then to win the game in over time. The Seahawks simply haven’t been the same since:

Sixkiller feels kinship with Russell Wilson | Steve Kelley | The Seattle Times
More than four decades before Russell Wilson came to the Seattle Seahawks, there was a quarterback in town named Sonny Sixkiller.

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: Seahawks 42, Niners 13
I spent all week downplaying the importance of this game, focused on two facts: It wasn't a "must-win" for the Seahawks, and our chances of winning the NFC West were minimal even with a victory over the 49ers. Once again, the Seahawks revealed just how little I know about professional football. On the sport's biggest stage, they treated the Kings of the Power Rankings like asphalt treated Evel Knievel's bones & organs. With the nation watching, they played their best game of the season, against their strongest opponent and most hated foe. After three delirious, joyful hours it became clear: The Seahawks don't need to be in Seattle to win playoff games. Whether the games are played at FedEx Field, or the Georgia Dome, or Lambeau Field or the Moon, or inside an active volcano, these Hawks can win. They can win FOUR games on the road this postseason, y'all (including the last one down in New Orleans).

Randy Moss moves to No. 2 WR for banged-up 49ers - NFL.com
The San Francisco 49ers will play the rest of the way without Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams, meaning a familiar face is in line to start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Nick Foles the future at QB for Philadelphia Eagles? - NFL.com
Michael Vick and coach Andy Reid aren't likely to be back with the Eagles next season, but they both played a role in the unearthing of rookie passer Nick Foles, whose future looks bright.

NFP's Top 200 Draft Prospects - Version 2.0 | National Football Post
NFP brings its updated Top 200 Prospect Rankings.

Cowboys-Redskins for the NFC East? I'm jealous | National Football Post
Who wouldn't want to play in this game at Fed Ex?

Who should win Coach of the Year in the NFL?
Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks My runaway choice for coach of the year. Through 16 weeks, Seattle ranks first in the SRS. Because of a difficult schedule and five losses by a touchdown or less, the Seahawks record is far from beautiful. But to me Carroll is the clear choice for four reasons: this team is built entirely in his image, they are arguably the best team in the league, and they are wildly exceeding expectations, and Carroll is getting the most possible out of the talent he’s working with.