FanPost

The Seahawks' performance in close games under RW

Last year we all remember the stretch of games around this time when we were pulling out victories over Houston and Tampa in overtime, instead of losing tough games against Dallas and St. Louis by under one score.

We had the magic back then to pull out these last-minute wins -- why not this year? Have we shot our season in the foot, to use an awkward metaphor?

Maybe. But stepping back for a moment from the specifics of recent games, it's worth noting that in the past two seasons we win about half of our close games under Russell Wilson.

It makes sense actually. No team can be expected to come out on top close game after close game forever. (I'm looking at you, Cardinals ... you can fall back to earth at any time now...)

You really have to put together a big chunk of dominant victories to ensure a stellar record in the end. That's what we're looking for if the Hawks are going to make some noise this year. (It will also do wonders for the blood pressure of the entire fanbase of 12s.)

To the numbers:

In the 2012 season, defining close games as ones decided by less than a touchdown, we were dead even in our ten close games:

Wins of 8 plus: 6
Wins of 7 or less: 5
Losses of 7 or less: 5

Losses of 8 plus: 0

In 2013, we played eight close games and were just one flipped game from an even 4-4:

Wins of 8 plus: 8
Wins of 7 or less: 5
Losses of 7 or less: 3

Losses of 8 plus: 0

Obviously, every game counts. If we were actually 4-4 in close games in 2013, we wouldn't have won the division and would have been a wild card entrant in the playoffs, changing everything. But it wasn't like everything was bouncing our way. It just felt that way because the close losses were at the end of the season when we could "afford" them.

So far in 2014, we have played five close games and are 2-3 in them, just under .500. (Technically we're 2-2, with our first "blowout" loss under RW at 9 points against the Chargers. But let's count it as a close game because we were just 6 points down with a chance for a comeback in the final minutes.)

Wins of 8 plus: 2
Wins of 7 or less: 2
Losses of 7 or less: 2

Losses of 8 plus: 1*

The point is that we shouldn't hit the panic button because we're losing half of our close games. If we want to hit the panic button, it's because we haven't put up more than two dominant victories (ones more than a touchdown) this year. We had 6 in 2012 and 8 in 2013. Here's hoping the next two home games can put us back on schedule for the year.

I wouldn't mind another 49er beatdown at the Clink again this year, either. Pretty please, RW?