Seahawks 3rd Down Notebook: Week 13, Vikings; Three-quarter season review

Seahawks vs. Vikings

Against the Vikings, Seattle had its most dominant 3rd down performance in recent memory, possibly better than the dominating performance in 2012 late in the season against the 49ers. If you remember that game (most of us do), I believe the Seahawks converted almost every 3rd down -- the one they didn't convert was where Russell Wilson ran around for 20 seconds and evaded Ahmad Brooks twice.

While the game was still a reasonable game score-wise, Seattle went 10 for 11 on 3rd down (91%). By Drive 8, with Seattle comfortably ahead, the Vikings offense showing no hope of life, Seattle began playing the clock (run on 1st down, run on 2nd down, throw on 3rd down) or doing other clock type things like running the ball with Fred Jackson on 3rd and 6.

Even with the late game clock drain -- Seattle finished 10 of 14 on 3rd down (71.4%).

A few important notes:

-- The longest 3rd down faced by the Seahawks was 9 yards, with a median 3rd down of 5 yards.

-- Tyler Lockett was a factor on five of the first ten third downs, and was a factor on five of the first six 3rd down situations where Seattle actually threw the ball.

-- Seattle went 5 for 5 on 3rd and 1 (3 rushes, 1 bubble screen to Lockett, and a QB scramble by Wilson). Credit the 2nd down play calling -- much of it was short passing -- that got Seattle into these favorable 3rd down situations.

Seahawks season-long 3rd downs

The Seahawks have lifted their season 3rd down stats:

A few more notes that were interesting to me:

-- Seattle is 68 of 155 for the season on 3rd down (excludes kneeldowns and credits penalty conversions) -43.9% for the season.

-- Seattle was a whopping 54.2% on 3rd down post-bye.

-- In the post-bye season games, Seattle is 81.% on 3rd and 1-2 yards to go, 46.2% from 3-6 yards to go, and 45% from 7 to 15 yards to go. All impressive!

-- For the season, the Seahawks are only 37.5% from 3-6 yards to go, but that is held down by a poor 5 of 21 (23.8%) performance in the first four games of the season.

-- From 1-2 yards to go- Seattle is 25 of 36 (69.4%) which is more than solid.

-- Perhaps most impressively, Seattle is now 20 of 50 on 3rd downs of 7-15 yards (40%).