EPA replay: 2017 Seahawks season in review, part 2

Looking back on the season, this piece includes one key play from each of the last eight games. These key plays are plays that were found somewhere in the top 10 EPA plays of the game, but are not necessarily the #1 play from a given game. These plays are the plays that I subjectively believe most told the story of the game.

The score of each game contains a hyperlink to the full EPA Replay article from that game. This is the second part of a two-part series looking back at the 2017 Seahawks season. Part 1 is here.

For an overview of EPA and this series, see my intro article here. Onto the plays:

Game 9: Seattle 22, Arizona 16

I’m going to deviate from the norm and include three different plays for this game. The reason for each play being included should be obvious.

Play 1: Q4 2-21 SEA 44: (13:21) (Shotgun) Russell Wilson pass short left to Doug Baldwin pushed ob at ARI 2 for 54 yards.

EPA:4.57. Score before play: SEA15, ARI10. SEA WP change: 73-> 86. TD% before: 34. TD% after: 85

Play 2: Q3 3-12 ARI 16: (5:30) (Shotgun) Drew Stanton pass deep middle to John Brown to ARI 34 for 18 yards. SEA- Richard Sherman was injured during the play.

EPA:3.50. Score before play: ARI10, SEA15. SEA WP change: 75-> 63. TD% before: 20. TD% after: 39

This is the play where Richard Sherman suffered a season-ending injury.

Play 1: Q1 1-10 SEA 48: (13:10) Adrian Peterson up the middle to SEA 47 for 1 yard (Kam Chancellor). FUMBLES (K.Chancellor), RECOVERED by SEA- Sheldon Richardson at ARI 48.

EPA:6.18. Score before play: ARI0, SEA0. SEA WP change: 42-> 58. TD% before: 46. TD% after: 13

In what might have been Kam Chancellor’s last NFL game, he forced an Adrian Peterson fumble for old times’ sake. This was the #1 EPA play from the game.

Game 10: Seattle 31, Atlanta 34

Q1 2-1 ATL 31: (11:16) R.Wilson pass short middle intended for Tyler Lockett INTERCEPTED by Desmond Trufant at ATL 22. D.Trufant to SEA 38 for 40 yards.

EPA:8.14. Score before play: SEA0, ATL7. SEA WP change: 41-> 18. TD% before: 55. TD% after: 8

One of the weirdest plays of the season, as Wilson missed badly. Atlanta would go on to score a touchdown to take a 14-0 1st quarter lead.

Honorable mentions: Atlanta strip-sack touchdown; Seattle fake field goal.

Game 11: Seattle 24, San Francisco 13

Q4 1-10 SEA 10: (:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) Jimmy Garoppolo pass short left to Loius Murphy for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

EPA:3.15. Score before play: SF6, SEA24. SEA WP change: 100-> 100. TD% before: 38. TD% after: 100

Garoppolo making his 49ers debut is the only memorable part of this game.

Honorable mention: hey, Nick Vannett scored a touchdown!

Game 12: Seattle 24, Philadelphia 10

#3. Q3 3-10 PHI 48: (6:57) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep left to D.Baldwin pushed ob at PHI 1 for 47 yards.

EPA: 4.83. Score before play: SEA10, PHI3. SEA WP change: 79-> 89. TD% before: 33. TD% after: 91

The Eagles blitzed Russell Wilson and paid dearly.

Honorable mentions: Sheldon Richardson forced fumble on Carson Wentz at Seattle’s goal line; Wentz 51 yard bomb to Nelson Agholor; McKissic receiving TD, Wilson lateral to Mike Davis.

Game 13: Seattle 24, Jacksonville 30

Q3 1-10 JAX 25: (7:32) (Shotgun) Blake Bortles pass deep middle to Keelan Cole for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

EPA:6.06. Score before play: JAX10, SEA10. SEA WP change: 49-> 27. TD% before: 35. TD% after: 100

As we saw with the Titans game, allowing a 75 yard touchdown makes it harder to win.

Honorable mentions: Lockett 74 yard touchdown; Richardson 61 yard touchdown; Jaydon Mickens 72 yard punt return.

Game 14: Seattle 7, Los Angeles Rams 42

Q2 3-20 LA 43: (:37) Todd Gurley left tackle for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

EPA:6.22. Score before play: LA27, SEA0. SEA WP change: 0-> 0. TD% before: 10. TD% after: 100

Game 15: Seattle 21, Dallas 12

Q3 2-7 DAL 29: (11:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) Dak Prescott pass short left intended for Ezekiel Elliott INTERCEPTED by Justin Coleman at DAL 30. J.Coleman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

EPA:7.69. Score before play: DAL9, SEA7. SEA WP change: 43-> 62. TD% before: 33. TD% after: 0

In a game where points were at a premium, scoring a defensive touchdown went a long way towards determining the outcome.

Honorable mentions: Byron Maxwell forced fumble; K.J. Wright interception; Dan Bailey missed 34 yard field goal.

Game 16: Seattle 24, Arizona 26

Q1 1-10 SEA 25: (9:05) D.Stanton pass deep right to Jaron Brown for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

EPA:2.74. Score before play: ARI0, SEA0. SEA WP change: 38-> 28. TD% before: 53. TD% after: 100

Seattle’s defense allowing Drew Stanton to march down the field for an opening-drive touchdown was not a good omen for the rest of the game.

The end

And thus ends this series for this year. Thank you for reading along!