Carlos Dunlap once again comes through when the Seahawks need him most

The Seattle Seahawks pass rush was pretty much dormant for most of Sunday’s win over the Washington Football Team. With the game (and little did we know, sole possession of first place in the NFC West) on the line, the Seahawks sacked Dwayne Haskins three times on four-man pressures.

Alton Robinson’s strip-sack unfortunately was recovered by Washington and they kept the drive going. LJ Collier got Haskins later in the drive to force 3rd and 15. It’s good to see Collier work on his outside rush because I believe he’s been more effective working the interior.

But you didn’t come here to read about Alton Robinson or LJ Collier. This is about Carlos Dunlap, whom the Seahawks only gave up BJ Finney and a seventh-round pick to acquire. Washington’s starting right tackle Morgan Moses had just re-entered the game after he was injured earlier in the drive. Backup tackle David Sharpe was quickly beaten by Robinson on the strip sack so Moses was a welcome sight for Washington fans.

That is, until Carlos Dunlap lined up opposite him.

Dunlap bull rushed (a likely still compromised) Moses and overpowered him with ease. Then he leaped into the air like a lion going after its prey, in this instance the prey was Dwayne Haskins. Poor ol’ Dwayne never had a chance and 3rd and 15 turned into a nearly impossible 4th and 24. Ball game.

You may recall that against the Arizona Cardinals, Dunlap was again on the right side of the offensive line in a must-stop situation. His game-winning sack of Kyler Murray was more speed than strength but he certainly flashed both.

In just six games, Dunlap leads all Seahawks defensive linemen with five sacks. This has been a brilliant trade already and he’s going to be in the playoffs again for the first time since 2015. And hopefully for him, this will be the year he finally gets to experience a playoff win.