Le Journal

Is it the same flame from Greece to the games? Here’s how the Olympics keep the torch for the relay lit during its journey.

The Seattle Seahawks played their first Divisional Round game since the January 2020 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and they did so with a level of focus and execution that showed up clearly on tape. Despite a week filled with external noise and rivalry-driven narratives, Seattle delivered a dominant 41–6 victory. From an All-22 perspective, this game is a strong case study of what this defense can be when it consistently plays within structure, maintains leverage, and communicates effectively across all three levels. More importantly, this game reinforced a central theme of the Seahawks’ postseason ceiling: the offense is the unit that will ultimately determine how far this team goes. The defense once again played at a high baseline, but unlike previous weeks, it was paired with offensive efficiency, early-down success, and explosive plays. The result was a 41-point output instead of another grind-it-out, low-scoring win. All data used in this article comes from PFF. The Bad Brock Purdy surviving outside of structure From a film standpoint, the primary defensive issue was not a lack of pressure, but a failure to finish plays. Seattle consistently collapsed the pocket, won early at the point of attack, and forced Purdy off his spot. However, that pressure too often failed to translate into sacks or negative plays. While the scoreboard never reflected danger, these breakdowns extended drives unnecessarily and allowed San Francisco to generate offense beyond what the original play design intended. Against quarterbacks who are more dangerous throwing on the move — Matthew Stafford being the most relevant upcoming example — this becomes a critical problem. Most of the 49ers’ successful passing reps did not come from clean, on-schedule concepts. Instead, they came from second-reaction throws after Purdy escaped the pocket and forced the coverage unit to transition from pattern-match rules into scramble drill principles. Pause the tape the moment Purdy breaks contain. Nwosu wins cleanly off the edge, and has a free path to the QB. The issue is not rush timing, but rush lane discipline at the finish point. Nwosu overruns the depth of the pocket just enough to allow Purdy to step up and escape.— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-19T17:53:15.584Z Pause the tape the moment Purdy breaks contain. Uchenna Nwosu wins cleanly off the edge, defeats the tackle’s outside hand, and has a free path to the quarterback. The issue is not rush timing, but rush lane discipline at the finish point. Nwosu overruns the depth of the pocket just enough to allow Purdy to step up and escape. Downfield, the secondary executes at a high level. Coverage leverage is intact, routes are plastered, and spacing rules are respected. However, when the rush does not close, the coverage unit is forced to hold longer than the structure allows. This dynamic consistently punished good coverage with extended-play completions. When the rush does not close, the coverage unit is forced to hold longer than the structure allows. This dynamic consistently punished good coverage with extended-play completions.— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-19T17:53:55.520Z This has been a recurring issue throughout the season: containing mobile quarterbacks within the pocket rather than simply forcing them off their initial read. Again, Purdy escapes, resets his platform, and converts a first down in a situation where the defense has already won the rep. Early game inconsistencies The issue was not assignment integrity, but displacement. San Francisco’s offensive line was able to generate just enough movement to climb to the second level, putting linebackers in conflict.— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-19T17:56:27.240Z Early in the game, the defensive line did not consistently control the line of scrimmage the way it had in recent matchups. The issue was not assignment integrity, but displacement. San Francisco’s offensive line was able to generate just…

A 2025 winner lands the No. 1 spot in the list of the longest speeches in Oscars history.

In Today’s Links: Leo Williams’ big 4th-down sack and what it means for the Seattle Seahawks’ new culture, the 49ers just can’t seem to beat us (anymore?), injury updates including Zach Charbonnet’s knee and Sam Darnold’s oblique, the ‘Hawks coaching staff seems like they wanted the Los Angeles Rams, a few reviews of last Saturday’s victory against the Niners, a few previews of this Sunday’s game against the Rams, and much more! How we feeling? You like the fact that we are playing the Rams or would you rather have had the Bears? Let us know in the comments below. And be nice to one another. Always. Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks! #np Blue Lagoon by Piero Umiliani Seahawks News Seahawks get another opportunity to beat 38-year-old MVP in a championship game – Seaside Joe25->13 in more ways than one: Wait till you get to the end! How Williams’ sack exemplified Seahawks’ tight-knit culture – Seattle SportsEarly in the second half of Saturday night’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game, Seattle Seahawks veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams powered through San Francisco’s offensive line and engulfed quarterback Brock Purdy for a fourth-down sack that effectively ended any flickering hopes of a miraculous 49ers comeback. Do Shanahan and 49ers have a Mike Macdonald problem? – Seattle SportsWhen Mike Macdonald was hired in January 2024, one of the new head coach’s biggest tasks was helping the Seattle Seahawks solve their problems against the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan. Zach Charbonnet Needs Surgery, Sam Darnold’s Status & Other Seahawks Injury Updates From Mike Macdonald – Seahawks.comUpdates from Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald’s appearance on Seattle Sports 710AM, including unfortunate news about running back Zach Charbonnet. What Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said about facing Rams – The Seattle TimesWhat does Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald think about facing NFC West rival Rams for a spot in the Super Bowl: “We really wouldn’t want it… Macdonald: Key offensive player out for rest of Seahawks’ run for Super Bowl – The News TribuneIt’s Kenneth Walker Time for the rest of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run. Dave Boling: How Seahawks turned offensive line from a weakness to one of their greatest strengths – The Spokesman-ReviewThe Seahawks defense, newly designated “The Dark Side,” is worthy of every drop of print ink and moment of air time it’s been getting as the Hawks power through the playoffs. Seahawks’ 2025 turnaround came with comeback win over Rams – si.comThe NFC West champions take an eight-game winning streak into the conference title game. The Seahawks have fond memories of their last clash with the Rams. Klint Kubiak’s ground attack carrying the load for red-hot Seahawks – si.comIt’s been said that a good running game is a quarterback’s best friend. Seahawks’ signal-caller Sam Darnold has to be enamored with coordinator Klint Kubiak. Analysis: How Will Seahawks Replace Zach Charbonnet Heading Into NFC Championship Game? – Emerald City SpectrumThe Seahawks will have to continue their run pursuing a Super Bowl without their top touchdown scorer. What options does Seattle have to fill the void without Zach Charbonnet? One thing I really appreciate about Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald – Seahawks Draft BlogIf you’ve listened to Mike Macdonald’s post-game interviews this season you’ll have noticed how often he makes reference to letting the game ‘declare itself’. Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet out for season with knee injury, needs surgery – The AthleticCharbonnet led the Seahawks with 12 touchdowns during the regular season before being hurt in Seattle’s divisional round playoff game. Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet (knee) out for rest of playoffs – ESPN.comThe Seahawks will be without their leading touchdown scorer for the remainder of the playoffs after running back Zach Charbonnet suffered a…