Three Things from the Seahawks’ win over Cleveland

The Cardinals have clinched the NFC West, which leaves the Seahawks heading on the road in the first round of the playoffs. Of course, Seattle still has two more games between now and then and plenty to play for even if there’s not much in the way of playoff positioning at stake.

Three things we learned:

1. Doug Baldwin should be Seattle’s first Pro Bowl receiver in 25 years.

He doesn’t want to play in the game, mind you, but he has caught 10 touchdown passes over the previous four games, something accomplished only once before in the NFL. That was by Jerry Rice. Jerry. Rice. Baldwin ranks 16th in the NFC in receptions with 65, ninth in receiving yards with 905 and he’s tied for first in touchdown catches with 13. What’s that tell you? That no one makes his opportunities count more. Factor in that Baldwin dropped one pass this season – just one – and he should be the first Seahawks receiver named to the Pro Bowl since Brian Blades in 1989.

2. Seattle’s argument as the NFL’s best defense ever is getting stronger.

Last season, the Seahawks became the second team in NFL history to allow the fewest points in the league for three successive years, joining the Vikings, who did it from 1969 to 1971. The Seahawks are two weeks away from becoming the first team to lead in scoring defense for four successive seasons. The Seahawks have allowed 248 points, fewer than all but the Bengals, who have allowed 243. The Bengals conclude their season with games at Denver and against Baltimore while Seattle hosts St. Louis and then plays at Arizona, which can clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs by beating the Packers this week. Seattle has allowed one touchdown to the opposing offense in the last 12 quarters of play.

3. Christine Michael is Seattle’s best bet if Marshawn Lynch doesn’t come back.

Bryce Brown is a bigger running back and may be more suited to run between the tackles, but Michael has home-run potential. And it was a positive sign that he didn’t celebrate too much Sunday when he rushed 16 times for 84 yards. If Lynch doesn’t return – and look, there’s no guarantee he does – Michael will be the team’s most dangerous running back in the playoffs.

Three things we’re still trying to figure out:

1. Can the Seahawks remain this effective on third down?

It’s hard to imagine that would be the case. Then again, maybe this is the new normal for Russell Wilson. Through nine games, the Seahawks were 4-5 and had converted 42 of 117 third downs, a rather pedestrian 35.9 percent. In the five consecutive victories since, Seattle has been almost twice as good, converting 41 of 64 third downs. Now, the question is whether this is like a batter getting hot at the plate – in which case Seattle is going to eventually cool off – or if this reflects a quantum leap that has forever changed the Seahawks’ offense this season.

2. Can the Seahawks’ offensive line now be considered (gulp) good?

It was characterized as an eyesore at the midway point of the season. Through seven games, Seattle had given up a league-high 31 sacks. Well, the Seahawks have allowed 10 in the past seven games. They also lead the league in rushing despite having Lynch active for only seven games, and Seattle now ranks fifth in the league in total offense and seventh in scoring. Seems hard to imagine the Seahawks have done all that with a deficient offensive line and an offensive coordinator so many people assume is incompetent.

3. Will Jeremy Lane be starting at right cornerback in the playoffs?

DeShawn Shead has started the past four games at that position, but a sprained ankle limited him in the second half in Week 14 against Baltimore, and while he started against Cleveland, Lane played the majority of the game. While Shead has played admirably since stepping in for Cary Williams for the past four games, Lane is faster, and he might be a better fit outside in the Seahawks’ defense. Hard to believe that two weeks after Seattle appeared in distinct danger of running out of healthy cornerbacks entirely there’s an honest competition for a starting spot over the next couple of weeks.