Originally this post was going to have a completely different tone. But just like a team's storyline bounces between extremes week to week, the Seahawks' precision on the field does so quarter to quarter.

Had things continued as it had been going through long a vast majority of the second half, we would be spending our time reading about all the ways the Hawks blew it, but preaching the mantra of "it's still early." However Russell and co. got it back together just in time and were able to finish the game how they started. What's more, if they hadn't, we would be talking about how the Seahawks really can't afford to not get their wins now as the second half features the stronger portion of their schedule. 

Instead, it's going to be a bit of a mixed bag. While there were some great things we saw from some individual Hawks, we have to talk about a few of the things that made the game as difficult as it was.

Starting with the bad, the running game shows it really needs Thomas Rawls to get back to 100%. Today showed that the Seahawks need his hard-nose style of just putting his foot in the dirt and turning up field. On at least a couple of occasions, they needed to get a key couple yards or at least any sort of positive gain to keep their momentum going. Christine Michael reverted to some of his less desirable habits, that being trying to do too much. 

On one drive in the third quarter the Seahawks handed the ball to Michael on a third-and-one and those watching could almost taste the conversion until they had their hopes - and palette's - dashed. That was with the scored tied at 24, then on another drive on second-and-goal instead of conceding the fact that a big play wasn't in the cards, Michael tried to pull a Barry Sanders and out dance the defense around to the opposite end of the field. Instead, he cost the offense a couple yards and forced a longer third-and-goal. 

Of course that was the drive that led to the missed Hauschka field goal, preceded by and difficult snap and hold.

Nevertheless, the Seahawks crowned themselves as Bird Bowl champions thanks to the defense stepping up and told Matt Ryan to sit down. Deshawn Shead showed why he's got the captain patch on his chest, deflecting a pass and Richard Sherman showed some veteran savvy (if you want to call it that) on the Falcon's last heave sealed it for the home team.

Photo: Flickr/Ben Rea