It's unusual for Russell Wilson to be playing so well for the Seahawks and getting so little attention around the NFL. Blame it on the quarterback's age (28) and experience making his prime feel ho-hum.
Tom Brady and Drew Brees keep receiving praise for defying their ages. Alex Smith is getting noticed for his transformation as this year's Matt Ryan. Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott are getting more hype as young, athletic passers.
Wilson, meanwhile, has recovered from an injury and returned to being arguably the league's most complete QB this season.
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Conversations regarding the Seahawks' offense have been about how their offensive line still isn't good and how they still can't run the ball with Eddie Lacy or Thomas Rawls. With the Seahwks at 4-2 despite those doldrums, Wilson deserves a lot more credit. In essence, his play is providing its own boost to pass protection and the rushing attack, things Wilson couldn't manage with the ankle and knee ailments he dealt with all of last season.
Wilson's 2016 season was marked by his toughness. In what was his fifth year in Seattle, he lost the most yardage in sacks and had the lowest rushing yardage total of his career. But his career-low passing efficiency rating (92.6) was still relatively high, and he was able to lead Seattle back to the top of the NFC West and help the team to a strong playoff victory over Detroit.
Thanks in part to a bad showing in the divisional playoff loss at Atlanta, Wilson before this season was not written up with the same puff. Now, according to Pro Football Focus' player grades, he is No. 3, right behind Brady and Brees and ahead of Smith and Wentz.
Wilson this season has not provided many jaw-dropping highlights scrambling around before completing impossible long passes. He's averaging only 7.2 yards per attempt, down further from last year's 7.7 and his career average of 7.9. But Wilson has adapted to the fact that, more so than ever, he is playing in a one-dimensional offense. A quarterback's ability to adjust on the fly is his most valuable asset.
Rather than always looking downfield, Wilson this year has picked his spots for deep shots. He has gotten the ball out quickly to a variety of targets on short-to-intermediate routes. He gets back to his running form of old when needed. He has done it all while dealing with injuries and inconsistency in his receiving corps.
Go-to wide receiver Doug Baldwin and tight end Jimmy Graham are back healthy after being hurt and/or limited for a few games. With Baldwin still a No. 1 who can dominate the slot and Graham stretching the field like a wideout, it's extremely hard for defenses to take both away from Wilson, especially when Paul Richardson delivers as a downfield threat in the mold of Jermaine Kearse.
The Seahawks' passing game has left a bunch on the table, so there's a scary amount of room to improve. It was no coincidence that Wilson's monster Week 7 game against the Giants came after a bye, when he and his teammates could rest and reset for the second half of the season.
Wentz and Prescott are starting to rival Wilson's combination of mobility and an arm that can put the ball anywhere, but Wilson is still bringing it as the best model. His durability is incredible, and he has learned to limit body blows even better.
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In the NFC, with Aaron Rodgers on the shelf, Wilson is the only healthy QB other than Brees and Eli Manning who has a Super Bowl ring. In the AFC, there's Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. In this unpredictable season full of attrition, a team with a top quarterback and top defense likely will end up on top.
The Seahawks are still known for having the defensive side of the equation locked down. Wilson is making sure Seattle has the other side this season, too.
