The Seahawks have found a way to claw back to .500 as they wrap up the first half of the 2015 season. Along the way they have managed to solve some issues, though there are still some things they have to resolve over the bye week.

The defense is championship quality

Week in and week out the defensive unit has kept the team in games, and only because the offense couldn’t hold up their end did the defense get undue blame. These past two weeks have proven that this is still an elite unit. Granted, they haven’t been tested by playoff caliber quarterbacks; but to go on the road and not even give up 15 points combined is impressive. 

Previously they were shouldering the blame for blowing fourth quarter leads. One of those blown leads was due to a miscommunication, a freak incident if you ask me. The another was Dion Bailey (who has since been cut) slipping on the field, giving up the TD to tie against the Rams. Another freak incident. Two freak incidents shouldn't be cause for alarm now that the defense has proven themselves to be in the words of Earl Thomas, "what was, is."

As for the other side of the ball...

Russell Wilson’s red zone issues

Russ has always had issues when teams are able to keep him within the pocket, and it looks like that might be what is hindering him once he gets down inside the 20. With a shortened field to cover, the opposing defense doesn’t have as many vulnerable spots and can better respond to Wilson’s sandlot movements all around the field.

If he were back around midfield and drawing up a sandlot play, Russell can use his arm to heave it over the top of the defense, or use his legs and peel off a 20 yard run. But closer to the end zone, the defense is more congested and compact; therefore, those holes are naturally closed up.

We've got Jimmy Graham who was unguardable when Drew Brees was throwing him passes in the red zone, what's the difference now? Well, it could be what separates this team from getting back to the Super Bowl this year.

This team will go as far as Russell can take them

That much is clear from here on out. We’ve seen the defense play lights out, but they can’t put points on the board. Not without the other team making a mistake first, that is. And when we start to play good teams, mistakes like that won’t be made.

Still, on one side of the ball we can hang with anyone, and we are championship caliber in that regard. But now teams may have figured out how to stop the Seahawks’ offensive attack, (which wasn't a world-beater to begin with) and it is up to the coaches and Wilson to adjust.

The ability to rush the football is still there, as is the big-play threat, but in between all that is what keeps the engine going. Right now that intermediate passing game is lacking, and as a result we’re seeing drives continuously stall because we can’t get those six or seven yards for a new set of downs.

Are they anymore than a playoff team?

This team still looks like a playoff team, but over the next eight games they need to show the world they’re still a championship team.

Photo: Flickr/Ben Rea