Leave it to Pete Carroll.
Instead of having newly acquired Leonard Williams recite the accomplishments of his nine-year career in New York with the Jets and Giants, the coach had the defensive lineman shoot baskets during a team meeting.
“Instead of standing me up and making me introduce myself to the team, he made me come up here and compete with some guys on the basketball rim,” Williams said. “I love it because it breeds competition in here.”
Perhaps that’s why when the Seahawks (5-2) travel to Baltimore (6-2) on Sunday, it’ll be a matchup of division leaders.
The Seahawks moved past struggling San Francisco and into first place in the NFC West with last Sunday’s 24-20 victory against visiting Cleveland. Geno Smith threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 38 seconds remaining for the winning score.
“Our team is such a scrappy team. We find ways to win no matter what,” Smith said. “I feel like if I can play up to my capabilities, play up to my standard, who knows where we can be. Because we’re one of the best teams in football if we play right.”
Seattle’s defense has been a big reason why it is atop the division. Over the past four games, the Seahawks have allowed a total of nine second-half points and zero touchdowns.
Carroll said he expects Williams will play on Sunday.
“The transition, with a guy like this in particular, there isn’t much space there,” Carroll said. “He’s going to know his stuff, he fits right in, he understands the blocking schemes and the principles. Technically, he’s an amazing player. Just get him lined up right and he’ll do things well.”
The Ravens have used their usual ground-and-pound approach to build a 1 1/2-game lead in the AFC North.
They labored offensively at Arizona last weekend, with just 268 yards of total offense. Gus Edwards, however, ran for three touchdowns — two after interceptions — as the Ravens came away with a 31-24 victory, their third in a row.
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson was limited to 157 yards on 18-of-27 passing and 17 yards rushing on five carries.
“We weren’t really as crisp and sharp as we wanted to be by any stretch and yet we kept grinding, kept fighting and found a way to get the job done,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
Unlike the Seahawks, the Ravens were quiet at this week’s trade deadline. Perhaps that’s because their next three games are at home and as well as their three remaining divisional matchups.
“We’re not going to do something out of desperation by any stretch. We have a really good roster,” Harbaugh said. “I love our guys. We have everything we need.”
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett (hamstring) was the only Seahawks player to miss practice time with an injury this week, although guards Phil Haynes (calf) and Anthony Bradford (ankle) were limited as well as linebacker Boye Mafe (shoulder) and safety Jerrick Reed (shoulder).
Six Ravens have missed practice this week: Edwards (toe); wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder); offensive tackles Morgan Moses (shoulder) and Ronnie Stanley (shoulder); linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle/knee) and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (illness).
–Field Level Media
