Marshawn Lynch will make his first start in the lineup since Week 11 as the Seahawks get set to take on the Panthers.
Marshawn Lynch is finally ready to return to the football field, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. As the Seahawks get set to take on the 15-1 Panthers, they will get their superstar running back Beast Mode. Although I don’t expect he missed the reporters.
The last game Lynch played was a 39-32 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in which he logged 50 offensive yards and a touchdown. He has since missed time due to undergoing surgery on a sports hernia. It’s been a difficult season for Lynch, and one that’s been plagued by injuries. He’s lost a lot of his explosiveness which has resulted in an average of only 3.75 yards per carry and three touchdowns on the year.
You could argue that the Seahawks got better when Lynch was out as they won seven of their last eight games while Wilson was playing at an MVP-caliber level. However, they had Thomas Rawls for those first few games who has looked better than Lynch this season. But after losing him, they’ll gladly welcome Lynch back instead of having to go with a committee of Christine Michael and Fred Jackson.
Seattle has always been a run-first offense, although Wilson’s passing game has improved considerably. But even with Lynch the Panthers’ run defense poses a tough challenge, ranking fourth-best in total yards. The Panthers and Seahawks have already met once this season – Lynch totaled 54 rushing yards and a touchdown in a losing effort.