To understand how well Marshawn Lynch, with the help of the Seahawks' offensive line, is rushing these past few weeks, it's helpful to compare him to other well-known and productive backs in the NFL. As Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com tells us, Lynch is actually leading the pack the last six games. As he points out, no running back in the NFL has rushed for more yardage than Marshawn Lynch since Week 9. That's over red-hot Chris Johnson of the Titans, Ray Rice of the Ravens, now-done-for-the-season Demarco Murray of the Cowboys, and Michael Bush of the Raiders. That's impressive.
Perhaps more illuminating - despite a slow start that included performances of 33 yards against the 49ers, 11 yards against the Steelers, 24 yards against the Falcons, 24 yards against Cincinnati, and a missed game against Cleveland, Lynch is still seventh in the NFL in total rushing yards! So despite being essentially invisible for the first few months of the season while the Seahawks worked things out with their inexperienced and green run-blocking unit and produced stinkers like I pointed out above, Lynch still averages 80.8 yards per game, tenth in the NFL.
The Seahawks have rushed for over 100 yards in six straight games and if they make it a seventh next week against the Bears, they'll have done something that no Seahawks' team has done in the same regular season since the 1970's. Yeah.
Standing in their way though is the Chicago Bears, 10th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game at just over 101. Uncharacteristically though, Chicago is giving up 4.4 yards per carry on the ground, 21st in the league. I have no doubt the Hawks will continue to lean on their rushing attack and Marshawn Lynch in particular in this one. It's likely to be a grind it out, wear down your opponent game on the frozen Chicago tundra known as Soldier Field.
For more on the Seahawks-Bears matchup this week, the place you need to check out is Field Gulls.