That's what came to mind during the Seahawks victory over the San Francisco 49ers. However, during the early minutes of the game, the word was used in a decidedly different manner.
The first offensive play of the season was a completion to Nate Clements. Now, as every fan knows, the 'Hawks have gone through a lot of personnel changes in recent weeks. In fact, the team has the fewest returning players of any team this season. That said, Nate Clements was wearing a 49ers jersey. Not exactly the ideal play to begin the "Win Forever" campaign. The defense came onto the field, featuring a revamped defensive line and an odd couple at safety with 15-year veteran Lawyer Milloy and rookie Earl Thomas.
If you opened your window and listened at that moment, you probably would've heard a collective groan drifting through the atmosphere as 'Hawks fans were reminded of the woeful defense fielded last year, finishing 24th overall in yards yielded. Already, the cloud of negativity that had haunted the 'Hawks for the last two years was returning, gliding through the air to reclaim it's long-time residence at Qwest Field.
At that moment, the team could've easily crumbled. They could have listened to the media, who had already appointed the 49ers as the heirs to the NFC West throne. They could have remembered that the organization is in rebuilding mode. They could have set a negative trend for the entire season. But they didn't.
By holding the 49ers to a field goal, the defense set the tone for the rest of the game. The offense took awhile longer to get into a groove, but they did not fail to impress once the wheels were in motion. Matt Hasselbeck, who had been kicked to the curb by some (ahem, me) played magnificently after the initial interception, completing 18 of 23 passes with two touchdowns. He even showed off some surprising athleticism running in another touchdown. The touchdown pass to Deon Branch was nothing short of perfection, bringing back memories of years past when Hasselbeck was among the top quarterbacks in the league and the 'Hawks were and offensive juggernaut.
Keep in mind that the 49ers defense is no slouch. Any defense with Patrick Willis (AKA Ray Lewis West) is going to be difficult to crack. The 'Hawks offensive line, which was patched together in the last two weeks from players such as Stacy Andrews, Chester Pitts, and Tyler Polumbus, performed very well, allowing Hasselbeck to stay upright, a rare sight over the last couple seasons. The return of much heralded rookie Russel Okung should help in the coming weeks.
The receiving corps, which lost its top receiver from last season less than a week ago, stepped up, showing some explosiveness that certain players (Houshmanzadeh) lacked. Mike Williams, other than a few drops, looked like a dangerous weapon, showing the strength and speed that made him the 10th overall pick. Deon Branch, who had never really clicked with Hasselbeck, made several nice plays. Lastly, Deon Butler validated all the claims made about him being the most improved player in the offseason, making a nice touchdown catch.
Shifting to defense, the secondary looked revamped, despite the presence of many familiar faces. Kelly Jennings, who was pushed into a starting role after Josh Wilson was traded several weeks ago, looked much improved, making key tackles. Trufant, who never came close to resembling his All-Pro days last year, looked healthy and ready to regain his status as a shutdown corner. Earl Thomas also looked great, roaming all over the field and wreaking havoc.
The area of most improvement was in the front seven. The linebackers, led by a healthy Lofa Tatupu, looked much better than last year. Although Aaron Curry still made some boneheaded plays, he also used his amazing athleticism to cause pressure on Alex Smith. The defensive line, which was hardly recognizable because of all the new faces, made huge strides and was largely responsible for shutting down Frank Gore and getting key stops on 3rd and 4th down.
The 'Hawks were expected to lose with dignity and show signs of improvement, not knock off the trendy pick to win the division. It was an impressive win, but it will mean nothing if they don't keep improving. They're far from the most talented team in the league, but they showed Sunday that they have something no amount of talent can create: heart. This team, led by Pete Carroll, must never lose its resilient character if they have any hope of a winning season.
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