Seahawks ‘Hero’ Quandre Diggs Saves Game, Season vs. Rams

The Seattle Seahawks merely had to beat the Los Angeles Rams – the one different possibility was to look at their season come to an in depth.

However issues weren’t wanting promising.

Seattle was given an opportunity to win the sport in regulation with a 46-yard area aim from usually dependable kicker Jason Myers – however it clanked off the upright, sending the season finale into extra time.

Then, the Seahawks received the coin toss and acquired the kickoff, needing a landing to maintain their playoff hopes alive … however went three-and-out.

The Rams had dodged two bullets and had been a area aim away from sending Seattle packing. Los Angeles quarterback Baker Mayfield dropped again, regarded left and fired downfield for receiver Van Jefferson.

The consequence? Maybe the deciding consider Seattle’s 19-16 victory … which can have etched Seahawks security Quandre Diggs into the staff’s document books for years to come back.

Mentioned quarterback Geno Smith: “I used to be sitting down on the bench, and I regarded up, and I simply see Quandre leaping within the air and catching the ball over his shoulder wanting like a wideout.”

Added coach Pete Carroll: “He timed it up completely to get it on the sidelines over there. He’s such an excellent ball hawk that in fact he’s going to make that play for those who give him an opportunity.”

Mayfield gave Diggs the “likelihood” to make a season-saving play … and he did, intercepting the move and sending the Seahawks sideline into euphoria as Diggs playfully pointed at former teammate and present Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner.

But it surely wasn’t essentially so simple as jump-and-catch. The Rams caught the Seahawks in a positive matchup and almost hit a season-ending dagger … till Diggs proved why he was not too long ago voted to his third consecutive Professional Bowl, as he colorfully defined.

“If I used to be utilizing language, I might in all probability use some dangerous language as a result of the dude was extensive open,” admitted Diggs. “In my thoughts, I used to be pondering the worst. Oh man, I felt like I used to be 25 once more, operating and leaping within the air. For me, it was simply a type of performs the place they drew it up completely. They’d us in a protection the place they needed us, and I used to be simply capable of exit and make a play.”

Seven performs later, Myers trotted out for a 32-yard area aim, which he made with no drama. The Seahawks achieved the win that they completely needed to get, and with the Detroit Lions beating the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Seattle instantly discovered itself within the playoffs – and Diggs was the “hero,” per Carroll.

“For him to make (the interception), he’s a hero round right here,” Carroll mentioned. “These guys love him. He’s a
nice chief, they usually’ve bought nicknames for him and every kind of stuff, and he’s robust as nails. When he speaks, everyone shuts up, after which to come back by way of and make a play like that, it is simply lovely and becoming and actually comfortable for him.”

It was Diggs’ second interception in as many video games and fourth on the season. He has no less than three interceptions in every of the final six years, the longest lively streak within the NFL.

However Diggs has been a “ball hawk,” as Carroll mentioned, for for much longer than that. Smith, a star at West Virginia, remembers going through Diggs, a Texas Longhorn, in school.

Naturally, Diggs had no less than three interceptions in all however considered one of his 4 years at Texas – it is merely what he does … together with being an excellent chief and teammate.

“That is one thing that he has all the time achieved,” Smith mentioned. “I will return to our time enjoying at Texas
once we performed him. He was a type of gamers I used to be watching on movie like, man, it’s a must to
be careful for No. 6. He has carried that all through his profession. He’s a ball hawk. If that ball is in
his space, he’s going to get it. Quandre is without doubt one of the greatest defensive gamers I’ve performed with, however
additionally the most effective teammates I’ve ever had.”

The heroic nature of Diggs’ ball abilities and season-saving interception goes past the play itself, as Sunday was a day earlier than the one-year mark of his grotesque damaged leg and dislocated ankle.

The adversity confronted all through the season and towards Los Angeles, when paired with the damage anniversary all that was at stake, made the second one which Diggs will not quickly overlook.

“That was in all probability my favourite interception ever due to simply the ambiance and all the things that went together with this sport and this interception,” Diggs mentioned. “It was dope, so
all I noticed was the ball and I used to be like, ‘I’m going to get it.’ I used to be capable of go and get it and I caught
it. I feel that’s all that issues.”

Diggs acknowledged that he is been “getting some grief” over dropped interceptions … however with the sport – and season – squarely on the road, he seized the second, making arguably one of many greatest defensive performs in latest Seahawks historical past.

And for that, he is earned the title of “hero.”

You’ll be able to observe Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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