If there was a single NFL fan, player or coach who doubted Russell Wilson before Sunday, there certainly is not now.
Not after what he did in Atlanta, nearly pulling off a stunning, historic comeback win. Not after what he did in a spectacular rookie season that turned every single doubter into a believer.
If you're a Seahawk fan, you have to be ecstatic about what Wilson is going to bring Seattle over the next few years.
How can you not love this guy and have complete faith that he will take Seattle to its first Super Bowl championship very soon? Maybe next year. And the year after that. And the year after that.
That is the confidence this lovable young leader instills in everyone.
There are some great quarterbacks in the NFL, and it is truly stunning to know that Wilson already is among them. A rookie? Not anymore.
After Sunday, he is a superstar. And defenses across the league will fear him henceforth.
“That dude is going to be a big problem for defenses in the league,” Atlanta safety William Moore.
told reporters. “I came away very impressed with his game. He can do it all – he can run, he can throw, and he has the moxie you like to see in good quarterbacks. He was truly a game changer and a playmaker for their Seattle ballclub.”
Wilson and the Seattle offense stumbled through a scoreless, mistake-filled first half that put them in a 20-0 hole. But Wilson was not discouraged, telling reporters, “I love it when the game is on the line, when everyone else is nervous and I’m excited.”
He proved it in the second half, scoring on four of the six possessions. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 241 yards, and his TD drives covered 80, 80, 62 and 61 yards.
With some overdue help from the defense, Wilson overcame that deficit with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, but then the defense ruined the chance for us to see Wilson at least one more time this season.
He set a team playoff record with 385 passing yards -- and you never would have known it was not a common occurrence for him or that it was the first 300-yard passing game of his 18-game career.
"He's an amazing football player. I think he proved it again," coach Pete Carroll said. "It's so unheard of for rookies to do something like that. He ain't a rookie. ... I can't even imagine how he can get better."
But he will. And the best part about it? He can't wait.
"When the game was over, I was very disappointed," he said, "but … walking off the field, I got so excited for the next opportunity, next year. Looking forward to what we have in the future. We have a great football team."
Well, not yet. But they do have a great quarterback. And no one doubts that anymore.
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