Todd Gurley shows Seattle Seahawks the way

Dec 27, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) hurdles Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during an NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. The Rams defeated the Seahawks 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

For the previous two years, the Seattle Seahawks went to back-to-back Super Bowls with the same formula. They ran the ball with Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch and played defense with the “Legion of Boom.” One more carry by Lynch would have won the Seahawks back-to-back Super Bowls but they passed and the rest is history.

Then this year, the Seahawks have been up and down because of injuries, holdouts and integrating big free agent acquisitions. But the defense would gel and become the “Legion of Boom again and Thomas Rawls took over for Lynch and averaged 130 yards per game from Week 11 to Week 13.

Wilson flourished during that time and beyond, throwing 19 touchdowns and not interceptions for Week 11 to Week 15. But the Minnesota Vikings are the only team of the five the have a good pass defense with a good pass-rush. So in come the St. Louis Rams, equipped with all of the above to be the Seahawks at home.

They beat the Seahawks the same way the Seahawks have beaten their opponents over the years. The Rams did it with their defense and running back Todd Gurley, picked in the first round this year. The Rams sacked quarterback Russell Wilson four times forced two fumbles, returning one of them for a touchdown.

And on offense, Gurley controlled the ball with a touchdown and 85 yards rushing on 19 carries. A lot of his runs were like that of Lynch, where he just refused to be taken to the ground. Then there was one in particular, where he hurdled a defender, that I haven’t seen by Lynch before.

Either way, his play seemed to give the Seahawks a glimpse in the mirror to show them what they need to do in the playoffs. The Seahawks on Wilson’s shoulders in the playoffs will get them knocked out fast. All indications are that “Beast Mode” will be back for the playoffs and that’s who and what they need to get back to.

The historic run by Wilson was fools gold against weak defenses that may have made the Seahawks believe in Wilson too much. The Seahawks aren’t built nor is Wilson the kind of quarterback to beat good teams in the playoffs through the air. Gurley and the Rams did a good thing by showing the Seahawks the way their supposed to win championships.

Beast Mode, boss!