Must Win?

[Fresno Hawk]

It's not,but man does it sure feel like it.

 

[Streamhawk]

Yeah, it would be an excellent week for a win. Almost a must. Hopefully it will be something like the Detroit game a couple years ago when we were decimated and still pulled it out. Offense definitely needs to prove something that’s for sure.

It would also help if someone else in our division freaking lost!

 

[Appyhawk]

Every game is a MUST WIN until it's over. Then you assess the situation and proceed to the next MUST WIN. You have to FOCUS on the game at hand.

 

[James in PA]

We are winning next week and the following week. So while a win today would be nice, it is not a must win. I see a very Seahawks-ish 2-2 then 3-3 record in our future.

 

[CouchLogic]

If they do come out of today at 0-2 dot net is going to be View attachment 74055

This is DotNets resting state.

 

[MoldyPurpleMayo]

"this game against the Stealers is a game we should win. If they can't win the easier games like these first two"

LOLWUT? I get the Niners one because of all the injuries but the Steelers?

The Steelers (kind of like the 49ers) are missing key starters on their roster today (starting DT, starting CB, starting Safety), and they barely beat the jets (THE JETS) by 2 last week. Their defense allowed 32 points, whereas ours allowed 17 last week. Steelers Defense allowed 3rd and 4th down conversions at a 50% rate last week (a coin flip), and on top of all that their offense was great but we're supposed to have a defensive guru at the helm that shuts that down right?

In what world is a game against the 49ers an "easier game"

???

The injuries the 49ers had on that team during that game on top of losing Kittle in the 1st quarter made it inexcusable for the Hawks to have lost. That was on coaching specifically because the offensive game-plan STUNK. We held them to 17 points at home, we SHOULD HAVE won that game.

 

[Scout]

Today's game is not a must win but it sure helps answer a lot of questions.

 

[Goldfinger 007]

The Hawks have been successful all day up the middle, especially with Walker running straight ahead. The runs to the outside & the pitches to the RB's are minus runs everytime. They get the ball back on the pick & what do they do? Outside run that gets stuffed again instead of continuing to pound the middle. 3 & out. Give the ball right back. SMH.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

AFC games are the least impactful in terms of timebreakers, so meh. I'm glad we won though.

 

[glenwo2]

Today's game is not a must win but it sure helps answer a lot of questions.

The questions answered :

- K9 is not washed.

- Kubiak threw Grubb's playbook in the woodchipper.

- Darnold found out he has more than one receiver to throw to (ie Kupp, Horton, Barner).

- Darnold CAN play without Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson.

- Darnold has that CLUTCH gene (or maybe he's just Houdini).

- Our OL was very good AGAIN this week.

 

[Goldfinger 007]

The questions answered :

- K9 is not washed.

- Kubiak threw Grubb's playbook in the woodchipper.

- Darnold found out he has more than one receiver to throw to (ie Kupp, Horton, Barner).

- Darnold CAN play without Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson.

- Darnold has that CLUTCH gene (or maybe he's just Houdini).

- Our OL was very good AGAIN this week.

Anybody who thinks Walker isn't a key to their offensive success is delusional. Walker looked excellent today, exploding straight up the middle & then making things happen. There's no reason why between Walker & Charbonneau they can't rush for 150 yards every week, just need to recognize when the lateral runs & pitches aren't working & abandon them. The defense was much better this week. Looking promising.

 

[Welshers2]

It wasn't a must win but it was a very important game. We started 0-2 in the Pete era and made the playoffs once.

Since the NFL playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020, about 11.9% of teams that start 0-2 have made the playoffs, with only 5 teams doing so between 2020 and 2024.

That means it was very important we not go 0-2.