Before leaving the locker room during halftime of Seattle's road game against the Atlanta Falcons, part of head coach Mike Macdonald's speech was "Let's return this kickoff, and let's go score a touchdown." And as Rashid Shaheed got a handful of good blocks from players like Brady Russell and Patrick O'Connell, he was well on his way to making Macdonald's words ring true. Shaheed returned the second half opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Shaheed's touchdown is the longest touchdown of this NFL season, the longest kick return touchdown by a Seahawk since 2015, and the third-longest kickoff return-touchdown in franchise history.
This was also Shaheed's first kick return touchdown of his career.
"We just knew that we were going to have an opportunity coming out of halftime based off the film that we watched," Shaheed said. "We knew that we were going to have opportunity to score and that's what we did. We had perfect calls and that's a testament to our coaches and how they get us prepared."
The kick return touchdown provided a momentum shift for Seattle who had a slow start offensively and was tied 6-6 with the Falcons coming out of the half.
"That's huge," receiver Cooper Kupp said. "That's just for momentum. Just the kickoff of just the momentum going into that second half. The energy in the locker room, 'Hey, we got to make these, not so much adjustments, but we need to fix the mistakes.' And then people go out there and start things off with a seven-point swing off the field goal in to end the first half. So that's a big deal."
This season, the Seahawks have had two players named NFC Player of the Month and two players named NFC Player of the Week. In October, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month after three straight games with 100-plus yards and a touchdown during the month. Jason Myers was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November after leading the NFL with 15 field goals made, leading the NFL with 61 points and was tied for second overall in the NFL with 16 extra points made throughout the month. DeMarcus Lawrence who had two touchdowns, four tackles, a tackle for loss, half a sack and three quarterback hits vs. the Cardinals was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10. And most recently Ernest Jones IV was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 13 after recording 12 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' Week 14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
12s watch from a local brunch spot as team buses carrying Seahawks players, coaches and staff passes by on the way to the stadium.
Tight end coach Mack Brown meets with his players in the locker room before the game.
With under 90 minutes to go until kickoff, long snapper Chris Stoll and punter Michael Dickson are already in uniform preparing for the game.
These 12s in Atlanta were not only repping the Seahawks but the A.C. Davis Pirates, Cooper Kupp's high school in Washington state.
Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams salutes 12s in one of the club lounges at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that offers a view of the visiting team walking to the field.
Seahawks team chaplain Jonathan Rainey with offensive lineman Christian Haynes in the locker room.
Fullback Robbie Ouzts prepares for the game.
Seahawks safety Julian Love prepared for his return to action and studied his play sheet in the locker room before the game.
Jarran Reed talks to the team before they head to the field for kickoff.
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris greets 12s as he and teammates head to the field for kickoff.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III leaps over a Falcons defender.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon makes an open field tackle.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori blocks a Falcons field goal attempt in the first half.
Seahawks special teamers celebrate with Nick Emmanwori after his blocked field goal.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold finds a receiver while being pressured in the pocket.
At halftime, members of the offense listen to instructions.
On the other end of the locker room, head coach Mike Macdonald speaks to the defense.
Seahawks return specialist Rashid Shaheed celebrates near the end of his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.
Seattle's DeMarcus Lawrence punches the ball away from Atlanta's Bijan Robinson for a fumble that would be recovered by the Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori celebrates after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.
Seahawks safeties Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love celebrate after Emmanwori's third quarter interception.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold runs for extra yardage.
Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp is congratulated by teammates including quarterback Sam Darnold after the two connected for a fourth quarter touchdown.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon breaks up a pass intended for Atlanta's David Sills V that Witherspoon would ultimately intercept.
Seattle's Derick Hall tries to intercept a pass knocked into the air by teammate Devon Witherspoon that Witherspoon ended up catching.
Members of the Seahawks defense celebrate after Devon Witherspoon intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold somehow threw this pass underneath the arms of an onrushing Falcons defender into the hands of waiting receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba celebrates his second touchdown reception of the game.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori added this quarterback sack to his blocked field goal and interception in the win over the Falcons.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen had two passes defensed on the day and is congratulated by linebacker Drake Thomas.
A throng of 12s salutes the Seahawks after the game as the players made their way to the locker room.
Safety Nick Emmanwori was all smiles after the game.
