The Seahawks needed a spark coming out of halftime in Week 14, and Rashid Shaheed delivered one that lit up the entire second half. Seattle exploded for 31 points after the break, steamrolling the Atlanta Falcons 37-9, and it all started with Shaheed’s electrifying 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the third quarter.
That return wasn’t just a momentum-changer - it was a statement. In a game that had been relatively tight through the first half, Shaheed flipped the script in seconds.
The moment he caught the ball, you could feel something was brewing. He hit the accelerator, found a crease, and never looked back.
Just like that, Seattle was off to the races.
Shaheed’s impact on special teams has been nothing short of transformative since arriving in Seattle. The Seahawks brought him in from New Orleans at the trade deadline, and while his early returns were modest, Sunday felt like the breakout they’d been waiting for.
His return touchdown set the tone for a dominant third quarter, which also featured a Sam Darnold touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a Jason Myers field goal. That 17-point burst broke the game wide open.
But Shaheed wasn’t done making plays. He showed he’s more than just a return specialist - he’s a legitimate weapon in the passing game.
He hauled in four of his five targets for 67 yards, including a 33-yard strike from Darnold that stood as Seattle’s most explosive offensive play of the day. Shaheed’s speed was on full display, stretching the Falcons’ secondary and opening up space for the rest of the offense.
Only Smith-Njigba had more receiving yards, finishing with 92.
This was easily Shaheed’s most complete performance in a Seahawks uniform. Before Sunday, he hadn’t topped 27 receiving yards in a game since the trade. Against Atlanta, he nearly tripled that and added a game-changing special teams touchdown to boot.
For Seattle, this was more than just a blowout win - it was a glimpse of what this team can look like when all three phases click. And for Shaheed, it was a coming-out party.
The Seahawks bet on his playmaking ability at the deadline. On Sunday, that bet paid off in a big way.