When the Seahawks pulled the trigger on a trade for Rashid Shaheed at the deadline, sending just a fourth- and fifth-round pick to the Saints, it felt like a savvy move. Now, it’s looking like a straight-up steal.
Seattle was already in the thick of the NFC playoff race, playing solid football and showing flashes of a team that could make some postseason noise. But with the addition of Shaheed-a burner with game-breaking speed-they added a whole new dimension to their offense and special teams. And in a critical showdown with the Rams, with playoff seeding hanging in the balance, Shaheed proved exactly why the Seahawks made that deal.
Down 30-14 in the fourth quarter after a second interception from Sam Darnold, things looked bleak for Seattle. The Rams were in control, the clock was working against the Seahawks, and momentum was firmly on Los Angeles' side. But then came the turning point-sparked by the new guy.
After forcing a quick Rams three-and-out, Seattle got the ball back via punt. That’s when Shaheed flipped the script.
He fielded the punt, found a crease, and turned on the jets. A few seconds later, he was in the end zone, and just like that, a 16-point deficit was cut in half.
Add in a successful two-point conversion, and suddenly it was a one-score game, the stadium was rocking, and the Seahawks had life.
From there, the defense stepped up again, forcing another stop, and the offense capitalized to tie the game at 30. It went to overtime, and while the Rams struck first, Seattle answered-and then some. They didn’t just match the touchdown, they went for two, converted, and walked off with a dramatic win.
But rewind it all, and the spark came from Shaheed. That punt return didn’t just put points on the board-it shifted the entire energy of the game. It was the kind of play that playoff teams need in December: explosive, timely, and momentum-swinging.
Seattle didn’t just get a return man in Shaheed. They got a difference-maker. And in a crowded NFC where every edge matters, that trade deadline move might be the one that defines their season.