THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Surprising 'Hawks; and shoveling more dirt on Russ, now that he's gone

Yes.

We have to talk about the Seahawks’ startling 37-23 victory over the Chargers in the $5 billion Los Angeles crib they’re renting from the Rams.

Sounds like the price of a nice two-bedroom apartment in Post Falls.

But sure, it’s a must to discuss the notion that the Hawks — given up as NFL cannon fodder just a couple of weeks ago — now consider themselves playoff contenders.

This is pretty sudden stuff, even if they’re leading the NFC West with a modest 4-3 record.

Hey, the standings are real.

On the subject of more good news, by the way, fears that receiver DK Metcalf might be gone for the season have turned out to be unfounded.

Metcalf got all twisted up trying to make an airborne catch while doing a pretzel imitation, and caused what appeared to be serious damage to his knee.

DK was carted off (with memories of Jamal Adams and Rashaad Penny terrifyingly fresh), then was X-rayed there at SoFi Stadium, and examined further back in Seattle.

A NEARLY giddy Pete Carroll told listeners on his Monday radio show that Metcalf, who apparently bruised his patellar tendon, was insisting that he’d be back at practice on Wednesday.

Nah, not quite that fast, said Pete, but the damage was slight enough that the big wideout will indeed be playing before long.

The whole weekend felt like a trip to Disneyland for the Seahawks, who got another terrific performance from All-Pro candidate Geno Smith, two TD catches from the previously quiet Marquise Goodwin, and a spectacular 168 yards rushing (plus another two touchdowns) courtesy of Kenneth Walker III.

So much for all the naysayers who thought Carroll and GM John Schneider got carried away when they grabbed Walker with the 41st pick in the draft.

Thus …

Seattle inherited the top spot in the division as the 49ers got blown out at home by Kansas City and the Rams sat out their bye week.

All good things, for sure, but the best was a second straight solid performance from the defense — a group that appeared to have the strength of tissue paper through the season’s first few weeks.

The Seahawks stoned the Chargers’ running game (stiffing a fourth-and-one at one point), allowing just 53 yards — a paltry 3.2 yards per try.

On the back end, the secondary was excellent against QB Justin Herbert, while benefitting from a new and helpful pass rush.

The highlight of the heat generated on Herbert was a strip sack by Darrell Taylor, who started the season as though he were playing on heavy tranquilizers but now has begun to show the explosiveness the coaching staff hoped to see.

If you want to guess why this defense might be growing teeth as we get deeper into the season, remember that new coordinator Clint Hurtt switched the front to a 3-4, and as safety Quandre Diggs put it …

“We’ve had the talent. We just needed to get guys into the right spots.”

THERE WAS yet another reason for the Seahawks to smile this week.

The toothless Broncos got stoned 16-9 at home by the Jets, leaving Denver — which has scored just 100 points in seven games (a shade over 14 ppg) — with a 2-5 record and the appearance of sinking fast.

Remember that Seattle has Denver’s first and second picks in the 2023 draft, so every Broncos loss is cause for a mini-celebration.

Russell Wilson wasn’t to blame for this latest debacle, since he was in street clothes while nursing a hamstring injury.

Russ also has mentioned a muscle problem in his throwing shoulder, so it’s fair to say he may be missing in action for a while.

More intriguing to fans in Seattle (and Denver, you’d think), a story by Mike Sando in The Athletic this week seemed to offer proof that Wilson’s performances were slipping noticeably for more than a full season with the Seahawks.

That would make the big trade, and Seattle’s reasoning that it was a “football decision concerning a diminishing asset” absolutely correct.

ON THE ghastly side for Denver …

“Wilson’s decline predating the Broncos’ March acquisition of him was well-documented,” Sando wrote. “The 17-game stretch of decline detailed in (an Athletic) column last season had grown into a 30-game stretch up through (coach Nathaniel) Hackett’s decision to sit Wilson this week, citing a hamstring injury.

“Sending a haul of players and draft picks to Seattle for a declining Wilson was defensible if the Broncos were confident Wilson could play better for them.

“The bigger regret has to be extending Wilson’s contract, which still had two years remaining, before Denver saw Wilson play in even a preseason game.

“The extension makes it difficult for the Broncos to move on from him until after the 2025 season.

“That’s a long, long time from now.

Sando quoted an NFL personnel evaluator who was shocked at the trade and subsequent contract extension.

“The film was there showing some decline, so if they extended him off OTAs and partial training camp practices, that’s risky,” the scout told Sando.

“All the QBs practice in red jerseys, and the pass-rushers keep their distance in today’s NFL.”

Yes, I agree …

It’s just a tiny bit petty to find yourself enjoying Wilson’s struggles.

On the other hand, think of those draft picks.

Sweet.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press each week from Tuesday through Friday.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”