That escalated quickly: Seahawks roll over Colts with 2nd-half explosion

If you're a supporter of the Indianapolis Colts, you must be wondering what went awry. A strong start saw the road underdogs keep pace with the Seattle Seahawks into the second half, and a win seemed to be in reach as the two sides sat tied at 18 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter.

How quickly things change.

In just under a quarter and a half, the Seahawks put up 28 unanswered points to turn the once-close prime-time affair into a blowout. Russell Wilson put on a second-half clinic en route to a 46-18 win, finishing the night 21-of-26 passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns, each of which coming during the fourth-quarter explosion.

Impressive as the star quarterback's display may have been, it would be wildly incorrect to overlook the contributions of the vaunted Seahawks defense, which also came alive in the second half. Marcus Smith forced a fumble that Bobby Wagner returned 21 yards for a touchdown, giving Seattle a 32-18 lead as it pulled away. The play also cemented a standout performance from Wagner, who's arguably the NFL's premier inside linebacker alongside Carolina's Luke Kuechly.

Wagner finished with six tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits, which was indicative of his all-around dominance. It could even be argued that he's the best defensive player on the Seahawks' star-studded, historically dominant unit.

A frustrating September had many jumping to write the obituary of the Legion of Boom, Seattle's secondary that has been the template for success over the better part of a decade. But Sunday's game was a primary reason why the Seahawks shouldn't be counted out until eliminated, as Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman submitted their best performances of the season. It was also a forum to bridge the team's veterans and its newest contributors, with third-year pro Justin Coleman recording a pivotal pick-6 earlier in the contest. During the final two stanzas of the game, the Seahawks made it apparent that their defense will always be an all-world unit when firing on all cylinders.

J.D. McKissic made the most of his opportunities in both facets of the offense, rushing for 38 yards and a touchdown on four carries, while adding a 27-yard touchdown reception. In the lone bleak spot of the evening, Chris Carson went down with what appeared to be a serious leg injury. McKissic, who's already been doing well to outperform his undrafted pedigree, will likely now be provided a greater opportunity to prove he's the real deal.

Welcome to the nightmare the Seahawks posed in the second half. Most would argue the decline of a powerhouse is in full swing, but in a flash, they were still very much the Super Bowl contender we've come to expect. If Seattle can sustain that level of play for the remainder of the season, the rest of the NFL ought to be cowering.