Richard Sherman traveled with Dez Bryant during Sunday's 13-12 Seahawks victory, holding the Dallas Cowboys' Pro Bowl receiver to two catches for 12 yards.
Sherman was glued to Bryant, who played 50 of 61 snaps in his first game since suffering a broken foot in Week 1. Sherman compiled four pass break ups, caused an offensive pass interference and tackled Bryant for a 3-yard loss on one of his two catches.
"I never seen a nerd ballin' like that," safety Earl Thomas bellowed after the game, speaking of his Legion of Boom counterpart who graduated from Stanford, via The News Tribune.
Bryant was clearly not at full peak, but that doesn't take away from Sherman's performance. The corner was constantly in the receiver's hip pocket and not once gave quarterback Matt Cassel a good look at his top target.
Bryant however, was flamboyantly incredulous when it was suggested that Sherman shut him down.
"Let me get something straight real quick," Bryant said. "Hey, man, nobody didn't get locked down over here. Let's get real. I understand our situation. I understand that. So come on with it, man. Look at the tape."
Sherman, whose four passes defensed were double that of any other corner this week, downplayed his day when asked about holding Bryant to just two catches.
"Just doing what my coaches ask me to do," Sherman said. "Thankfully I was able to do my job effectively.
"I don't think there's any key. I just played a hard game. He's a phenomenal receiver, one of the best ... I was able to get my hands on a few. He was able to get his hands on a few.
"I have great respect for the man."
For years, Sherman's critics have chastised him for only playing left corner and not traveling with the opponent's top receiver. With questions about Cary Williams on the opposite side this season, Sherman has traveled more this season and is silencing those critics one week at a time.
