Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s what Pete Carroll and a few Seattle players had to say to the media after their loss to Pittsburgh.
The Seahawks suffered another frustrating loss at home yesterday, this time against the Steelers – and this time dealing a potentially fatal blow to their playoff hopes. Now they need to beat the Cardinals in Week 18 and hope the Bears upset the Packers, otherwise they’ll be going home early again.
Here’s what Pete Carroll and a few Seattle players had to say to the media after their loss to Pittsburgh.
Geno Smith led the way with another game-winning drive – boosting his case as one of the league’s most-clutch QBs right now.
Playoff teams have to be able to win ugly games. At least on that score these 2023 Seattle Seahawks are fully prepared for the postseason. In each of the last two weeks they have managed to scrape out unlikely wins in the last two minutes. The credit has to be shared. In Sunday’s victory over the Tennessee Titans, outside linebacker Boye Mafe stood out most on defense as a pass rusher, and on offense Geno Smith led the way with another game-winning drive, boosting his case as one of the league’s most-clutch QBs right now.
Let’s see who else graded out well for the Seahawks this week. Here are the top 12 grades in specific parts of the game according to Pro Football Focus.
What, did you think you were getting a stress free Seahawks game for Christmas?
What, did you think you were going to get a normal Seattle Seahawks game on Christmas Eve? Any wishes for a “stress free” Seahawks win went unanswered, so we’ll all have to settle for another thrilling comeback victory. Although less dramatic than a Monday Night Football setting against the Eagles, Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans is no less important.
It may not have been as easy as some expected, but Seattle did take advantage of their newfound life by beating a team they should. It was not pretty, but as I’ve said many times, style points do not matter in the NFL.
The Seahawks are back above .500, and control their own fate for the playoffs. Here are the top takeaways from their 20-17 win.
Additionally, we at Seahawks Wire want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas this year!
Here are our studs and duds from Seattle’s huge holiday win.
Two weeks in a row the Seattle Seahawks have narrowly managed to escape a loss, pulling off game-winning touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter. Today’s victory came on the road against the Tennessee Titans, by the same score as last Monday night’s home win over the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-17. It was far from a pretty win, but there are at least a few players who deserve recognition for a strong game.
Here are our studs and duds from Seattle’s huge holiday win.
Ranking the NFL’s top 40 QBs by PFF grades going into Week 17
Getting Mafe, and this defense as a whole, back to form will be critical if Seattle wants to pull off an upset.
The Seattle Seahawks have an emerging young star on defense. Second year linebacker Boye Mafe has grown tremendously from his rookie season to now. In fact, Mafe set a franchise record for a sack in seven-straight games, a remarkable achievement.
However, the sacks have sort of dried up since he set the record. Mafe has not logged another sack during this four-game losing skid. Unsurprisingly, the defense during this stretch has faltered tremendously as well.
Mafe spoke to the media about this, and what he can do to help correct it:
Boye Mafe had his sack streak snapped against the Rams, and hasn’t had a sack since Commanders game. Says the streak caused teams to adjust: OL slides, chips, double teams, etc. Boye says that’s no excuse tho; he has to adjust, create ops for others and capitalize on 1v1s he gets
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) December 15, 2023
It is not going to get any easier for Mafe this week. On Monday night, the Seahawks will host the Philadelphia Eagles, who boast one of the best offensive lines in football.
Getting Mafe, and this defense as a whole, back to form will be critical if Seattle wants to pull off an upset. It is doable, the Eagles are struggling right now. But Philadelphia is no slouch, and they have their sights still set on the No. 1 seed. They know they need this win just as badly as Seattle, especially with Dallas breathing down their necks.
More Seahawks Wire stories
9 things to know about Seahawks, Eagles going into MNF
Seahawks go all-linemen in this 7-round 2024 mock draft
It’s time for this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” with the guys breaking down Week 12’s biggest NFL matchups.
It’s time for Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season, including three Thanksgiving games, and the league’s first Black Friday contest ever. Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, are here to get you ready for the most important matchups:
You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” video right here:
[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/Gg4n9osBIyWJbpfqhshH/1700644965155_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0iaTV0dGkzcnpuNXp1ZXNsems1ZmdlNGRnb2Z1aGcyY2kiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMyNSI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]
You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…
…and on Apple Podcasts.
Week 11 preview and prediction: Seahawks @ Rams
The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up for their first divisional rematch of the year, and it will be against their perpetual thorn in their side: the Los Angeles Rams. Seattle kicked off the season against the Rams in Week 1, and it did not go as planned for the Seahawks.
Los Angeles marched into Lumen Field and promptly handed it to Seattle. The Seahawks’ 13-7 halftime lead quickly melted down into a 30-13 defeat, as Seattle’s offense only managed 12 total yards in the second half. The loss of tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas truly affected the Seahawks’ ability to move the ball. With the return of Aaron Donald – who did not play in either game between these teams in 2022 – the Rams feasted defensively.
Donald won’t be the only one back for the Week 11 rematch, as head coach Sean McVay says the team will be as close to full health as they were since Week 1. This means quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to play, as well as Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, who was absent in Week 1.
Speaking of Week 1, it may have been the peak of the Rams’ season thus far. At 3-6, Los Angeles has not played nearly as well as they did in Seattle. Injuries have taken their toll, as well as the fact this roster is quietly rebuilding. But this does not mean the Seahawks should take their foe lightly.
In the Pete Carroll era (2010-present), the Rams – be it St. Louis or Los Angeles – have consistently had Seattle’s number. The Seahawks are 13-15 against the Rams during this stretch, and it’s only gotten worse with Sean McVay at the helm. Since McVay took over in 2017, the Rams have claimed a 9-5 record, including a playoff win.
Seattle is lucky the score isn’t more tilted, as a game-winning touchdown was dropped by a rookie Cooper Kupp in 2017 and a game-winning field goal in 2019 missed wide right. Had Kupp held on, or Greg Zuerlein’s kick gone through, both 16-10 and 30-29 wins could have easily been flipped into losses.
Prediction: Rams beat Seahawks 24-16
At 6-3 and 3-6, both Seattle’s and Los Angeles’ seasons have gone in opposite directions. The Rams appear to be the rebuilding team we all thought they’d be, and the Seahawks have a chance at winning the NFC West. Several times over the years I’ve picked Seattle to beat Rams teams, especially those seemingly down and out, only for it to blow up in my face. I am choosing to not be Charlie Brown attempting to kick the football again.
For whatever reason, McVay and his LA Rams have the secret formula to defeating Carroll’s Seahawks. Having Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald in the lineup is truly the difference makers here, as Stafford is undefeated versus Seattle as a Ram.
In Week 1, without Kupp, rookie receiver Puka Nacua torched the Seahawks secondary with ten receptions for 119 yards. Now Kupp is back in the lineup, making this a formidable duo.
What could be the difference in favor of Seattle is their pass rush. In Week 1, the Seahawks didn’t even come close to making Stafford uncomfortable. Stafford had plenty of time to sit back in the pocket and carve up the defense. Now, Seattle’s pash rush has come alive. Led by linebacker Boye Mafe, and the recent acquiring of defensive tackle Leonard Williams, if the pass rush can hit home the Seahawks have a chance at a road upset.
Here are 12 of the top individual grades in different parts of the game for Seattle this week from PFF.
The Seahawks pulled off a too-close-for-comfort win over the Commanders on Sunday. Tips of the hat must go to Bobby Wagner, who once again posted the highest individual grade on the team for his run defense. Devon Witherspoon also showed up again with a high grade in run D, and Riq Woolen earned the top grade on the team in coverage. Offensively, Ken Walker led the way thanks to his 65-yard catch and run touchdown.
Here are 12 of the top individual grades in different parts of the game for Seattle this week from PFF.
6 take aways from Seahawks 29-26 win over the Commanders
Fans are sure to be sleepless in Seattle after the Seahawks’ thrilling 29-26 walk-off win over the Washington Commanders. A game that started off as a defensive battle ended with plenty of fireworks late to light up the chilly November sky.
The Seahawks bounced back from their brutal 37-3 loss to Baltimore and managed to keep pace with the San Francisco 49ers, who won earlier on Sunday. The win over Washington keeps both Seattle and San Francisco battling for a share of first place in the NFC West.
As is par for the course for the Seahawks, it was hardly a normal path to victory. But in the NFL, the only thing that matters is a win. Style points don’t matter.
Here are the top takeaways from Seattle’s victory:
Here are eight highlights for the Seahawks from their win over Washington.
The Seahawks survived a close game with the Commanders at home today, coming away with a 29-26 victory thanks to a buzzer-beating field goal by kicker Jason Myers. Aside from Myers’ five field goals, Seattle also got some clutch plays from Tyler Lockett, Devon Witherspoon and a few other key players.
Here are eight highlights for the Seahawks from their win over Washington.
