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The Seahawks lost an easy field goal try against the Cowboys when Clete Blakeman’s crew forgot to reset the play clock.
Section 2, Article 2 of the NFL Rule Book states that “In the event of certain administrative stoppages or other delays, a team will have 25 seconds, beginning with the Referee’s whistle, to put the ball in play next by a snap or a kick.”
That didn’t happen for the Seattle Seahawks with Clete Blakeman’s officiating crew with 1:01 left in the first quarter of their Thursday night game against the Dallas Cowboys. Seattle kicker Jason Myers was set to try a 37-yard field goal, but the Seahawks were pushed back five yards for a delay of game penalty. Myers subsequently missed the 42-yard attempt wide right.
There were two issues with Blakeman’s call. First, in re-setting the ball for the field goal try, the officials didn’t give Seattle enough time to kick, because they didn’t reset the play clock.
The difference in this game currently: Jason Myers' missed field goal form 42 yds after a #Seahawks penalty for delay of game following officials re-spotting the ball from the center of the field to the right hash mark & not re-setting the play clock.
No, I'm not making that up
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 1, 2023
Then, there’s the matter of Pete Carroll screaming for a time out before the play clock hit zero, to no avail.
Did Pete Carrol start calling timeout in time? He doesn't get it and the Seahawks get pushed back 5 yards and then miss the field goal. #SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/tVIK8hvN1F
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 1, 2023
We’re more than used to NFL officials making mistakes this season, but when an experienced referee like Blakeman can’t even get the simple procedural stuff right, it does make one wonder.
Watch: Pete Carroll, Geno Smith, Riq Woolen, Quandre Diggs and Jason Myers speak with reporters after loss to Rams.
The Seattle Seahawks got dominated by the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago by more than 30 points, and even that didn’t hurt as much as Seattle’s one-point loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Their implosion in the fourth quarter against LA somehow feels like the worst loss in the Pete Carroll era, or at least the most avoidable and self-inflicted one.
In the locker room after the game the mood was understandably subdued. Reporters did get to hear from Carroll, plus Geno Smith, Riq Woolen, Quandre Diggs and Jason Myers, though. Here’s what they had to say.
Here’s what Seahawks fans are saying on Twitter following another collapse against the Rams.
This one hurt. The Seahawks are about to embark on the most difficult part of their schedule, one that features the three teams that might be the best in the NFC right now. They couldn’t afford any slip-ups against a Rams team that was only 3-6 coming in and hadn’t been playing well ever since Week 1. The Seahawks had them on the ropes too, leading 13-0 at one point.
However, they never truly seemed in control of the situation – as evidenced by their massive problem with penalties. Seattle got flagged 12 times this week, giving up 130 yards and what should have been a win in the process. Geno Smith and Jason Myers gave it a great effort in the clutch, but there just wasn’t enough time left after LA’s go-ahead touchdown drive.
It’s a brutal way to lose a game heading into the biggest matchup of the season in just three days, especially since it’s the second time they have collapsed in the second half against the Rams this season. Here’s how Seahawks fans are reacting on Twitter.
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Watch and listen to No. 14 put in a physical, seven-catch, 98-yard game against Washington.
The Seahawks escaped with a win at the last second over the Commanders on Sunday, courtesy of Jason Myers’ fifth field goal of the day. However, Myers wouldn’t have been in position for the kick if not for a clutch catch and run by wide receiver DK Metcalf.
As it happens, Metcalf was mic’d up for NFL Films during last week’s game. Watch and listen to No. 14 put in a physical, seven-catch, 98-yard game against Washington.
This gotta be one of the scariest sights in the league pic.twitter.com/MqxpwAmcFg
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) November 15, 2023
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Bobby Wagner leads team in snap counts going into Week 11
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For his efforts, Myers has been named Special Teams Player of the Week.
It’s usually not a great sign when the best player on your team in a given week is your kicker. The Seahawks will take it though, because without Jason Myers’ performance on Sunday against the Commanders they would be 5-4 instead of 6-3.
Myers went 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, including the game winner as time expired. For his efforts, Myers has been named Special Teams Player of the Week.
That’s our kicker. 👏@JayMy_31 has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/NFXPJd6U2p
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 15, 2023
Myers had a shaky start to the 2023 season but has since recovered. Heading into Week 11 he’s 20/24 on field goal attempts, given him an 83.3% conversion rate. That’s just a shade lower than his career average (85.7%).
More Seahawks Wire stories
Here are this week’s best and worst performers for the Seahawks per PFF’s player grades.
On Sunday the Seahawks got clutch performances from Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf when they needed it most. They also got strong games from Bobby Wagner, Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen, to name a few on defense. However, the game would have been lost without a superb outing from kicker Jason Myers. Let’s see how they graded out.
Here are this week’s best and worst performers for the Seahawks per PFF’s player grades.
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:
Seahawks defeat the Commanders 29-26 on walk-off field goal
It wasn’t easy or clean, but when are Seattle Seahawks games ever this way? Seattle got back on track following their disastrous game last week with a thrilling 29-26 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 10. It is the first time in franchise history the Seahawks have defeated the Washington Football organization in the regular season at Lumen Field, but it was quite the trip getting there.
The game started like the last few outings, as a sluggish defensive affair. Both teams played to a 9-9 draw in the first half, as Seattle could only manage three field goals on offense.
After a quick three-and-out to start the third quarter, and a Washington field goal drive to take a 12-9 lead, the Seahawks offense finally shifted out of neutral. A two-play, 75-yard drive – courtesy of Kenneth Walker III taking the ball 64-yards to the house – gave Seattle their first lead of the game. Two possessions later, the Seahawks extended their lead to a full touchdown thanks to a Jason Myers field goal.
But the Commanders were not interested in going quietly into the cold Pacific Northwest night. Washington went eight plays and 73 yards to tie the game at 19-19.
Geno Smith and the Seahawks offense found their groove late, scoring another touchdown to take a 26-19 lead with only 4:13 left in the game. However, the Commanders once again tied the game with another lengthy touchdown drive, scoring with 0:53 seconds left on the clock.
It turns out, 0:53 seconds was more than enough time for Geno Smith, who marched the Seahawks 50 yards in seven plays to set up Jason Myers’ game-winning field goal. The last time Washington came to Lumen Field, they won 17-14 thanks to three missed Seattle field goals. Myers redeemed the Seahawks, as his fifth of the night sailed through to give Seattle the 29-26 thrilling victory.
The Seahawks now improve to 6-3, and remain tied with the San Francisco 49ers in the division. They will head to Los Angeles next week for their rematch with the Rams, who defeated them 30-13 in Week 1.
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