the ugly

The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ Wild Card loss to Rams

The Seattle Seahawks disappointed with a 20-30 loss at Lumen Field – their first playoff defeat at home since 2004 – to the Rams on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks’ 2020 season came to a screeching halt on Super Wild Card Weekend with a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field, thanks to a putrid outing from Russell Wilson and the offense. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer seemed to have no answer for the hard-hitting, speedy Rams defense, while Seattle’s defense looked progressively more exhausted and demoralized as the game clock ticked onward.

One last time, let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Seahawks’ first home playoff loss since 2004.

THE GOOD

Carlos Dunlap: Seattle’s trade for Carlos Dunlap continued to pay great dividends in the pass rush, creating pressure on the quarterback from the very first snap and posting two pass breakups and three tackles. Dunlap has revolutionized the Seahawks’ pass rush since his arrival and is currently under contract through 2021 – after his performance this year, the team should place a high priority on locking him down for another few seasons.

Jason Myers: The Seahawks’ record-setting kicker grew his streak to 37 straight made field goals, booting a 50-yarder for the team’s first score of the game in the second quarter and a 52-yarder at the beginning of the third quarter. He also nearly forced a fumble on the kickoff following his second field goal, chasing down Rams returner Nsimba Webster and slamming him to the ground at the Los Angeles 41 to jar the ball loose. Although Webster was subsequently ruled down, Seahawks fans were undoubtedly cheered by the effort and toughness that Myers demonstrated in a key situation.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ win over Rams

The Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 20-9 on Sunday to claim the NFC West crown and avenge their Week 10 beatdown.

The Seattle Seahawks avenged their Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a division-clinching 20-9 rematch victory at Lumen Field on Sunday, adding yet another eventful chapter to the two teams’ oft-tumultuous rivalry. Both defenses put on a show, preventing any touchdowns until the second half, while penalty flags flew left and right in a good old-fashioned messy matchup. Let’s look at some of the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Seahawks’ latest “hat and t-shirt” game.

THE GOOD

Jason Myers: Myers continued his perfect season by hitting two field goals from 45 and 49 yards out, respectively, while also making both of his extra-point attempts. His franchise-record 33 straight field goals have made him one of the Seahawks’ most reliable players, particularly in such a season of ups and downs. At 29 years old, Myers has several good years of kicking left in him; although his contract does not expire until after the 2022 season, Seattle would be remiss not to consider an extension within the next year.

The defense: Seattle’s defense from Week 10-15 was among the best in the NFL, allowing just 16 points per game. In Week 16, they positively dominated the Jared Goff-led Rams offense, holding them to just three field goals despite Los Angeles finding tremendous success in third-down efficiency early on. The linebacker duo of K.J. Wright and Jordyn Brooks were positively electric, combining for 15 total tackles, a tackle for loss, and two pass breakups. Jamal Adams, playing despite multiple broken fingers, posted six tackles and a near-interception, while rising superstar D.J. Reed made his presence known with eight tackles. This red-hot Seahawks defense, who coach Pete Carroll showered with praise after the game, should be well-primed to wreak havoc on the struggling 49ers offense next Sunday.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ loss to Giants

The Seattle Seahawks became the first winning team to fall victim to the NFC East this season, losing to the Giants in a shocking upset.

The Seattle Seahawks’ sole possession of first place in the NFC West lasted for all of one week, as they suffered a crushing 17-12 defeat in Week 13 at the hands of the Daniel Jones-less New York Giants (5-7). Seattle led 5-0 at halftime, but fell apart in the second half, allowing the Giants to score 17 straight points. There were few bright spots for the Seahawks on Sunday, but two defensive players, in particular, stood out in a positive way.

THE GOOD

Ryan Neal: Safety Ryan Neal has been a revelation for the Seahawks since he was promoted from the practice squad in Week 3 against the Cowboys. In Sunday’s contest, he forced an interception after a massive hit to New York tight end Evan Engram, which caused the football to pop out of Engram’s grasp and into the waiting hands of Seattle’s Quandre Diggs. Neal also blocked Riley Dixon’s punt from the New York 11-yard line with just 28 seconds to go in the first half, which led to the ball bouncing out the back of the end zone for two points. Once a fringe player that bounced back and forth from the waiver wire and the active roster, Ryan Neal’s 2020 campaign makes it apparent that he should be here to stay.

Jamal Adams: Seattle’s star safety was a matchup nightmare for the Giants for most of the game, although he did allow a key first down to Evan Engram that prolonged their last drive. Adams has racked up linebacker-worthy stats all year, adding 11 tackles and a sack to his incredible season. Just one more sack from Adams in the Seahawks’ four remaining games will surpass the NFL’s single-season record for defensive back sacks, which was set in 2005 by Adrian Wilson.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ win over Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks won their rematch against the Arizona Cardinals, 28-21, on Thursday night and reclaimed first place in the NFC West.

The Seattle Seahawks are back in first place in the NFC West after defeating the Arizona Cardinals, 28-21, at the newly-renamed Lumen Field in Seattle on “Thursday Night Football.” Seattle held the lead the entire time, but Kyler Murray and the Cardinals kept things uncomfortably close for much of those 60 minutes. Here are the standout good, bad, and ugly takeaways from the Seahawks’ seventh win of the season:

THE GOOD

Carlos Dunlap: Acquiring Dunlap from the Bengals was a masterstroke from GM John Schneider, as the explosive defensive end has taken the Seahawks’ struggling pass rush to new heights since his arrival. Dunlap was an absolute terror in the backfield with three QB hits and two sacks, including the game-sealing takedown on 4th and 10 at Seattle’s 27. The consistent pressure he generated often threw Kyler Murray off of his game, forcing the Cardinals QB to either run for his life or throw the ball away for no gain. Dunlap should feast against the Eagles’ offensive line in 11 days’ time on “Monday Night Football.”

The defense: Seattle’s defensive unit looked like an entirely different squad on Thursday, holding Arizona’s potent offense to 317 yards (their second-lowest total of the season). The Cardinals’ running game was effectively shut down against a strong front seven, only accumulating 57 yards, while star receiver DeAndre Hopkins posted just 51 yards on five catches. The Seahawks set the tone from Arizona’s very first drive, forcing a quick three-and-out, and were able to repeat that performance on the Cards’ second drive. Seattle’s defensive line also forced a holding call in the end zone, leading to a rare safety (and Seahawks ball) with a four-point lead and 9:12 left in the fourth quarter.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ loss to Rams

The Seattle Seahawks, due to poor play on both sides of the ball, are now in third place in the NFC West after a 16-23 loss to the Rams.

The Seattle Seahawks are now sitting at third place in the NFC West after a brutal 16-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Despite the score, the game never felt truly close, as just about all of the Seahawks’ same old issues arose with a vengeance. Here are some of the most glaring good, bad, and ugly takeaways from Seattle’s second straight loss.

THE GOOD

D.J. Reed: Reed, starting at left cornerback for the first time, found himself at the top of the stat sheet with 10 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a tremendous 49-yard kick return in the third quarter. The former 49er has recorded 24 tackles, two batted passes, and an interception over the past three games. He looks to be one of Seattle’s better offseason acquisitions.

Poona Ford: Although Ford may not have topped the box score like Reed, he quietly had one of his best games as a Seahawk with two tackles for loss and one sack, in addition to generating consistent pressure on Rams QB Jared Goff. The defensive line was the best part of Seattle’s defensive performance on Sunday, with Ford acting as a major catalyst for the improvement.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ loss to Bills

The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Buffalo Bills Week 9, in one of their worst defensive performances of the year.

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The Seattle Seahawks fell to 6-2 on Sunday after a 34-44 loss to a very good Buffalo Bills team. Despite the score, the game never really felt close, with the Seahawks finding themselves in a hole early and trailing by 21 points in the fourth quarter. Here, I detail some of what went wrong for Seattle in the good, the bad, and the ugly from Week 9.

THE GOOD

D.K. Metcalf: Metcalf was, once again, the star of the show for the Seahawks, hauling in seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. His physicality and speed continue to provide Seattle with the total package week after week, making a strong case for him to be considered the team’s No. 1 receiver. He has yet to be truly neutralized this season, only being held to fewer than 90 yards against the Cardinals when Tyler Lockett had his career day.

THE BAD

Russell Wilson: For the most part, Wilson has been stunning this year, with the unfortunate exception of each of the Seahawks’ losses. Wilson played poorly against the Cardinals in Week 7 and had a less-than-ideal outing against the Bills, turning the ball over no fewer than four times with two picks and two fumbles. He also had six passes broken up and took five sacks for a total loss of 28 yards. It is clear that stopping the Seahawks comes down almost entirely to stopping Russell Wilson by bringing constant pressure. Yes, the defense did him no favors, but one person cannot be responsible for four turnovers and expect to win.

The defense: Despite the solid performance from the men up front, the overall defensive performance from the Seahawks was positively putrid. Although they sacked Bills QB Josh Allen seven times, the men up front were unable to generate consistent pressure, allowing Allen to carve up the Seattle secondary like soft cheese by completing passes to eight different players. After the game, coach Pete Carroll expressed surprise that the Bills had made no effort to establish the run, which indicates that Seattle’s gameplan essentially ignored the fact that their pass defense ranks last in the league and would naturally be subject to attack. The “surprise” factor and subsequent lack of adjustment resulted in the greatest amount of points allowed by the Seahawks (44) in the Pete Carroll era.

A special mention should be made of CB Quinton Dunbar, who looked less than prepared after having taken limited reps in practice over the past week due to a knee injury. The Bills noticed that he was looking a bit slow, throwing his way for several key completions to their receivers. Eventually, Dunbar was benched for Linden Stephens, who was one of just two backups available at the position.

The offensive line: After a solid outing last week, Seattle’s offensive line took a huge step back against Buffalo, allowing five sacks and 11 recorded QB hits. The run game was essentially stifled as well – the Seahawks only attempted 17 rushes for 57 total yards and a touchdown, split among four ball carriers. The unit will need to tighten up next week against the Los Angeles Rams, where they will face the ever-hungry Aaron Donald.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ loss to Cardinals

The Seahawks suffered their first loss of the season, falling 37-34 to the Arizona Cardinals in an overtime thriller on Sunday night.

The Seattle Seahawks are no longer undefeated, dropping to 5-1 after a 34-37 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals on “Sunday Night Football.” In true Seahawks fashion, the matchup was anything but boring, with highlights and horrors galore for both of the NFC West’s top teams. Here is just some of the good, the bad, and the ugly from yesterday’s primetime matchup.

THE GOOD

The receivers: Tyler Lockett thrilled both Seahawks fans and fantasy owners everywhere with his tremendous career night, catching 15 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. DK Metcalf may not have lit up the stat sheet, but he prevented Cardinals safety Budda Baker from scoring a 98-yard pick-six early in the second quarter, sprinting at a recorded 22.64 mph to finally tackle the speedy DB at the Seahawks’ 8-yard line. David Moore did what he does best as the Seahawks’ WR3, appearing seemingly out of nowhere to create crucial first downs for the offense. Even without signing Antonio Brown, this unit should be set for quite some time.

Pass protection: While hardly elite, the Seahawks’ offensive line has played above expectations in 2020, and Sunday night was one of their better outings of the season. They did not surrender a single sack until overtime (in which they relinquished two), and Wilson often had plenty of time to make plays with his arm or his legs. A couple of false start penalties from RT Brandon Shell and a tripping call against RG Damien Lewis kept the unit’s overall performance from being truly great, but they were impressive in comparison to many of Seattle’s previous (recent) front fives.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ win over Vikings

The Seattle Seahawks are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, but their Sunday night victory over Minnesota was hardly dominant.

The Seattle Seahawks are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history after taking down the Minnesota Vikings in a 27-26 thriller that came down to the final seconds of the contest. This game featured it all: a miserable start, a comeback that was so quick that it left viewers’ heads spinning, another lull in performance followed by a last-minute awakening, and a controversial last play that clinched the win for the Seahawks. Let’s examine some of the good, the bad, and the ugly from Week 5’s heart-stopping match.

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THE GOOD

Russell Wilson: The Seahawks’ star quarterback made a strong case for his MVP campaign in primetime, posting yet another solid stat line (20-32, 217 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT) in addition to contributing 58 yards on the ground. Although he went a perfect 7-7 on passing attempts in the first half, Wilson was largely ineffective at that time; he truly shone in the fourth quarter, bouncing back from a rare interception to lead a 94-yard go-ahead touchdown drive. Despite throwing just 3 for 11, he was able to convert both of Seattle’s fourth downs on the drive, showcasing his poise in key moments and his near-magical ability to pull the game-winning score from even the most dire of situations.

D.K. Metcalf: Russell Wilson recently called Metcalf “the best in the world”, and the young receiver did his best to live up to that praise. Metcalf compiled a total of six catches for 93 yards – an astonishing 15.5 yards per reception – and two touchdowns (including the game-winning score). He has yet to record fewer than 90 yards in a game this season, which should move him up to WR1 conversation.

THE BAD

The ending: The result of the officials’ final judgement, which ended the game and gave the Seahawks their fifth win, is the only reason that this falls into the “bad” category, rather than “ugly.” Seattle is no stranger to controversial endings (see: “Mary, Fail”), and Sunday night added another last-second call at CenturyLink Field that will undoubtedly spark debates for years to come. With just 10 seconds left in the game, Kirk Cousins targeted tight end Kyle Rudolph in an attempt to set up kicker Dan Bailey for the game-winning field goal but was sacked by Seahawks defensive end Benson Mayowa. The impact sent the ball careening through the air, and confusion reigned as the clock hit 0:00. The referees officially ruled the play a fumble, but replays appeared to show Cousins’ arm moving forward in a passing motion before he lost control of the ball, which would signify an incomplete pass and, most importantly, a precious six seconds left for the Vikings to attempt another play. After review, the call stood, and another wild finish was etched into the annals of Seahawks history. The ruling may or may not have been the correct one . . . but the Seahawks will take it, regardless.

THE UGLY

First-half offense: After two quarters, the Seahawks’ vaunted offense had scored zero points, surrendered four sacks to four different Vikings, and accumulated a grand total of 45 yards. The Vikings’ struggling defense was not biting at all on most of Seattle’s gameplan, while the offensive line looked positively stymied against the fearsome Eric Wilson and Yannick Ngakoue (combined 7 TT, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 1 PD, 5 QB hits). Minnesota has looked bad this season, which gives the Seahawks even fewer excuses for their sluggish start – after the bye, they will have to turn things around and be on top of their game in order to keep up with the Cardinals’ high-powered offense.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ win over Dolphins

The Seattle Seahawks are 4-0 for the first time since 2013 after taking down a scrappy Miami Dolphins team on Sunday morning.

The Seattle Seahawks are 4-0 after yet another close game, grinding out a 31-23 win on Sunday morning against a surprisingly competitive Dolphins squad. Although the Seahawks never trailed, the Dolphins stayed hot on their heels for all 60 minutes in a game that was in equal turns brilliant and messy. Here are just a few of the standouts – good, bad, and ugly – from the Seahawks’ Week 4 victory.

THE GOOD

CB Shaquill Griffin: After a disappointing start to the season, Griffin appeared to be back to his old self against Miami, returning an interception for 16 yards and defending three passes. His red-zone defense was positively lights-out, which prevented multiple Dolphins touchdowns and forced them to stick to field goals. Griffin will look to carry the momentum from his performance into Week 5, where he will face an offense that features talented receivers Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson.

DB Ryan Neal: In his first-ever NFL start, Neal was quick to show fans why the Seahawks called him up from the practice squad. He followed up last week’s late-game interception with another pick on the Dolphins’ very first drive, taking advantage of a high-flying tip from Cody Barton at the line of scrimmage. He also defended two passes and made six tackles, including an incredibly powerful hit on Miami RB Myles Gaskin on a screen play. With Seattle’s secondary as banged-up as it is, expect Neal to be a major contributor for the Seahawks in future weeks.

RB Chris Carson: There were a number of outstanding offensive players in the Seahawks’ win, including DK Metcalf and David Moore, but Carson was especially noteworthy for his gutsy performance following last week’s leg injury. Seattle’s top running back ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and also contributed 20 receiving yards on three catches, despite leaving the game briefly in the second quarter to be evaluated for a potential concussion. “He’s an animal,” said Metcalf of Carson after the game, echoing several other teammates’ sentiments.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ win over Cowboys

Seattle’s 38-31 victory over Dallas was anything but boring, and featured both the best and the worst that the Seahawks had to offer.

The Seattle Seahawks entered Week 3 with two wins under their belt and an eagerness to test themselves against the Dallas Cowboys’ potent offense. An eventful 60 minutes later, the Seahawks had triumphed, 38-31, to stand alone atop the NFC West with a perfect 3-0 record. There was good, bad, and even ugliness to be found in just about every aspect of the game – here are just a few things that stood out . . .

THE GOOD

Ability to capitalize: The Seahawks offense in Week 3 was not as effective as it was in Weeks 1 and 2. Although Russell Wilson threw for five touchdowns, three of them to receiver Tyler Lockett, much of Seattle’s momentum was generated from Dallas penalties as opposed to stringing together precise throws or long runs. The Cowboys relinquished 59 yards on 10 flags, one of which negated a Wilson interception and another of which gave Seattle a second shot at a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. In future weeks, the Seahawks cannot rely on the opposing defense to play sloppily; however, Seattle definitively showed on Sunday that this team will find a way to create and take advantage of key opportunities to score.

Alton Robinson: Robinson, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, bullied Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throughout the entire game. The rookie defensive end was responsible for a late-game sack and two tackles for loss in his NFL debut and nearly had more were it not for Prescott’s ability to scamper when needed. The Seahawks will likely be giving Robinson more action in the coming weeks, especially with their noted issues in the pass rush.

THE BAD

Tre Flowers: Flowers, filling in for the injured Quinton Dunbar at cornerback, was only saved from the “ugly” category this week due to an early pass breakup and an extra-point block. The rest of his performance was less than stellar in just about every way: a dropped interception, two (declined) penalties, key missed tackles, and losing Cowboys receiver Michael Gallup on a 43-yard touchdown pass. The Seahawks’ issues in the secondary were only amplified by Flowers’ woes, as Prescott made them pay with 472 passing yards – 294 of which came on 13 throws of 10 or more yards.

THE UGLY

Metcalf’s gaffe: As the first quarter wound down with the score tied 9-9, Russell Wilson unleashed a superb 62-yard bomb to D.K. Metcalf, who trotted towards the end zone for a no-doubt touchdown. The problem – Cowboys rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs, who was not as far behind as Metcalf had thought. Just before the goal line, Diggs reached his arm out and punched the ball out of Metcalf’s arms, where it bounced through the back of the end zone for a Dallas touchback. Metcalf has been such a prolific pass-catcher for the team that it can be difficult to remember that he is only in his second year as a pro, and thus susceptible to the occasional mental lapse that plagues many young players. This could have been costly for the Seahawks – after all, they only won by seven points – but it is unlikely that Metcalf will make such an error again.

Injuries: Week 3 was no kinder than Week 2 to the Seahawks on the injury front, as a number of key players – headlined by star safety Jamal Adams and running back Chris Carson – had to leave the contest due to various afflictions. In all, six Seahawks missed part or all of the game following injury: Adams (groin), Carson (knee), guard Damien Lewis (ankle), guard Mike Iupati (knee), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (knee), and center Ethan Pocic (knee). Coach Pete Carroll said after the game that the severity of many of the injuries are unknown, although both Iupati and Pocic were able to return to the game.

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