Seattle Seahawks week seven review: Russell, I MISS YOU
The rain came down in Seattle on Monday, but I don't think it played a part in Seattle's poor offensive performance. The Saints--the Seahawks opponent-- were coming off of a BYE week, sitting pretty at 3-2. God knows how the Saints have been one of the most tumultuous teams in the NFL for their up and down performances from week to week. The Seahawks, on the other hand, were coming into this game as the underdogs at home due to their inability to win games with Geno Smith as the single caller. This matchup featured two NFC teams with their glory days behind them--two teams fighting for relevance in a crowded and vicious NFC. The Seahawks' 2-4 record is horrible, but they've been in this situation before. In 2015, the 'Hawks were 2-4, and people questioned whether they were still the team to beat. Seattle went on a tear by winning eight of their remaining ten games to lock up the 6th seed in a busy NFC. That 'Hawks team was great. We had the second-best defense in the NFL and the fourth-best offense--that's incredible. That was also the season Russell Wilson came into his own and became the player that we all knew he could be. So there's evidence that the Seahawks can make the playoffs despite their horrible start--but this team is different. In 2015, the 'Hawks proved they were still a great team and were having an unlucky start. This 'Hawks team just sucks.
Now that the trip down memory lane is made let's get into this nightmare of a game. I don't say 'nightmare' lightly; this was indeed one of the worst NFL games I think I've ever watched. The Seahawks got the ball to start the prime-time matchup, and they wanted to get Alex Collins rolling from the start. Collins had 20 touches for 101 yards and a touchdown last week against the Steelers, and the 'Hawks needed him to continue that production on a rainy night in Seattle. Geno Smith handed the ball to Collins for every play on the possession, resulting in nine yards and an eventual three-and-out--at this point, the Seahawks are synonymous with three-and-outs.
Jameis Winston and his Saints took the field afterward and began their attempt to find the Seattle endzone. All-pro running back Alvin Kamara took the ball up five yards to start the Saints' drive, aided by a blatant offside from Seahawks defensive lineman Al Woods. With the fresh set of downs, Kamara took the ball for four yards and was met by the great Bobby Wagner, who stifled his run. On third-and-six, Famous Jameis threw a ball that wildly missed his target--that is when I realized that this would be an absolutely brutal affair to watch.
The Seahawks knew that they needed to take advantage of the Saints' ineptitude on their next play--and oh boy did they. The first play of the Seahawks' drive was a rush for no gain by Alex Collins, but the next play was one of true excellence. Though this was only the second drive for the Seahawks offense, receiver D.K Metcalf and New Orleans corner Marshon Lattimore were already pushing and shoving each other--this would not be mentioned again. As Metcalf lined up across the line from Lattimore, Geno Smith took the snap and attempted his first pass towards the all-pro receiver. Lattimore was covering Metcalf like a blanket, yet the freakishly athletic wideout out jumped the pro-bowl corner, caught the ball inbounds, and ran all the downfield for a whopping 84-yard touchdown. Not only was this an incredible display of athleticism from D.K Metcalf, but it was the longest passing touchdown he had ever received. That's right, Geno Smith's first pass of this game was longer than any other pass that Russell Wilson has ever thrown. Seahawks were up 7-0 after that play, and it would be the last time they hold down a lead for the remainder of the game.
Seattle and New Orleans traded punts for the next four possessions, and it wasn't fascinating to watch. Yes, even though Lattimore was penalized more for his aggressive behavior toward Metcalf, the 'Hawks couldn't do much with the penalty yards. The Saints were not well disciplined, and penalties remained a problem for the team moving forward. New Orleans' next drive was wickedly long, and it drained the weak Seattle defense. The drive began with a four-yard rush from Kamara, who Bobby Wagner promptly met with the intent of slowing him down. Winston--the only player in NFL history to throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a single season-- found Kamara for a designed catch and run in the backfield for a sizeable gain of 23 yards. From the New Orleans 46-yard line, the Saints were facing third-and-seven and Marquez Callaway for a meager increase of four yards. The Saints shouldn't have gotten a fresh set of downs, but Seattle corner D.J Reed was called for pass interference on the play because he was tugging on Callaway's jersey--the Saints' drive continued.
With new downs, the Saints found themselves in another third-down situation on third-and-one from the Seattle 45-yard line. The natural play was to hand the ball off to Alvin Kamara and let him pick up the measly yard needed to keep their drive alive. Only despite what should've been a converted down, Bobby Wagner made an incredible play when he rushed up the line and stuffed Kamara in the backfield--he has had a fantastic game. The Saints didn't want to have this drive stall, so they kept the offense out and had Jameis Winston administer a quarterback sneak to get the one yard to keep the drive alive--the Saints' drive continued.
The new first down didn't mean much after a holding call on New Orleans offensive lineman Terrone Armstead which pushed them back to their 46-yard line. New Orleans got the yards back and more with a 14-yard pass to Marquez Callaway down to the Seattle 40-yard line. From second-and-six, Marquez Callaway caught the ball on back-to-back possessions, and this time he moved it for five yards. On third-and-one, Kamara was given the ball to advance it, but he failed to convert again--to note quickly, the Seahawks defense has done a great job on third down. However, just like the previous fourth down situation, Jameis Winston ran another quarterback sneak and gained enough yards to convert--the Saints' drive continued.
Jameis Winston remained strong-willed in this exhausting drive. He was able to make plays such as decisive passes to Alvin Kamara and pick up 18-yards on a scramble--that play hurt because the 'Hawks had great coverage on that play; they just left an open hole for Winston to run through. Miraculously, the Seahawks could keep the Saints out of the endzone once their opposition reached the Seattle two-yard line. Saints head coach Sean Payton opted to take the field goal rather than try for another fourth-down conversion. Saints rookie kicker Brian Johnson came out and kicked the easy 21-yard field goal to get the Saints on the board. This Saints' drive lasted 19 plays and over 10 minutes--it's a miracle that the 'Hawks defense didn't crumble under pressure and allow a touchdown. To me, this drive was a positive for Seattle the defense.
On the ensuing Seahawks possession, the 'Hawks were blessed with yet another unnecessary roughness penalty on the Saints--specifically cornerback C.J Gardner Johnson. It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that Geno Smith and his inept Seahawks offense failed to anything worth mentioning for the remainder of this drive. The 'Hawks were given plenty of chances in this game to win, but time after time, they kept blowing those chances.
Sean Payton, unlike Pete Carroll, knew that his team needed more points, and with the clock eerily ticking down to the end of the half, this could be his team's last chance to score points before half-time. Winston and his Saints took no time to get the drive started with an infamous screen to Alvin Kamara--the same play that has been beating the Seahawks defense all night. After converting a third-and-short, Winston found Kamara again, but this time it wasn't a screen. Kamara ran a short route that got him a little upfield to the center of the defense and exploded past Seahawks defenders for a gain of 31-yards--that play brought the Saints onto the Seattle 28-yard line. From there, Jameis Winston found the tight end, Adam Trautman, for 15 more yards down to the Seattle 13-yard line. Once the Saints were deep into 'Hawks territory, they rewarded the man who has been having an excellent game--Alvin Kamara-- with a touchdown reception that made the game 10-7 before the half. The Saints' offense showed their ability to chew the clock and strike quickly in the second quarter--I envy that kind of versatility.
New Orleans received the ball to start the third quarter, but they rain into a brick called the Seattle Seahawks defense--did I really just type that?--and punted the ball back into the lethal hands of Geno Smith. Facing third-and-four from their 18-yard line, it looked like the 'Hawks would suffer another three-and-out, but guess what, the Saints committed another unnecessary roughness penalty--this time, the culprit was Marcus Davenport. With a new set of downs and 15 yards closer to the endzone, Smith found tight end Gerald Everett for a decent gain of 12 yards--I'm not going to lie, it feels weird writing about positive Seahawks plays. All right, for this next play, I want to try another game with you. What do you think happened in the next play of the game? Was it:
A) Geno Smith gets sacked and loses the football
B) Tyler Lockett doesn't disappoint your fantasy team and hauls in a dime from Geno Smith for a touchdown
C) Russell Wilson takes the field and leads the Seahawks to a blowout victory by throwing three touchdown passes with his left hand
D) Marshon Lattimore commits another unnecessary roughness penalty to bring the dysfunctional Seahawks offense closer to their desired goal.
If you guessed A, I would admire you for sharing my pessimism. But alas, the answer is D. Marshon Lattimore somehow was flagged again for unnecessary roughness--New Orleans definitely put a bounty on Geno Smith; that has to be the only logical explanation for this.
Once the 'Hawks reached the New Orleans 31-yard line, Geno Smith was sacked by DeMario Davis--awesome. Geno wouldn't let that stop him, however. Geno Smith took the snap from center Kyle Fuller; he stepped back and surveyed the field. The legendary quarterback then scrambled in the backfield with as much grace as a sick dog. Then he was promptly sacked by all-pro defensive lineman Cam Jordan--thank you, Jesus, for Geno Smith. Facing 3rd and 19, the Seahawks ran the smart play and handed the ball off to third-down Travis Homer. Surprisingly, Homer picked up 14 yards and was able to get the 'Hawks back into field goal range--thank you, Travis, very cool! Jason Meyers then came out to kick a 44-yard field goal to tie the game up--only he didn't. Meyers' kick went right and missed the uprights narrowly--well, that sucked.
The following two possessions for either team were punts and not worth mentioning because the Saints didn't commit a dirty penalty, and Geno Smith wasn't sacked, so on to the next play of importance!--cue the Batman music.
New Orleans didn't get any remanence of offense going in this half, and now was a great time to do it. I'm sure that you, the reader, have become an expert on predicting what the Saints will do on offense by this point and have rightfully expected a screen pass to Alvin Kamara for a gain of 13 yards. Winston passed from the New Orleans 36-yard line to Trautman, who caught the ball for eight yards and tried to move the ball upfield. However, Seattle defensive back Ugo Amadi--whom you might remember from my review of Seattle's Week Three loss to the Vikings-- hit Trautman, who then fumbled the ball due to the ferocious impact. 'Hawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks was able to recover the loose ball, and the Seahawks were in a great position to get ahead in the game.
The Seahawks offense took the field on the New Orleans 32-yard line and called Alex Collins' number for some big plays; he gained one yard on the first play and then lost a yard on the second one--incredible. I don't even need to let you know that Geno Smith threw an incomplete pass on third-and-ten because you already knew that he was going to. For a recap, the Seahawks offense gained zero yards after being gifted with solid field position--that is a unique type of ineptitude. On the plus side, Jason Meyers came out and nailed a 50-yard kick to tie the game--way to go, Jason! Surely he won't let me down again later on in this game!
I'm proud to say that the Saints punted the ball away after only running five plays--who said the Legion of Boom was gone? The 'Hawks offense got the ball back with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter, but with how poorly both teams have been playing, the Seahawks needed to score something on this drive. After a touchback, Alex Collins carried the ball for five yards. After an incomplete pass on second down, D.K Metcalf caught the third pass thrown his way for a third-down conversion for 12 yards--we only targeted him three times this game; please don't ask me why. Collins was utilized in the rush game and the passing game the next three plays for 12 yards--way to be, Alex. The next play was a strike from Geno Smith to everyone's favorite Seahawks wide receiver Freddie Swain for an excellent gain of 28 yards. The Seahawks were now ready to set up shop at the New Orleans 23-yard line, but that play to Swain would be the last offensive play worth mentioning for my beloved Seahawks. Alex Collins lost a yard on the ensuing play, and Smith's ball for Freddie Swain fell incomplete on second down. Not to surprise you or anything, but Tanoh Kpassagnon sacked Geno Smith on 3rd and 11 to push the 'Hawks back to the New Orleans 35-yard line--time to attempt a field goal and take the lead! Jason Meyers tried a 53-yard field goal all right, and he just failed to do his job for the second time today--sweet Jesus, Jason, what are you doing, bud?
The Saints got the ball back and ran a 13 play drive to get into a field goal and range and kick the game-winning field goal. Seattle had a shot at the end of the game--what am I kidding? They'll never have a chance at winning a game again until Russell Wilson is back. Geno Smith took two ugly sacks and had to try a hail mary on fourth-and-forever, which ultimately fell incomplete. The Seahawks lost their third straight game by a score of 13-10 and brought their record to a devastating 2-5.
This is one of the ugliest games I've witnessed the Seahawks play. Both teams looked completely incompetent on offense with little to no rhythm whatsoever. Sure, D.K Metcalf had a highlight-reel touchdown, and the defense had a decent game for the second straight week, but that wasn't enough to win this game. Guys like Al Woods committed untimely penalties that kept Saints drives alive that ultimately hindered any chance of us winning.
This loss stung much like the loss to the Steelers, but for a slightly different reason. The Steelers game hurt because the 'Hawks had an overall solid game and yet still fell short on a last-second field goal after a great forced fumble by T.J Watt. This game hurt to lose because the Saints played just as bad as we did, arguably worse when you factor in the unholy amount of unnecessary roughness penalties they had in this game. If Russell Wilson hadn't gotten injured, we would have won both of those games comfortably.
There isn't much left to say that hasn't been said already, but the 'Hawks season is as good as done after last night. The offense struggled to get past midfield, and when they did, they had to settle for long field goals in the rain--and it's not easy to kick long field goals when it's showering outside. I don't want to blame Jason Meyers entirely for the last two losses, but if he makes the field goals he missed, we would still have hope for the season. Jets fans are still acting like they won the Jamal Adams trade--Jamal played an excellent game last night, too, by the way--but we all know they're drafting a bust. Enjoy the moral victory Gang Green. Go 'Hawks!