Seattle Seahawks Week 12 Review: The Nightmare Continues
Darrell Taylor sacks Taylor Heinicke (Rod Mar)
Before this game, I saw a Seahawks reporter tweet out that if the Seahawks were to win, they would be one game back from the 7th seed in the playoffs--this was absurd to me, but it was true. All they needed to do was walk into FedEx Feild and defeat the streaking Washington Football Team--it was easier said than done.
The Washington Football is one of the most likable teams in the NFL and one of the easiest to root for. Taylor Heinicke may not be the most consistent quarterback in the NFL, but he plays his heart out on every given Sunday. The same could be said about their streaking defense that lost its emblematic star in Chase Young and still shows up to play. Coming into this game, The Team beat the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the inconsistently brilliant Carolina Panthers--they were showing they were capable of winning games as a team. Coming into this game, both the Seahawks and The Team needed to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Former Seattle Seahawk JD McKissic runs into the endzone for a touchdown (Photos by Emilee Fails and Karlee Sell/Washington Football Team; Joe Noyes/NFL)
The one thing that I love about the Seahawks is that they're consistently terrible to watch. I've gone into great detail in the past about how much of a joke Shane Waldron's offense is. Say what you will about DK Metcalf, but when you have an all-pro wide receiver in their prime, you will try to target him more than twice a game--this wasn't even the first time Metcalf went the majority of the game without being targeted. When the 'Hawks finally started to target Metcalf--in the fourth quarter--Russ was forcing the ball downfield into excellent coverage done by the defensive backs on The Team. When a team such as the Seahawks have two dynamic wide receivers like Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, they need to find balance in the distribution of the ball--unfortunately, Shane Waldron doesn't believe in balance. To prove my point further, The 'Hawks had 34 yards rushing where The Tema had 152--Shane Waldron better be working at McDonald's this time next year.
Russell Wilson continued his uncharacteristic performances in the pocket against The Team despite having decent protection in the game. There were many times where Wilson overthrew his target by a mile--his botch pass to Gerald Everett on a crucial third-down comes to mind here. He's still struggling with reading the defense, as shown with a fourth-quarter heave to DK Metcalf when Tyler Lockett was wide open. Though Wilson did have a decent overall game with 247 yards and two touchdowns, he didn't exactly cook. Remember, the Seahawks had over five straight possessions that resulted in three-and-outs--the second that's happened this year. I guess even the universe can’t throw the Seahawks a bone, even if it’s Wilson’s birthday.
Seahawks fan wishes Russell Wilson a happy birthday (Rod Mar)
Going into the second half, the Seahawks and The Team were tied at 9-9 thanks to a blocked PAT returned for a two-point conversion by Seattle defense end Rasheem Green. I was hopeful going into the half because the 'Hawks played decently in the first half. Russell Wilson made some nice throws to Tyler Lockett and a touchdown pass to Gerald Everett, but the objective assurance came from the defense. Bobby Wagner was having a good game as well as Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams--Jamal even registered his second interception of the season. I thought the momentum in the game was turning over the ‘Hawks after Jamal’s pick, but Alex Collins fumbled the ball on the ensuing possession when Washington safety Landon Collins made a great play to knock the ball out. The ‘Hawks were moving the ball downfield too before that turnover, which it makes it even more bitter.
Though The Team was the better team for most of the night, the Seahawks were close to tying up the game and pushing overtime after Logan Thomas dropped a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter on fourth down. Russell Wilson did what he does best and marched his disheveled team downfield and was able to find Freddie Swain in the endzone after a 10-play drive--where was this all game? After the touchdown pass, Wilson did what he does best and threw an interception in the endzone that sealed the 'Hawks' fate. Sure, the Seahawks were able to recover an onside kick, but an illegal formation on the Seahawks resulted in a re-kick that was recovered by The Team. Truthfully, if the 'Hawks had kept the ball, I don't believe that we would've gotten into field goal range--and let's be honest, Jason Meyers would've missed it anyway.
Russell Wilson’s pass to Penny Hart is intercepted during the two-point conversion attempt (Rod Mar)
Washington played an overall good game, and Ron Rivera easily outcoached Pete Carroll--and it showed. The Team and the 'Hawks are two teams headed in the opposite direction. Washington is on a three-game win streak that saw them overcome teams that they needed to in order to make the playoffs. On the other side, the Seahawks have lost every game they needed to win against teams they needed to beat. They needed to beat the Vikings, the Saints, the Packers, the Cardinals, and The Team--they lost all of these games.
Once Russell Wilson returned, there was hope that the 'Hawks could make the playoffs, which was understandable. The Seahawks are suffering from the first three-game losing streak ever in the Russell Wilson era. The Seahawks need to look at what Ron Rivera has done with the once downtrodden Washington Football Team and replicate it. Change is on the horizon for the Seahawks. I will be shocked if Pete Carroll, Ken Norton Jr., and Shane Waldron all have jobs by March. However, knowing the Seahawks management, they'll keep them all around for another three years. There needs to be a rebuild for the Seahawks, and I feel it will be handled poorly. Go 'Hawks.