Seattle Seahawks Week Three Review: Seahawks Get Cold Feet In Minneapolis
Well, here we are. To be frank, I didn't think that we would start our season off this way, but we did. After a heartbreaking loss to the Titans last week in overtime, the Seahawks flew out to the tundra to play the Minnesota Vikings, a familiar foe. There were high expectations for this team coming off a brutal loss, but they didn't live up to them-- at least for the majority of the game.
The game kicked off in Minneapolis with the Seahawks getting the ball first. The 'Hawks must've heard the criticism for lack of targeting D.K Metcalf because the game's first play was a 17-yard completion from Russell Wilson to the third-year wideout. The next couple of plays was the Chirs Carson show. Carson took a couple of carries on first and second down to set the Seahawks up nicely on third and short. On third down, Carson hauled in a five-yard pass and extended the drive with a fresh set of downs. After a short gain of two yards from Alex Collins, Wilson decided it was time to find D.K. again. He saw his big-bodied all-pro in open space was able to haul the ball to him for a 28-yard completion. That set up the 'Hawks offense deep in Vikings territory. After an incomplete pass by Wilson, the Seahawks were ready for a 2nd-and-goal. The offense was stringing together a decent drive, and you never want to settle for a field goal on a decent opening drive. Wilson takes the snap and surveys the area; he finds his big-bodied all-pro wideout, D.K Metcalf, and throws the ball his way. D.K. comes down with the ball and uses his great wing-span to extend the ball past the pylon and into the endzone. A well-balanced and promising opening drive has concluded with seven points on the board for Seattle.
The Minnesota Vikings offense took the field, and every Seahawks fan was nervous. Will our defense show that last week was a fluke performance? I think we all know what the answer to that question is. Anyways the Vikings begin the drive with a solid seven-yard from backup running back Alexander Mattison. That's right, Dalvin Cook didn't even start this game. The next play was a 20-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Mattison-- all three people who started Mattison on Sunday must've been stoked with his performance. Cousins moved the ball down the field with ease, making passes to Justin Jefferson and Tyler Conklin. Eventually, the Vikings could find pay dirt with a seven-yard pass from Cousins to his new tight end Tyler Conklin. A brutal drive for the Seahawks defense-- and don't worry; it gets worse!
The 'Hawks got the ball back and were prepared to answer the Vikings' score with their own. At first, it looked like the offense would succumb to a quick three-and-out. However, Russell Wilson was able to find the surging Seahawks' weapon, Freddie Swain, for a nice 10-yard gain to keep the 'Hawks driving. After that, the next play was a 12-yard completion to Wilson's big-bodied all-pro wideout DeKaylin Metcalf down to midfield. Chris Carson had two solid runs that took the 'Hawks deeper into Vikings territory, but an illegal block in the back on a screen to Tyler Lockett brought the Seahawks back. They were able to get some of the yards back, but not enough. They had settle for a 53-yard field goal from kicker Jason Meyers. Meyers is such a great kicker. My favorite thing about him is that he hasn't missed a field goal in over a year. Surely that won't change anytime soon.
The next Vikings drive was a quick three-and-out. I would expect nothing less from a defense that has multiple pro-bowlers and all-pros. The Seahawks' offense got the ball back, and they were ready to get even further ahead. Wilson continued to use his two favorite targets this game in Freddie Swain and D.K Metcalf. Both had were the recipients of Wilson's first two passes this drive, and both went for more than 10 yards. The next four plays were all handoffs to Chris Carson. The first three plays warranted 14 yards. However, the final rush of the drive ended with Carson getting an excellent block from second-year guard Damien Lewis, which led to a 30-yard touchdown run. After a PAT from Jason Meyers, the Seahawks were sitting at a commanding 17-7 lead halfway through the second quarter. I hope you enjoyed reading about all of the cool things the Seahawks did on Sunday because it ends after that. From this point on, it's all Vikings--thank the Lord.
The ensuing Vikings drive was looking to be nothing. They were able to pick up seven yards and faced a long third-and-three in their territory. The 'Hawks have scored every time they've gotten the ball. Cousins takes the snap, scans the field, and is brought down by defensive end Rasheem Green. Back-to-back three-and-outs caused from the 'Hawks' defense? Not possible. There must be a penalty on the play to help extend the Vikings' drive--luckily, there was. Ugo Amadi decided to hold Vikings' receiver, K.J Osborn. Thanks to Ugo Amdadi's inability to keep his hands to himself, the Vikings get to continue their drive. Surprise surprise, following some significant gains to Alexander Mattison and Justin Jefferson, Kirk Cousins finds Adam Theilen in the endzone for the score. I told my roommates that the Ugo Amadi penalty would be the one that costs us the game-- sometimes I hate being right all the time.
To the credit of 'Hawks, they were able to eke out one more decent drive. Wilson made large completions to Penny Hart and tight end Will Dissly for 28 and 39 yards, respectively. Wilson made one more seven-yard completion to Tyler Lockett and then an incomplete pass on third down. No matter, though. The 'Hawks were primed to tack on three points and stay ahead of the Purple People Eaters. All they needed was a 44-yard field goal from their automatic kicker. Jason Meyers lines up for the kick, Tyler Ott snaps the ball to Michael Dickson, who holds it and waits for Meyers to make the east play. Well, he didn't. The ball missed the uprights by a yard or two to the left. Now, the Vikings have a favorable field position and are ready to score again.
In less than three minutes, the Vikings were able to march down the field with a balanced attack that made Shane Waldron green with envy. The Vikings used Mattison for small gains on the ground, and then they began to strike to the heart of the secondary with the same deadly rhythm that the Titans used to widdle down the Seahawks last week. Once the receiving game began to pick up, it became apparent that the Vikings would score. Once Minnesota made it down to the 'Hawks three-yard line, Cousins found Jefferson for his third passing score of the game. The Vikings went into the half with a lead of 21-17; they scored 14 unanswered points with lethal precision.
The second half of the game was ugly. The Vikings continued their onslaught of the Seahawks and shut out the 'Hawks. The final score was 30-17. Now, I'm not discrediting the Vikings. They came well prepared for this game down two of their best players in running back, Dalvin Cook and linebacker Anthony Barr. Coach Mike Zimmer completely outcoached Pete Carrol, and Kirk Cousins outplayed Russell Wilson by a long shot. However, the Seahawks have better players all over the board; there is no reason why they lost this game as badly as they did. In the beginning, it looked like the offense would need to bail the defense out, but the unit could never get themselves going in the second half--this game was pitiful to watch. Though the offense is in as much trouble as the defense, they managed to have an excellent first half; the defense only made one good stop.
Last year, the Seahawks were winning games on the arm of their quarterback with very little help from their defense. Once defenses started playing two safeties deep, the 'Hawks offense slowed down immensely. The defense needed to step up, and they did. Carlos Dunlap was traded from Cincinnati, and Jamal Adams came back healthy. The defense played very well at the end of the season and showed promise moving forward as a unit. Flash forward to now, and we see the same problems we were this time last year with last year; now, the Seahawks can only play offense for one half.
The defense looked like strength in Week One against the Colts-- especially the defensive line. But now, they look pathetic. They play too far off the ball to eliminate big plays, which is understandable. However, there is a problem when an offense beats up the defense with short gains that turn into significant gains because the defense is getting tired. Opposing offenses are on the field for too long, and it is draining the defensive players, and when they get tired from the short gains, they get beat from the very thing they scheme to prevent. It's laughable why Ken Norton Jr. still has a job. The Seahawks have plenty of talent on their defense; no one is going to argue that. But their scheming is horrendous and does not work in today's NFL. I'm getting tired of watching our defense stay on the field for 65% of the game, and get tossed around like a ragdoll.
A lot has changed in my opinion of the Seahawks since Week One. I do not like that the offense can't play a complete game. I don't like that they can't sustain drives unless they get a 20-yard pass play. When they do score, I don't like that they do so in 30 seconds, which sends the defense back out after dealing with a 12-minute drive. I don't like that I was promised offensive changes at halftime and flexibility of scheming and yet get the same results as when Schottenheimer was O.C. All and all, I am not pleased with this new-look offense. Much like the defense, there are way too many great pieces here for them to be struggling as they are. I have even been satisfied with the offensive line play so far this season and mixing in the run. But, the inability to adapt to defenses and stay fresh and unpredictable did not change. This is not what we signed up for.
Finally, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams are sitting pretty at 3-0, with the San Francisco 49ers at a respectable 2-1. The 'Hawks play in the most brutal division in pro football, and they choose now to be the time to begin the season 1-2. The 'Hawks have made the playoffs when they've started 1-2 before, but this feels different. This team is developing a reputation for being chokers and underachievers. They are playing bad football, and something needs to change. And that something needs to happen quickly. Their next two games are against the 49ers and the Rams. If they don't win one of those games, it's over. Jets fans are eyeing this collapse with intent because they get a high draft pick if the 'Hawks fall from grace. Let's hope the team makes the requirements needed to bounce back. Or else this is a lost season. Go 'Hawks!