For the first time in ages, it felt like Seahawks fans were ready and energised for a big game.
The Packers on Prime Time. A chance to get a statement win. Anticipation had been building all week. Sunday dragged, waiting for kick-off.
Then it began. And in the first half the Seahawks had no energy, no juice, no intensity, no physical or schematic answers and were pushed around at home, again.
Matt LaFleur was asked at half-time , “What’s working?”
His reply? “Everything.”
What a let down. You come away from a game like this realising that the Seahawks are still a long way away. It’s impossible to dream about future Championship glory after that. All you can think about is how easy you are to play against for good teams.
The defense offered no resistance early on and although they somewhat righted the ship as the game went on, the defensive backs were a mess — giving up big plays, constantly letting receivers get in behind and making mistakes. Nobody was more guilty of this than Riq Woolen, who had the kind of sloppy, disastrous performance that makes you realise that for all of his physical talent, he’s always one game away from being a liability.
The offensive line was moved too easily. When will we get a serious discussion about Charles Cross not actually playing well for most of the season? Sataoa Laumea struggled. Olu Oluwatimi went off injured. Laken Tomlinson was Laken Tomlinson. Rinse and repeat. Multiple new starters are needed. Faith that they’ll address this sufficiently has never been lower. I guess at least Jalen Sundell was OK.
Geno Smith started off by absorbing sacks on third down. Whether it’s awareness and feel or Ryan Grubb’s play-calling — you should never have the quarterback holding the ball in the pocket on 3rd and 2. Of course, it doesn’t help on 2nd and short when AJ Barner couldn’t even be bothered to cut across and block the edge.
Then more red zone woes. Smith nearly threw a pick with 3:07 in the second quarter. On the very next play, he did throw a pick. Both throws were awful. Per Brady Henderson and ESPN Research, that was Smith’s fourth interception of the season on a throw into the end zone, tied with Jameis Winston for most in the NFL.
He picked up a knee injury in the second half, giving us a chance to witness a terrible Sam Howell cameo.
The Seahawks need to build an O-line. The Seahawks need to find a true difference maker at quarterback who can elevate on days when other things don’t work (including the O-line). Neither of these holes are easy to fill but fill them they, somehow, must.
Then there’s the homefield disadvantage, with the Seahawks falling to 3-5 for the season at Lumen Field amid a backdrop of loud ‘Go Pack Go’ chants. The worst thing is, they don’t just lose at home. They get humiliated. The Giants, 49ers, Bills and now Packers have embarrassed the Seahawks in their own backyard. Or they embarrassed themselves. Either way, nothing disillusions you more about this franchise than watching the home team get their backsides handed to them regularly at home with loads of away fans roaring the opponent on.
The franchise really needs to sort out a proper ticket exchange for fans wishing to sell their seats to other home fans, rather than away supporters. Yet it’s also on the team to play far better. Ownership and the people running the franchise have to take a 16-17 home record since fans returned from the Covid lockdown seriously. Something isn’t right.
A performance like this kills any energy for the season. Does anyone really care to see a repeat of this in the playoffs? Does anyone even expect the Seahawks to make the post-season on this evidence?
It felt like we were watching the end of the Pete Carroll era again. This felt as demoralising as the Steelers game last year. How many more times are we going to have to say that?
A third consecutive 9-8 season seems likely. That is what the Seahawks are. How many more years of 9-8 is necessary before they actually, you know, get better?
