Seattle Seahawks overreactions to Game 11 loss to Las Vegas
The Seattle Seahawks let a victory slip through their hands. They will look to get off this two-game losing streak next week. Here are this week’s overreactions.
The Seattle Seahawks appear to still be asleep in Seattle. They had a golden opportunity to get back into the win column by hosting the 3-7 team from Las Vegas. Seattle was coming off their bye week, and the Raiders had some internal strife.
All of this set up a win for the Seattle Seahawks, allowing them to stay with San Francisco for the division lead. Instead, Seattle’s defense played uninspired football and couldn’t make a tackle to save their lives.
This team looks like it would rather crush 12s spirits than make the playoffs. Let’s get to this week’s overreactions.
It was fun while it lasted
Everyone loved the Seattle Seahawks’ season before their last two games. The offense was clicking, and Geno Smith was enjoying a renaissance in his career.
Smith’s play was incredible, and it still is good. However, the offense is showing signs of decline over the last five games.
During the first five games of the season, Smith was getting sacked on average 1.8 times. Over the last five games, Smith is getting sacked on average 2.8 times.
This does not include the ugly Arizona game, where he was sacked five times.
Both rookie tackles, Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, had poor games against Las Vegas. Edge rusher Maxx Crosby racked up 1.5 sacks on the day. Meanwhile, Chandler Jones provided constant cause for concern.
Again, Cross and Lucas are rookies, so there are expected to be bumps in the roads with their play. Nevertheless, it was still disappointing to see.
Seattle Seahawks are still in need of a running back
That statement might cause a bit of outrage amongst Seattle Seahawks fans. However, Kenneth Walker III’s play has been quite bad the last two weeks.
Over those last two weeks, he has a combined total of 31 touches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. When looking at those numbers even further, he’s rushed for only 43 yards on 24 carries (1.74 yards per carry). Walker also caught 7 of 9 targets for 68 yards.
So, in those two games, he is averaging 21.5 yards rushing and 34 yards receiving, which would give him a season total of 366 yards rushing and 578 yards receiving. That isn’t the production Pete Carroll wants from his starting running back.
The receiving yards and catches are nice and speak to his ability to be a modern NFL running back. However, Carroll loves the old-school approach of a ground-and-pound between-the-tackles running back.
If Walker can’t show he can be an in-between-the-tackles runner, then don’t be surprised when the Seattle Seahawks draft or sign another running back this off-season.
Everyone loves a walk-off unless you’re the losing team
Coming into the game, it was pointed out in the opponent preview that Vegas running back Josh Jacobs had been on a tear lately. In the two games prior to this one, he had been averaging 22.5 carries for 93.5 rushing yards and 4.5 receptions for 39.5 yards receiving.
After yesterday’s performance, over his last three games, Jacobs 17 game pace is 2,357 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing and 85 catches for 867 yards receiving.
Yet, the Seattle Seahawks had no answer for him all game long. The defense has been the weak link for the team all season long.
There was a recent stretch where it looked like they might be turning the corner. However, that was just a very late April Fool’s joke.
And it wasn’t just the Seattle Seahawks’ rush defense that was bad. Their pass rush was atrocious as well.
Young players like Darrell Taylor and Boye Mafe, who were expected to handle more pass rush responsibilities, have not made the necessary impact.
For Mafe, it’s not too concerning, as he’s a rookie. However, for Taylor, it is a problem. as he’s been in the NFL longer.
The Seattle Seahawks will hopefully get things figured out this week. Up next, they take on the struggling LA Rams. But considering the Seahawks had the bye week to get right, there doesn’t appear to be too much optimism for the team getting itself straightened out.