Starting off the season 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks and NFL fans everywhere were not anticipating a first-round playoff exit. But Saturday’s NFC West wild-card showdown resulted in just that for a Seattle team that is a shell of its former self.
Through the first five weeks, Russell Wilson had 19 passing touchdowns, 1,502 passing yards, and a 73 percent completion rate. He led the NFL in touchdowns and was one short of Peyton Manning’s record for most-ever through five games. Pete Carroll’s new-look offense was refreshing. For years after the team’s Super Bowl era and the subsequent parting of Marshawn Lynch, the coaching staff seemed to be determined to stick to a run-first offense, despite an experienced Russell Wilson under center. This year, it felt like the team had finally adapted to its strengths: letting Russ cook.
This offense was not the one to show up in the wild-card game over the weekend. In fact, this offense had been slowly disappearing since the beginning of November. In the second half of the season, teams clearly recognized Seattle’s deep-ball offensive scheme. Week 8’s matchup against the Bills exposed the inadaptability in this Seattle team and Week 12’s embarrassing loss to the New York Giants further proved just how rigid the coaching staff was in altering their game plan. Seattle began to fall back on old habits.
But not even these early warning signs led most to believe that Seattle could lose to a hobbled Rams team. John Wolford, a former AAF player and backup to Jared Goff, started for the Rams in his NFL debut. Following a hard hit from Seattle safety Jamal Adams, Wolford was carted off, forcing Los Angeles to put in Jared Goff, fresh off thumb surgery with three new pins in his throwing hand. Even on the other side of the ball, the Rams were banged up. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a 7x Pro-Bowler and 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year, went out early in the second half with a rib injury. The Rams shouldn’t have stood a chance.
But Seattle’s exceptionally poor defense and increasingly stagnant offense could not get it done. The defense allowed a backup and an injured starter to score 23 points, higher than the Ram’s offense has scored in over a month. Offensively, Wilson threw only eight completions in 57 minutes, nine competitions if you include Rams CB Darious Williams’ interception for a touchdown. Although the pick is less on Wilson and more due to smart coaching and a stellar read, these kinds of mistakes are ones that lose you playoff games. With their season on the line, Seattle put up a total of 37 yards on the six drives of the first half.
Needless to say, Seattle lost, 30-20.
To give credit where credit is due, the Rams defense is absolutely phenomenal. Ranked No. 1 in the NFL, the Rams have allowed the fewest points, yards, and first-downs this season. Their defensive performance, arguably, played the biggest role in their playoff victory. Seattle’s offensive was completely and wholly silenced.
Simply put, Seattle looked ill-prepared and caught-off-guard. This was a Rams team that they had faced (and beaten) a mere 2 weeks ago, a division rival they should have known through and through. But, it seems Seattle’s identity-crisis, the constant conflict between who they were and what their franchise is now, has caught up to them. Looking forward, it is safe to say the Seahawks need to look at the playbook and start from scratch. The question is whether HC Pete Carrol, OC Brian Schottenheimer, and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks will embrace change and adopt a flexible and adaptable approach to capitalize on this team’s high ceiling.
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