Jim Moore: Meet the so-so Seahawks — not bad but not very good, and not contenders
Yeah the Seahawks blew it and blew it in a big way. Not just the game, losing 17-16 to the Rams, but an opportunity to solidify their playoff chances and move into a tie for first place in the NFC West with the 49ers.
We all know it wasn’t a must-win game, but it sure seemed like it anyway with the toughest part of their schedule ahead - a four-game stretch that starts Thanksgiving night at Lumen Field against the 49ers and ends with another home game against the 8-1 Eagles. In between, the Seahawks will play at 7-3 Dallas and travel to Santa Clara to face the Niners again.
After what we’ve seen from this team this year, they’ll be lucky to go 9-8 and finish up as a one-and-done playoff team like they were last season. Every 12 alive would be shocked if they go 4-0 over the next four games and not surprised if they went 0-4.
As much as we want them to be better, they’re the so-so Seahawks, not bad but not very good, certainly not good enough to be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Thing is, even if they get swept in their four-game gauntlet and emerge with a five-game losing streak, they’ll be 6-8 but still in position to go 9-8 and clinch another wild-card playoff berth in the mediocre NFC. It’s more than possible that Pete Carroll’s team could end the season with wins over Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Arizona to squeeze into the playoffs.
Currently at 6-4, they’re the sixth playoff team in a seven-team race. It looks like San Francisco will reach the finish line first, just ahead of Philadelphia with Detroit and Dallas up the track a bit while Seattle and Minnesota are getting lapped but making the postseason anyway because every other NFC team is worse than they are.
It’s conceivable that the Seahawks could limp into the playoffs with an 8-9 record when you factor in that 6-5 Minnesota is trying to join them with Josh Dobbs as their quarterback. And if you’re concerned about any pursuing teams catching up, forget about it. Well, maybe the 4-6 Rams will pose a threat down the stretch, but is anyone else worried about Atlanta, Tampa Bay or Green Bay, the other 4-6 teams, tracking them down?
That’s the positive spin on Sunday’s game in Los Angeles where the Seahawks coughed up a 13-0 lead in the first half and 16-7 lead in the fourth quarter. You saw the penalties - 12 for 130 yards, more than any other NFL team has committed in a game this year.
Most were warranted, some weren’t, such as the bogus pass interference called on Devon Witherspoon in the end zone when he did nothing to disturb Puka Nacua. That was a costly mistake by the officials.
And you’re mostly right if you think Geno Smith screwed up by calling a draw play with the clock tick, tick ticking down as the Seahawks tried to get into field-goal position to win the game. That resulted in Jason Myers trying and missing a 55-yard attempt instead of likely making it from 45 yards if Geno had spiked the ball and gained a few more yards with a pass or two inside the final 25 seconds.
Apparently his helmet speaker went out and Smith had to improvise. So he called his own play. It’s easy to second guess his decision, but what if Zach Charbonnet had busted up the middle for 15 yards? Everyone would have called Geno brilliant, and it just might have happened - there’s no way the Rams were expecting a run at that point in the game.
Smith won me over once and for all in this one, returning from an elbow injury to nearly pull off a heroic fourth-quarter victory. Geno left the game late in the third quarter, giving way to Drew Lock, who frankly looked terrible, completing two passes, one for three yards and one to the Rams.
I honestly think if Lock had been more effective, Smith would not have re-entered the game. But Geno with a throbbing elbow was a better option than Lock at 100 percent - everyone could see that.
Now what? On a short week, will Geno be good to go on Thursday? And what about Ken Walker, who left Sunday’s game in the first half with an oblique injury? I’m guessing the Seahawks will be forced to try and beat the almighty 49ers with Lock and Zach Charbonnet, which drastically reduces their hopes.
As noted, the big picture isn’t as bleak as Sunday’s outcome, but even at that, so-so teams don’t generally hold victory parades. At least there’s a month and a half left, enough time to improve and disprove critics who don’t think they’re equipped to make noise in the playoffs.
Jim Moore has covered Washington’s sports scene from every angle for multiple news outlets. You can find him on Twitter @cougsgo, and on KJR-FM 93.3, where he co-hosts a sports talk show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.
This story was originally published November 20, 2023 at 9:02 AM.