Seahawks unable to overcome mistakes and lack of execution in 26-20 loss to Rams

Simply put, the Seahawk’s defense took one step forward, and the offense took two steps backward in a disappointing   26-20 OT loss to the LA Rams. The Seahawks made some good plays, bad plays, and, yes, ugly plays in the heartbreaking loss. It was disheartening that the team returned from a huge deficit only to fall short when it mattered.

 I’d say disappointed with the lack of being able to take advantage of the opportunities we had to win this football game. I’ll say this, I want to say, first of all, thanks to our fans for showing up and being loud, said head coach Mike Macdonald after the game. “The place was electric, when we started to make some plays at the end of the half, end of the fourth quarter, taking it to overtime, they were right there with us the whole way.”

ANOTHER SLOW START

The Seahawks played an unforgettable 27 minutes of the first half against the Rams.  Two lost fumbles and three untimely fumbles saw the Seahawks trailing the Rams with three minutes left in the first half.  The Seahawks scored in the last two possessions of the first half . A 30-yard pass from Geno Smith to Tyler Lockett gave the Seahawks a 6-3 lead. The PTA was blocked. On the Ram’s next offensive possession, Riq Woolen intercepted a Mathew Stafford pass intended for Puka  Nacua.  Nacua was ejected from the game for punching  Seahawks linebacker  Tyrel Dodson. Four players later, Smith had his second TD pass when he chucked a 24-yard pass to Jaxson Smith Ngiba. Jason Myers’s PAT was good, and the Seahawks entered the locker room with a 13-3 lead.

For all the progress the offense made in the last five minutes of the first half, they simply failed to show up for the better part of the second half.  Yes, there is a theme evolving here with the Seahawk’s offense.  The Rams received the second-half kickoff and marched and scored on an 11-play 75-yard drive aided by two Seahawks penalties on the defense.  The Matthew Stafford to Dermacus Robinson one-yard TD pass play cut the Seahawks lead to just three points at 13-10.  A false start penalty on Anthony Bradford and a holding penalty on  Mike Jerrell forced the Seahawks to punt the ball back to the Rams.

DEFENSIVE SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS

The outbreak of self-inflicted was not restricted to the offense. The Seahawk’s defense had two third-down penalties that kept aided the Ram’s drive, which ended with a game-tying 21-yard field goal by  Joshua  Karty.  Another dose of self-inflicted wounds saw the  Rams take a 20-13 lead on a 103-interception return of a Geno Smith pass by the Ram’s Kamren Kinchens. Another lethargic outing by the Seahawk’s offense gave the ball back to the Rams after a three-and-out.  The Seahawk’s defense bowed its neck, and the Seahawk’s punt team blocked the Ram’s punt.

The Seahawks offense had a first and ten at the Rams 19.  Three players later, Kamren Kitchens had his second interception of the game. Kitchens jumped in front of Seahawks tight AJ Barner. The defense forced another punt, and the Seahawks offense found its rhythm and tied the game when Geno Smith’s pass found Jaxson Smith-Njigba in the endzone.   The Seahawks forced another Rams punt, and two teams went to overtime.

SEAHAWKS UNABLE TO  EXECUTE WHEN IT MATTERED

After winning the overtime coin toss, the Seahawks marched to the Rams 16-yard line.  A lack of execution by the Seahawks saw the drive stalled after the offense failed to gain a yard on third and fourth down.

“We liked the look. We’ve got to be able to get a half yard in two shots. Great football teams convert third and fourth and short, and right now we’re not doing that, said Macdonald. “There’s math — if you kick the field goal, they’re on four downs all the way to field goal range — I felt like we had a great opportunity to win it with a touchdown right there. We went for it. “

RAMS  WALK-OFF  SCORE

The Rams offense wasted no time in putting the game away. The Rams started the drive from their 17-yard line, and four players later, the Rams scored on Stafford to Robinson’s 39-yard bomb that left the Seahawks speechless, bruised, and battered after a second consecutive loss.

BIG PICTURE

The Seahawks are a work in progress with improvement in some areas. The defense continues to take steps forward. The offense has become a crap shoot. Self-inflicted wounds and a simple lack of execution follow a few good plays. With the bye ahead of them and eight games left in the season it is time for the coaching staff to make some tough decisions. The players, in part, must look in the memory and be honest about their commitment and effort. There is plenty of season left if players and coaches are willing to be honest the Seahawks can turn things around.