Seahawks unabe to overcome injuries and self inflicted wounds in 38-35 loss to Buccaneers.
There are plenty of data points from Sunday’s 38-35 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the Seahawks players and coaches. There is some good, some bad, and some downright ugliness.
THE RUNNING GAME CAME ALIVE
As a team, the Seahawks gained 122 rushing yards. One hundred of those yards came in the second half when the Seahawks’ offense came alive after a dismal first half, in which the Seahawks managed just seven points. The seven points were scored on the last drive of the first half. The Seahawks’ previous three drives were a missed 44-yard field goal, a punt, and a fumble by rookie Jalen Milroe. The Seahawks offense found its rhythm and scored touchdowns on its next four possessions.
“I thought in the first half being down 13-nothing the way that we kind of came back in that two-minute drill, scored, and then able to score right away coming out of the second half, it was awesome to see our offense do that, “ said Sam Macdonald. “ To be able to just double them up right there in the middle eight was great.”
FATAL SELF-INFLICTED WOUND
The day’s most severe self-inflicted wound occurred on the offense’s fifth and last drive of the game. A Baker Mayfield to Sterling Shepard 11-yard touchdown pass tied the game at 35 all. With 1:08 left in the game and the ball at their own 23-yard line, Darnold and the offense were in a favorable position to win the game or play for overtime. After a nine-yard pass completion to Cooper Kupp to start the promising drive, Darnold went to Kupp once more. Lavonte David intercepted Darnold’s pass.
”I think being up late the way that we were, the way our offense was rolling, too, the confidence I have in our offense in two-minute situations even with them tying it at the end there, I felt like we could go down and put Jason Myers in a position to be able to win the game there,” said Darnold
.As for the interception, Darnold owned up to the interception, which the Bucs converted into a game-winning 39-yard field goal.
“I was just trying to throw it away. I think it might have deflected off a helmet. Once I saw it was going to be hot to my left, I just tried to throw it away, and I think it deflected off somebody’s helmet. At the end of the day, I got to protect the football in that situation and can’t give them a short field to put the game away like that. I also want to give credit to those guys in Tampa Bay. They’re a tough team. Every game they’re in I feel like they fight until the very end, so you got to give them a lot of credit.”
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD DECIMATED BY INJURIES
Going into the game, the Seahawks’ defense was missing three starters: DL DeMarcus Lawrence, safety Julian Love, and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. To compensate for the loss, the Seahawks employed a three-safety look with Coby Bryant, Ty Okada, and Nick Emmanwori. When they played a base defense, Derion Kendrick replaced Emmanwori. The strategy worked, and the Seahawks’ defense allowed the Buccaneers 13 first-half points.
LACK OF PRESSURE STRESSES THE BACKLINE
In the second half, the Seahawks were unable to generate any rush, which gave Mayfield time to scan the field when in passing formation. With time to run deep, intermediate, and short routes, the Bucs’ receivers ran around, through, and over the Seahawks’ weakened secondary. Bucs wide out Emeka Egbuka had seven receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown. Things went from bad to worse for the Seahawks’ secondary when Riq Woolen was ruled out of the game with a concussion early in the second half. A rusty Nehemiah Pritchard replaced Woolen, and the Buccaneers smelled blood in the water and attacked Pritchard, Derion Kendrick, and Josh Jobe.
“We just have to not let Baker (Mayfield) get out of the pocket and make those kinds of throws. We just have to play better all the time,” said Pritchard. “As a collective, we just have to do a better job on defense. Whether it’s the D-line containing the quarterback or DBs covering receivers, we just have to be better one body on body.” The Seahawks finished the game with two quarterback hits and zero sacks.
BARN BURNER OF A DAY
The other bright spot for the Seahawks was the play of tight end AJ Barner, who caught seven passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns. While Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with eight receptions for a 132 yards and one touchdown, Barner’s contributions from the tight end position kept the Seahawks in the game.
“I felt like we were beating ourselves at the start. In the NFL, penalties are huge, and we were just getting behind the sticks, said Barner. “ We didn’t do that in the second half, so we’ve got to continue to play clean football.”
So far this season, Barner has 14 receptions for 134 yards and four touchdowns. Barner also has two carries for four yards this season.
BIG TAKE
This was a game the Seahawks played poorly at the start, refocused in the second half, and nearly won. The injuries to the secondary were a factor, but the two significant issues for the team were a lack of pass rush and self-inflicted wounds in the form of penalties at critical moments.
From Macdonald to the players, everyone took responsibility for their part in the loss to the Buccaneers.
“Obviously very disappointed. Our guys played extremely hard. Fought all the way to the end, but I told the team, look, this game is my responsibility. You got to give Tampa Bay a lot of credit. We knew they would fight to the very end, which they’ve done all year, and are a very tough and very good football team. But I have to do better with our defensive game plan and execution, and how we call it. When you put up a performance like that, it means that I didn’t prepare them well enough. It hurts. It stings. It should, because our guys work extremely hard and they care. However, we’re going to use this as a stepping stone to move forward, and that’s the only thing we can do. We’re going to take it on the chin and move forward tomorrow, and move on and grow and get ready to play our best game against Jacksonville. It’s that simple.”
