The Seattle Seahawks (6-4) may have the bankruptcy of divisional rival L. A. not use. In a thrilling Monday night game, the Seahawks lose to the Atlanta Falcons (6-4)31:34, attacking the well-known problems. Combined with the defensive failures, this was too much, despite another good performance by Russell Wilson.
In addition to Cliff Avril, who has been injured for a while, Seattle also missed Kam Chancellor and Cornerback Richard Sherman – presumably the season is over for both of them due to injury. Jarran Reed also had to fit at short notice and on the first drive, rookie-cornerback Shaquill Griffin suffered a concussion. All in all, there were too many deep blows for the seahawks defense.
Atlanta, for its part without Devonta Freeman, was at operating temperature in a flash. The Falcons, driven by a shiny Matt Ryan (19/27,195 YDS, 2 TD) immediately marched down the field, Coleman found the end zone from a very short distance. Seattle’s first drive ended with a quick and ugly interception by Russell Wilson (26/42,258 YDS, 2 TD, INT), few plays and a near-interception by Ryan later, Mohamed Sanu caught the second touchdown in a spectacular way.
It turned out to be a great, fast-paced game with hard, fair hits and two teams in attack mode. The problem from Seahawk’s point of view: In addition to the new problems in the thinned-out defense, the well-known problems were omnipresent. The offensive line had huge difficulties with Atlanta’s pass rush, which led to a defensive touchdown early on: McKinley knocked out Wilson’s ball and Clayborn carried it into the final zone.
Nevertheless, the fans in Seattle saw a little bit of a shootout, and that was once again due to Wilson’s enormous individual quality. Very good returns from Lockett as well as a kick-off return fumble from the Falcons also helped the Seahawks, and it took them until the second half of the game before the defenses got a better grip on the game. But then things got dramatic again: When Atlanta had just gone into the lead with ten points, Wilson put down a 49-second TD-Drive before a Richardson bag finished at Third Down Atlantas Drive. Seattle had a chance to equalise with just under two minutes on the clock – Blair Walsh’s 52-yard field kick seven seconds before the end but was too short.
Seattle Seahawks (6-4) – Atlanta Falcons (6-4)31:34 (7:14,10:10,6:7,8:3) BOXSCORE
Both teams had just punted and Seattle’s Defense had put the Falcons a good seven minutes before the end with eight points behind them in a long third down. But Matt Ryan was there: A great 29-yard pass on Julio Jones, who had Jeremy Lane on the right and not Richard Sherman against him. This pass allowed Atlanta to take a good deal of time off the clock again and raise it via Field Goal. Also worth mentioning: Seven seconds before half-time, Seattle tried a highly questionable field goal fake instead of a 35-yard kick that failed. Three points that Seattle lacked late in the game sensitively.
What the Falcons have just shown against Dallas continued in Seattle: Grady Jarrett, Adrian Clayborn and Co. disassembled Seattle’s offensive line and ruined any rhythm in Seattle’s offense. It was one of the main reasons why the Hawks again didn’t have a run game – and that Wilson often had to dig deep into his bag of tricks in passing.
Jarrett and Clayborn as well as Dontari Poe (5 Pressures) dominated the front, Keanu Neal handed out hard hits – and Trufant was the lockdown corner to complete the defensive picture. grabbed a pick and a fumble and also defended very well against Jimmy Graham a few times. Allowed only three receptions for 28 yards with six targets and had a run-stop. In Seattle, Tyler Lockett and Wilson won with 195 kick-off return yards.
Beside the already mentioned Seahawks-Line Beasley attracted several negative attention. Only a Tackle-Assist and in his role as quarterback-spy against Russell Wilson overtaxed. Not only with regard to the offensive line he was facing, not a good performance for Atlanta’s athletic pass rusher.