Seahawks Fall to Bucs 14-5: Offense Inept Again
By Ben Renner
The Seahawks dropped a road game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday 14-5 due to another terrible performance by the offense.
We’ve seen the extremes of what this Seahawks offense is this year. When healthy, Russell Wilson is as dangerous a pass-run threat as there is in the NFL. When his offensive line holds up against pass pressure and creates running lanes, he can complete passes downfield with remarkable consistency or hand the ball off to one running back or another to gash opponents on the ground.
And we’ve seen offensive performances like yesterday’s debacle in Tampa. By my count, this offense’s Mr. Hyde has made an appearance four times this year: a 12-10 Week 1 win over Miami thanks to a fourth-quarter Wilson drive, a 9-3 Week 2 loss to the Rams, the infamous 6-6 tie in Arizona in Week 7, and yesterday’s 14-5 defeat.
Aside from a game-winning, fourth quarter drive engineered by Wilson and company against the Dolphins in Week 1, they have scored no touchdowns in these games and went 1-2-1. Yesterday, The Seahawks fell behind two scores early, thanks to two touchdown catches by receiver Mike Evans, who out-muscled several Seahawks defenders on a number of occasions, and they couldn’t recover. The offense, sporting three rookies on the line, couldn’t keep the Bucs pass rush off of Wilson.
To his credit, Wilson made the Bucs pay for getting up the field with ease a few times by running by their pass rushers. He accumulated 80 rushing yards on the day on eight carries but threw for only 135 yards and two interceptions. Tampa Bay held the Seahawks to 1 of 11 third down conversions, sacked Wilson a season-high six times, and forced three turnovers.
Considering the Seahawks’ defense didn’t allow a point after the 14 they allowed in the first quarter, they may have been able to kick field goals until they won if it weren’t for turnovers. Wilson threw two interceptions, the last a game-sealing pick intended for Tyler Locket on a corner route read perfectly by Bucs safety Bradley McDougald.
Tight end Jimmy Graham is also guilty of a back-breaking turnover. With the Seahawks trailing 14-5 midway through the fourth quarter, Wilson hit Graham for what appeared to be a rare third down conversion, only for the tight end to be upended and ball blasted from his arms. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David scooped the ball and returned it 53 yards.
Had it not been for a long pass interference penalty in the third quarter and an offensive holding penalty on Tampa Bay in the endzone, the Seahawks would have been shut out. Perhaps the only positive that can be taken from this game is the defense’s performance. They shut out the Bucs for three quarters despite missing four starters, including stars Earl Thomas and Michael Bennett.
The Seahawks will take on the Carolina Panthers at home next week.
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