After an offseason filled with hype and promise, the Seattle Seahawks laid quite the egg in Week 1 against the Rams. Seattle led 13-7 and looked to be in full control, only to be blown out with an embarrassing 30-13 defeat to their rivals.
In fact, it was the worst Seahawks home loss since 2017, when they were defeated by (you guessed it) the Los Angeles Rams.
Buy Seahawks TicketsIt was about as bad as it could get for Seattle, who now start the season 0-1 with a trip to Detroit looming large next week. Ultimately, here are some of the biggest takeaways from the Seahawks’ loss.
Seattle's offense was cruising... until it wasn't
The Seahawks started off hot on offense in the first half. Seattle opened the 2023 season with three-straight scoring drives, and would have made it 4/4 had Jason Myers not missed a field goal near the end of the second quarter.
Then the second half hit. The Seahawks’ second half possessions went as follows:
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
Seattle never even threatened to cross midfield the entire second half. The absence of Charles Cross and Abe Lucas (more on them later) played a role, but it was a tough showing for what should be the strength of this Seahawks team.
Third down is an issue
Seattle has serious work when it comes to third down… on both sides of the ball! Defensively, the Seahawks struggled mightily to get off the field. Seattle’s defense only forced one punt from the Rams. Every other drive resulted in points for them, with exceptions given to a blocked field goal and one that missed wide right. But the point is, Los Angeles was still in scoring distance. The Rams were 11-for-17 on third downs.
As for the Seahawks, extending drives became a major concern. Seattle was a measly 2-for-9 in this category. In fact, if it weren’t for a pass interference on the first play of their second drive of the second half, the Seahawks did not pick up another first down. Yikes.
Thanks to the inability to get off the field defensively, or stay on it offensively, meant an old foe returned to haunt the Seahawks: the time of possession battle. The Rams dominated Seattle in this category 39:23 to 20:37.
Run defense looks improved, pass rush was non-existent
The Seahawks’ rush defense from last year was ranked 30th in the league. In Week 1, it did look slightly improved. Los Angeles only had 92 yards as a team on 40 total carries. It’s still not great, but the Rams were hardly running wild like we saw plenty of times last year.
However, the Seahawks were pitiful when it came to stopping Los Angeles’ passing attack, and this starts upfront. Despite a weak offensive line, quarterback Matthew Stafford remained practically unblemished. Seattle’s defensive line only registered two quarterback hits, and no sacks. Stafford torched a Seahawks secondary (badly missing Devon Witherspoon and Jamal Adams) for 334 passing yards.
Injuries take their toll
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it a thousand more: injuries are the worst part in all of sports. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit the Seahawks in a brutal way. As previously stated, Seattle’s offense was cooking in the first half. The offensive line was keeping quarterback Geno Smith upright.
Then the second half hit. Left tackle Charles Cross was carted off the field with a toe injury, and Abe Lucas left with a knee injury. Later, receiver Tyler Lockett was evaluated pursuant to the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The absence of Cross and Lucas was felt as the Seahawks offense stalled to an embarrassing degree in the second half.
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