The Seattle Seahawks (7-2) defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6) in Week 9 by a score of 40-34 in overtime at CenturyLink Field. Here are five takeaways from the game.
Secondary torched and prone to mistakes
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans burned anyone who dared to cover him to the tune of 12 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown. Chris Godwin also had a fairly productive day with six catches for 71 yards. Breshad Perriman had three catches on the season coming into this game, but he finished with four receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown that was the direct result of Seahawks safety Marquise Blair dropping an interception thrown right to him.
The ball ricocheted off Blair’s hands and flew right into Perriman’s in the end zone, which created momentum for the Buccaneers as they would score another touchdown to put the Seahawks in a 21-7 hole that they had trouble crawling out of. This secondary has been horrid and must improve fast.
Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett maintain elite connection
Lockett’s drop on second and 5 early in the third quarter was a killer, but he was still Seattle’s best receiver on the field as per usual. Lockett caught two of Wilson’s five touchdown passes and had 13 receptions on 18 targets for 152 yards. Their connection continues to be elite and this will need to be maintained throughout the whole season.
Wilson himself was phenomenal, completing 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards with five touchdowns (including the game-winner in overtime) and no interceptions. His performance in this game should cement his status as the clear-cut NFL MVP as of this point in the season.
Pass rush continues to be one of the worst in the NFL
Not one player in the Seahawks defensive front seven can consistently get to the quarterback before the ball is released. Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston routinely had time in the pocket on Sunday and did not get sacked in the first three quarters. Bobby Wagner had Seattle’s first sack with 13:34 left in regulation.
Winston’s fumble was his own fault and not a result of defensive pressure. For as talented as this defensive line is on paper, they have severe issues and may be the weakest point of this team despite the addition of big-name players to squad this year.
Jason Myers is not completely reliable
Myers missed a 47-yard field goal wide left, the extra point after the Seahawks’ second touchdown and what would have been the game-winning 40-yarder. That’s as many as seven points squandered. He may have made a 37-yarder to tie the game at 24 in addition to a subsequent 22-yarder to give Seattle a 27-24 lead, but those missed kicks were too crucial not to notice.
Myers nearly lost the game for the Seahawks and must make more of his kicks when he is called upon, especially considering his sizable contract at four years and $15.45 million.
The 2019 Seattle Seahawks are a bad team in disguise
Wilson has largely carried this team to a 7-2 record, and the Seahawks are absolutely doomed if they lose him to a season-ending injury. Five of Seattle’s seven victories have been against opponents currently under .500, and only one of their wins has not been by only one possession. This team has glaring holes on both defense and special teams and Wilson and the offense can only do so much to bail them out.
The brutal truth for Seattle fans is that the Seahawks are not on par with many of their conference rivals. Teams like the 49ers are routinely blowing sub-.500 teams out of the water, whereas Seattle plays down to inferior competition nearly every week. The Seahawks travel to Santa Clara to face those same 49ers (8-0) in Week 10 before their bye week and must collectively play their best game of the season to even have a chance at winning.
