By Khalid Bennett, The Seattle Medium
After an emotional win on Monday Night Football over Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks had a huge let down that following Sunday in Santa Clara against the San Francisco 49ers losing 27-7. During the loss to San Francisco, the Seahawks offense failed to run the football with any consistency, only rushing for a total of 36 yards while the defense couldn’t stop the 49er ground game that went for 189 yards for the day.
The Seahawks offense has struggled with everything lately and has not scored since the second quarter of the Denver game. Throughout the week leading up to their matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll discussed being more aggressive offensively and trying to push the ball downfield more to their play making receivers.
From the first play of their game against Atlanta, Seattle looked much different than what they put out there for four quarters last week. Establishing the running game early, Rashaad Penny was able to collect 21 yards on his first two carries. The Seahawk offense was able to end their scoring drought with a field goal on their first drive but they would need more after Atlanta answered with a touchdown by quarterback Marcus Mariota giving the Falcons a 7-3 lead.
Pete Carroll stood by his word and the offense was taking more intermediate pass attempts and getting their playmakers — Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf — more involved. The Seattle offense had a balanced attack that they lacked in their previous two games. Seahawks’ quarterback Geno Smith was able to complete passes to nine different targets in the first half including an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly to put the Seahawks up 10-7.
The two teams would continue to trade punches throughout the entirety of the game. Atlanta took a 7-point lead in the second quarter before Smith answered again, this time finding Metcalf for an 18-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17. Seattle would end the half with a Jason Myers field goal to take a 20-17 lead at halftime.
At the end of the first half, it was clear that the Seahawks allowed “Geno to cook”. Smith finished the first half completing 18 of 25 pass attempts for 218 and two touchdowns in the first half. Meanwhile, the Seattle defense was having a tough time stopping Atlanta as the Falcons were able to convert crucial third down opportunities, and for a second straight week the Seahawks couldn’t stop the run.
“I felt like they did whatever they wanted to do,” said Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu after the game. “They ran whatever, they passed whatever.”
A sentiment that was echoed by free safety Quandre Diggs after the game as well.
Pete Carroll emphasized the need for the team to get stops on third down.
“We gotta get off the field man, we gotta get a break,” said Carroll.
Atlanta moved the chains and was able to grab a 4-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Falcons leaned on a strong running game to wind down the clock but a fumbled exchange and recovery by Nwosu gave the Seahawks the ball back with about four minutes left.
With a chance to win the game on their final drive, Geno Smith made his first mistake. With the Seahawks in scoring position, Smith threw an interception on fourth down that sealed the victory for Atlanta 27-23.
Smith finished the game with 325 yards passing and two touchdowns, but the Seahawks were unable to capitalize on what could’ve been a game winning drive. Seattle now goes on the road to take on Detroit for their first of a two game road trip next week.
