Here’s how the Seattle Seahawks grade out in their 14-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium:
OFFENSE
This was a brutal day for Seattle’s offense. The Seahawks managed a season-low 245 yards of total offense, went 1-for-11 on third downs — with the only conversion coming with two minutes remaining in the game — and turned the ball over three times after committing just one turnover the previous seven outings. The offensive line, with three rookies starting because center Justin Britt was sidelined by an ankle injury, allowed a season-worst six sacks. When the best weapon is quarterback Russell Wilson scrambling, it’s a bad day for the offense.
Grade: F
DEFENSE
Seattle’s defense struggled out of the gate, allowing the Buccaneers to march down the field and score touchdowns on their first two possessions, and that put the Seahawks in a difficult hole. It was clear Seattle missed free safety Earl Thomas early on, as Thomas sat out the first game of his seven-year career because of a hamstring injury. But the defense righted the ship, created a pair of turnovers in the second half, and was the only reason Seattle still had a whiff of a chance late in the game.
Grade: B
SPECIAL TEAMS
The main culprits for the Seahawks were the punt and punt-return teams. The combination of getting nothing going in the return game — Tyler Lockett made one poor decision to field a punt inside the 10 — along with Jon Ryan being unable to uncork any extra-booming punts, meant the Buccaneers had a big edge in the field-position battle throughout the game. The one time it looked like Seattle might switch the field in the second half, the Seahawks allowed a 24-yard return.
Grade: D
COACHING
There were some questionable play calls on offense, most notably when rarely used fullback Will Tukuafu got the ball on a crucial third-and-1 in the third quarter and was stuffed. The Seahawks also were unable to come up with a scheme to provide protection for quarterback Russell Wilson after it was evident early on that the inexperienced offensive line needed help. Given how the first quarter went, it seemed the coaches did not have the team ready for the start of the game.
Grade: D
OVERALL
This was probably Seattle’s worst overall game of the season. It also exposed a vulnerability the Seahawks haven’t shown in years, as Seattle’s streak of being within at least a touchdown in the fourth quarter in 98 straight games came to an end. The one consolation is that the loss did little damage, as every other team in the NFC West lost, meaning the 7-3-1 Seahawks are still three games out front in the division — though their lead over Detroit and Atlanta for the No. 2 seed in the NFC is now down to a half game.
Grade: D
Nick Patterson, Herald Writer
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