Seahawks Grades
Published 1:30 am Sunday, October 23, 2016
Here’s how the Seattle Seahawks grade out in their 6-6 tie with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday:
OFFENSE
Seattle’s offense was an absolute mess through all of regulation. The Seahawks were ineffective both running and throwing the ball, punting on their first nine possessions. Through regulation Seattle managed just 130 yards of offense — which was nearly offset by 90 yards worth of penalties — and the inability to convert third downs hung the defense out to dry. The only thing that prevents the Seahawks from getting a failing grade was driving twice in overtime, first to get the field goal that kept the game alive, then to set up what should have been the game-winning field goal.
Grade: D-
DEFENSE
It’s hard to give the defense anything other than a solid A, considering what it accomplished despite spending more than 46 minutes on the field. Seattle bent under the onslaught from David Johnson, but never broke. The pass rush was disruptive, with Cliff Avril having 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. And the Seahawks held at the goal line in overtime to force the Cardinals to try and win it with a field goal instead of a touchdown. But an exhausted Seattle defense did allow Arizona to drive 74 yards with the game on the line.
Grade: A-
SPECIAL TEAMS
It doesn’t get any more up and down than Seattle’s special teams Sunday. The Seahawks’ special teams kept Seattle in the game in during regulation, with Bobby Wagner blocking a field goal and Tanner McEvoy blocking a punt that essentially handed the Seahawks the tying field goal late in the fourth quarter. But somehow kicker Stephen Hauschka, who can’t miss from 50-plus yards, managed to hook what should have been the game-winning 28-yard field goal wide left in the dying seconds of OT.
Grade: B-
COACHING
On defense the Seahawks seemed well prepared for what Arizona wanted to do, as the rare times the Cardinals were able to get the ball down field seemed to be more a case of lapse in execution than problem with scheme. However, Seattle was never able to find the right offensive formula during regulation, and the complete abandonment of the run game was somewhat puzzling. The offensive play calling in overtime, though, was managed well.
Grade: C+
OVERALL
It’s hard to explain exactly what we witnessed in this one. Neither team could score in regulation, both teams missed chip-shot field goals to win it in overtime, and a tie score may have been the appropriate outcome to what was a bizarre spectacle. This game could have given the Seahawks a huge lead in the NFC West, or it could have tightened the race right back. Instead, Seattle maintained its one-and-a-half-game lead atop the division, and the Seahawks spend the next day wondering what just happened.
Grade: C
