Seahawks’ offense vanishes again in loss at Chicago
Published 1:30 am Monday, September 17, 2018
CHICAGO — The Seattle Seahawks’ offense went missing Monday night, and just two games into the NFL season Seattle finds itself in a daunting hole.
The Seahawks sputtered for most of Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears, and Seattle fell to 0-2 following a 24-17 loss at Soldier Field that wasn’t as close as the final score suggests.
The Seahawks offered little threat offensively and managed just three points through the game’s first three quarters. When it looked like Seattle might just improvise its way back into the game in the fourth quarter, quarterback Russell Wilson committed two bad turnovers, including a decisive interception returned for a touchdown by Chicago’s Prince Amukamara that made it 24-10 with 6 minutes, 37 seconds remaining.
“In the second half we got a lot better, but it was too late, we played behind the whole night,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “Obviously the turnover they picked off, it was a heck of a play by Amukamara, he took a shot at it and stole one. That made a difference as we were coming back. But it was a very difficult night to take, both last week and tonight. We need to win some games and get rolling.”
Chicago took control by driving 96 yards on its first possession, with Mitchell Trubisky’s 3-yard touchdown shovel pass to Trey Burton staking the Bears to an early lead. Seattle’s defense managed to keep the game from getting out of hand, and the Seahawks showed life early in the fourth quarter when Tyler Lockett caught a 19-yard touchdown pass with a defender draped all over him to get Seattle within 17-10.
But after holding the Bears three-and-out and getting the ball back, Amukamara read Wilson’s pass to running back Rashaad Penny in the left flat and scampered 49 yards for the score that ended up being the difference in the game. Seattle got a consolation touchdown with 14 seconds remaining on Wilson’s 2-yard pass to Will Dissly, but the Bears comfortably recovered the ensuing onside kick to end the game.
Impact
Monday’s loss dropped the Seahawks to 0-2, which is a number teams don’t want to see if they have designs on making the playoffs. Since the NFL went to a 12-team playoff in 1990 just 11 percent of the teams that started 0-2 managed to qualify for the postseason. The good news for Seattle is the Seahawks are a recent example of that, as they started the 2015 season 0-2 before rallying to finish 10-6 and grab a wild-card spot. But that team had defensive star power — plus the return of Kam Chancellor from his holdout in Week 3 — and those players won’t be walking through the VMAC door.
TURNING POINT
Despite three quarters of atrocious offensive football, Seattle found itself in position to possibly tie the score in the fourth quarter, trailing 17-10 and having decent field position. However, with the Seahawks moving the ball and the Chicago defense on its heels, the Seattle sideline called a timeout that even Wilson found surprising. The timeout stunted the Seahawks’ momentum and gave the Bears’ defense a breather, and two plays later Amukamara had his pick-six which essentially ended the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Chicago’s defensive front. The Bears controlled the line of scrimmage, sacking Wilson six times — the second straight week the Seahawks allowed six sacks. And it wasn’t all because of Khalil Mack as Chicago had five different players record sacks, two by Danny Trevathan.
Allen Robinson, Chicago. The Bears’ receiver caught 10 passes for 83 yards, and in the first half he was particularly effective on third downs.
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago. The Bears’ quarterback was up and down, but he still finished 25-for-34 for 200 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions.
Shaquill Griffin, Seattle. The Seahawks’ cornerback had a huge game, finishing with two interceptions, another pass defended and was solid tackling.
Bradley McDougald, Seattle. The Seahawks’ safety tipped one pass that ended up as an interception, made a big third-down tackle on Trubisky early in the game when it appeared Trubisky had a path to a first down, and led Seattle with eight tackles.
Sebastian Janikowski, Seattle. The Seahawks’ kicker drilled a 56-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, the third-longest field goal in franchise history.
INJURY UPDATE
Seattle began the game without five starters — linebackers Bobby Wagner (groin) and K.J. Wright (knee), receiver Doug Baldwin (knee), guard D.J. Fluker (hamstring) and cornerback Tre Flowers (hamstring) — because of injury. Among those drafted into starting duty as a result was linebacker Mychal Kendricks, a recent signing who is facing a possible NFL suspension as well as jail time for insider trading.
Seattle’s only injury issue during the game came to center Justin Britt, who suffered a shoulder injury late in the game. Carroll had no update on Britt’s condition.
LOOKAHEAD
Seattle will be happy to come home for the first time this season, as the Seahawks play host to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at CenturyLink Field. Dallas is 1-1 and coming off a 20-13 victory over the New York Giants. The Cowboys scored just 28 points in their first two games, suggesting they may be a team Seattle can keep up with offensively.
BOX SCORE
