Grading the Seahawks in their 20-10 win vs. the Cardinals

Published 4:53 pm Sunday, October 22, 2023

Here’s how the Seattle Seahawks grade out in their 20-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Lumen Field:

OFFENSE

Everything was humming for Seattle’s offense in the first half, despite the absence of injured star receiver DK Metcalf. Quarterback Geno Smith seemed to be bouncing back from an indifferent outing in last week’s loss at Cincinnati, and rookie receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo stepped up for Metcalf. But it went sour for the Seahawks in the second half. Seattle was unable to punch the ball in on first-and-goal from the 1 and had to settle for a field goal. Then Smith had bad turnovers on consecutive possessions, making an abysmal decision on a throw that was intercepted at the goal line, then fumbling a snap. It kept the Cardinals in a game they had no business being in.

Grade: C-

DEFENSE

The defense is the reason why Seattle won this game despite the offense misfiring in the second half. Everything has to be framed in the context of Arizona being without injured starting quarterback Kyler Murray. But the Seahawks were able to get consistent pressure on backup quarterback Josh Dobbs, who was forced into wild throws. Seattle was particularly effective at picking up the offense and special teams following turnovers, as the Cardinals generated just three points off their three takeaways, two of which set Arizona up in scoring range. There was one instance of collective poor tackling that resulted in Dobbs’ 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but that was the only blip.

Grade: A-

SPECIAL TEAMS

This was heading for disaster early on, beginning with kicker Jason Myers putting the opening kickoff out of bounds and continuing through returner DeeJay Dallas losing a fumble on a punt return late in the first quarter. But things settled down after that. Dallas redeemed himself with a 32-yard punt return in the third quarter, both kickoff and punt coverage was good throughout, and the punt return unit had little difficulty stopping a fourth-quarter fake punt. Myers then put the game away by drilling a 48-yard field goal with 2:17 remaining to make it a two-score game.

Grade: B-

COACHING

Seattle coach Pete Carroll has an awful record on challenges the past two seasons, going just 1-for-6 coming into Sunday. However, he was 2-for-2 against the Cardinals, including a big one when an incompletion was overturned into an 18-yard touchdown pass to Bobo in the second quarter. Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt’s defensive game plan was good as it never allowed Dobbs to get comfortable, and the Cardinals couldn’t devise a way to counter. Credit has to be given for having faith in Smith-Njigba and Bobo with Metcalf out. And much of Seattle’s offensive struggles appeared to be execution-based rather than scheme-based.

Grade: B+

OVERALL

One can argue that the Seahawks were fortunate that this performance came against a team that was 1-5. But the bigger takeaway was the continued development of the defense. Seattle’s youthful defense needed a few weeks to get its feet wet, but for three straight games the Seahawks have shut down the opposition, and that development arc bodes well for the remainder of the season. Add in the Los Angeles Rams’ loss to Pittsburgh and Seattle, at 4-2, is beginning to create separation in second place in the NFC West.

Grade: B

– Nick Patterson, Herald writer