Here’s how the Seattle Seahawks grade out in their 31-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Sunday’s divisional playoff game:
Offense: C-
It was a tale of two halves. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who was under all kinds of pressure, put Seattle in a hole in the first half with a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six. Then Wilson nearly pulled the Seahawks back out with three TD passes in the second half. But Seattle, in falling behind so quickly, was never able to utilize its running game. Marshawn Lynch, in his return from injury, had just six carries for 20 yards.
Defense: C+
Seattle stopped Carolina just once in five drives in the first half, allowing long touchdown drives on each of the Panthers’ first two possessions. However, the Seahawks tightened up after that, Carolina’s final two scoring drives coming on short fields. With Seattle needing to stop the Panthers on every drive in the second half to have a chance, the Seahawks held the Panthers to 75 yards and zero points.
Special teams: B+
The second-half special teams played a big role in Seattle coming back. Tyler Lockett’s 50-yard return on the opening kickoff of the second half set the tone. The Seahawks also pulled off a perfectly-executed fake punt, snapping the ball directly to DeShawn Shead for a 17-yard gain to keep a drive alive. It was a high degree of difficulty kick, but the Seahawks really could have used that 55-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
Coaching: C-
Whatever the coaches said at halftime did the trick, as the Seahawks adjusted extremely well. However, it’s also the responsibility of the coaches to have the team ready for the start of the game, and that wasn’t the case Sunday. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said afterward he regretted the decision to go for it on fourth-down with the team in the red zone late in the second quarter, rather than taking a field goal to get on the scoreboard.
Overall: C
If ever there was the need for semester grades, this was the game. The Seahawks deserved an F in the first half, then merited an A in the second half. It’s hard to imagine a game changing more dramatically at halftime. However, Seattle dug itself too big a hole in the first half, and the Seahawks didn’t have enough magic left to pull themselves out in the second and keep their season alive.
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