Here’s how the Seattle Seahawks grade out in their 17-14 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday at CenturyLink Field:
OFFENSE
Seattle’s offense was less than the sum of its parts Sunday. The Seahawks gained 437 yards and a running game that was completely stymied the previous week — and has been for much of the season — showed signs of life in gaining 148 yards on the ground. But quarterback Russell Wilson had perhaps his worst passing game of the season, throwing two interceptions and also having a two-point conversion picked off. And Seattle was consistently unable to take advantage of good field position.
Grade: C-
DEFENSE
For 58 minutes Seattle’s defense was the same dominating force it’s been for much of the season. Washington was on pace for less than 200 yards offense prior to its late game-winning drive, the Seahawks sacked Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins six times, and Seattle’s defense even gave the Seahawks the lead courtesy of a first-quarter safety. But the defense also buckled at the most inopportune time, allowing Washington to go 70 yards on four plays to score the winning TD, all with less than two minutes remaining.
Grade: B
SPECIAL TEAMS
It wasn’t all bad for Seattle’s special teams, as Neiko Thorpe got his fingertips on one Washington punt and also made a tremendous tackle in punt coverage. But punter Jon Ryan wasn’t quite his booming self with just one of his six punts ending up inside the 20, and when a team’s kicker misses all three of his field-goal attempts — Blair Walsh was wide left from 44, 39 and 49 yards — in a three-point game, it’s hard not to say that special teams lost the game.
Grade: F
COACHING
There were some questionable decisions by the coaches in this one. Calling a pass play to running back J.D. McKissic on a two-point conversion when trying to tie the game in the fourth quarter was reminiscent of the Super Bowl loss to New England, and the no-huddle was rarely seen despite the offense being lackluster much of the game. And when a team commits 16 penalties for 138 yards, one has to ask questions about the team’s discipline.
Grade: D
OVERALL
This one was particularly painful for the Seahawks because it felt less like Washington won and more like Seattle gave the game away. This was one Seattle was expected to win, given Washington’s modest 3-4 record, injuries to its offensive linemen and pass catchers, and that the game was at CenturyLink Field. Instead the Seahawks hit the midway point to their season at 5-3 and trailing the Los Angeles Rams by a game in the NFC West standings.
Grade: D
— Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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