What grade do you give Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks for the first half of their season? (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

What grade do you give Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks for the first half of their season? (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

POLL: How do you grade the Seahawks’ first half?

Seattle went 6-2 in their first eight games and are in playoff position, but questions remain.

With their 27-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks reached the midpoint of their 2019 season. So how have they done?

Seattle completed their first eight games with a 6-2 record, which puts them in second place in the NFC West, 1.5 games behind the undefeated San Francisco 49ers and one game ahead of the defending-champion Los Angeles Rams. If the playoffs began today, the Seahawks would be the NFC’s first wild-card team and would head to Dallas for a first-round playoff game.

This is from a team few considered a Super Bowl contender when the season began, though second place is right where Herald poll voters placed Seattle before the season began.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is having an MVP-caliber season, as he leads the NFL in both passer rating (115.5) and touchdown passes (17, versus just one interception). Seattle’s run game has also been strong, with Chris Carson overcoming his early-season fumble issues to rank fifth in the league with 659 rushing yards. As a result, the Seahawks rank ninth in the league in yards per game (382.9) and 11th in points per game (26.0).

The defense has had a harder time. The Seahawks rank 20th in points allowed per game (24.5) and 23rd in yards allowed per contest (376.4). The biggest issue facing the Seattle during the offseason was the pass rush, and the Seahawks thought they’d addressed that by signing free agent Ziggy Ansah and trading for Jadeveon Clowney, yet Seattle has just 13 sacks, which is tied for 25th in the league.

The thing Seattle has been best at this season is winning close games. Five of the Seahawks’ six victories have been by one score, with three of those being within a field goal. Most of that has been down to Wilson’s late-game heroics, though Seattle has also been lucky, such as when Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 44-yard field goal in the final seconds in the Seahawks’ 30-29 victory in Week 5.

The Seahawks have helped themselves in the turnover department, as their plus-7 turnover margin is tied for second in the league.

Yet, Seattle’s point differential of plus-12 suggests the Seahawks’ record may be better than it should be, as it’s just tied for 12th in the league.

So the Seahawks find themselves in good position at the season’s midpoint, but the team still seems to have areas to work on.

So what grade do you give the Seahawks for the first half of the season? Give your mark here:


Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Cam Schlittler’s strong debut freezes Mariners

The Mariners fell to the Yankees, 9-6, on Wednesday night.

Storm flies too close to the Sun, loses in an upset

Connecticut snapped a 10-game losing streak to beat Seattle 93-83 on Wednesday morning.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in New York. (Evan Bernstein / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Raleigh, Judge heat up homer race at Yankee Stadium

In the battle of baseball’s biggest sluggers, Aaron Judge… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Derick Hall (58) and Boye Mafe (53) celebrate a defensive play during the 2024 season. (Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images / The Athletic)
Season to reveal long-term plans for Seahawks linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks selected edge rusher Boye Mafe with… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.