Seahawks vs Falcons: Game result, reactions, Stock Up/Stock Down
Seaside Joe 1299: Seattle's got to question how bad they are after losing to the Falcons
The Seattle Seahawks went into their Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with an important question about to be answered: Are the Seahawks better or worse than the Falcons? It’s reasonable to believe that Atlanta is one of the six worst teams in football, so is Seattle set to be above or below that mark? If the Falcons are one of the three-worst teams, which is also possible, then the answer to that question is even more important.
I think we have an answer: The Seahawks are just as bad as the Falcons. The Falcons are just as bad as the Seahawks. At least Seattle has the early “advantage” in the 2023 NFL Draft order.
The Falcons beat the Seahawks 27-23 on Sunday, sending Seattle to a 1-2 record with their second straight loss.
It doesn’t seem to be as simple as to say that Atlanta played “better” than Seattle did, even though they did end up scoring more points. Instead, the Falcons and Seahawks both might have atrocious defenses that helped make the opposing quarterbacks look a lot better than they actually are.
However, at least Geno Smith did get to pad his stats a little bit in Week 3 after Seattle ended a six quarter offensive scoreless streak by putting up 20 points in the first half. Unfortunately, just like in Week 1’s win over the Russell Broncos, the Seahawks were stymied in the second half and only scored a single field goal after the halftime break.
The Seahawks had only three second half drives, gaining 68 yards and a field goal, then 20 yards (on NINE plays) that led to a punt, then 25 yards (on NINE plays) and a game-ending interception from Smith.
It’s clear that Seattle lacks a “Finishing Move” in Geno’s arsenal and they’ve become a sort of “Bend-Don’t-Score” version of offense. That’s even more painful when the defense is as bad as any ever coached by Pete Carroll.
Again struggling to get off of the field, the Seahawks gave up 27 points to Marcus Mariota’s Falcons: Atlanta averaged 7.1 yards per play, they rushed for 179 yards, and Seattle loses despite winning the turnover battle 2:1.
Mariota went 13/20 for 229 yards with 1 TD/1 INT against Seattle. Cordarrelle Patterson rushed for 141 yards on only 17 carries. And tight end Kyle Pitts had the breakout game that so many fantasy fans were desperate for, catching five passes for 87 yards.
The Seahawks next face a Detroit Lions team that is 1-2 but outmatches them in a number of key areas, especially: Offensive line, Amon-Ra St. Brown against Seattle’s cornerbacks, and D’Andre Swift cutting through one of the worst run defenses that the NFL has seen thus far.
The Seahawks have now given up over 360 rushing yards in the last two weeks.
Read Next: Which “building blocks” do Seahawks already have in place?
Both teams have their defensive issues. What should concern Pete, especially after helping the Falcons get their first win of the season, is whether or not a Geno Smith-led offense can keep up with any quarterback and running backs who get to face Pete and Clint Hurtt’s defense sans Jamal Adams. Even Jared Goff.
The Seahawks needed to score 28 on Sunday if they wanted to beat Atlanta and the Falcons clearly have the type of defense capable of letting it happen. But when Seattle needed points in the fourth quarter, no points were to be found.
Are the Seahawks worse than the Falcons? They were on Sunday. When it comes to this season, that’s bad news. Maybe when it comes to next season, it will work in Seattle’s favor.
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Stock Up
CB Tariq Woolen
The Seahawks-Falcons vision board had “three Tariq Woolen victories” on it, including an interception. Woolen intercepted Marcus Mariota on the final play of the first half.
DE Darryl Johnson
Even though Darrell Taylor had a sack, how about Darryl Johnson for being the the defensive end who the Seahawks wanted on the field in the fourth quarter? Johnson’s stock has been a rocket ship: Waived by the Panthers at final cuts, Seattle claims him to add to the 53, and he’s on top of the depth chart at key moments in the game.
RB Ken Walker III
Going into the season, I said Walker would be adept at these things this year: Break tackles, catching the ball, scoring touchdowns, and taking direct snaps. The whole non-Seaside world was telling me that I was wrong about catching passes and taking direct snaps. He took direct snaps in Week 2. He broke a tackle on that 21-yard run (also on my vision board) and also caught three passes for 14 yards.
QB Geno Smith
I saw a lot of horrible QB play on Sunday morning, including from a handful of quarterbacks who Seattle passed on in favor of a competition between Smith and Drew Lock. So to see Smith prove better than competent in the first half, it does say a lot. Smith went 18/25 for 218 yards and two touchdowns before halftime. He was much worse in the second half though and he took two sacks late in the game that really hurt; that’s one thing that I said before the game that Geno wouldn’t be able to get away with and Atlanta should have the worst pass rush in the NFL. (If Seattle’s isn’t worse.) He then overthrew his receiver by at least four yards on a play that should have at least been accurate, and instead he was intercepted.
Even though Smith didn’t elevate the offense in the second half, it seems like his job is safe for another week. I won’t break out the #Laps4Lock sneakers just yet.
Stock Down
HC Pete Carroll
I’m not coming down on Pete, that’s not quite the message that this placement is meant to serve. We have known for a long time that this season would be test fan patience more than most and Carroll deserves a lot of slack for results. Nonetheless, poor results reap criticism.
I don’t think that Carroll and Clint Hurtt are capable of coaching these players into being a top-15 offense. The talent simply is not there. But then again, Sunday’s opponent was Marcus Mariota. The Seahawks must do better against Goff.
CB Mike Jackson
The Seahawks have basically demoted Sidney Jones IV to “veteran insurance” as both he and Artie Burns were healthy scratches in Week 3. However, Seattle might need to check its deductible because the secondary was terrible against Mariota and Jackson made far too many mistakes.
WR Dee Eskridge
I will preach patience with young players as much as any other writer. We are somewhere beyond “patience” with Eskridge…and he’s not that young. The Seahawks quite obviously prefer Penny Hart and Marquise Goodwin to Eskridge and there is no avenue towards the targets and reps he desperately needs until an injury forces something to happen. The way these stories typically go, Eskridge needs to find a way to have an impact this season or he will be on the bubble going into the 2023 offseason.
S Josh Jones
When Jamal Adams went down, I noted that it would be interesting to at least see what Josh Jones can do. It was a blessing to have hope for a short while. Jones does not appear to be a starting NFL player based on what we’ve seen in coverage. The change at safety feels similar to when Steven Terrell replaced Earl Thomas. At this point, the Seahawks would settle for Tedric Thompson.
Stock Up AND Stock Down
WR DK Metcalf
DK Metcalf was super, man. But for the Seahawks to have more offensive success, DK Metcalf needs to be Superman. He makes play that make him worth way more than $72 million. He also misses some plays that could take him to that next level as a wideout. These are high expectations and Metcalf should expect nothing less.
Important NFL Draft Order News:
The Panthers beat the Saints and now both teams are 1-2; New Orleans doesn’t have a first round pick
The Patriots fell to 1-2 and Mac Jones suffered an ankle injury
The Colts upset the Chiefs, getting their first win of the season
The Bears are 2-1 and sent the Texans to 0-2-1.
The Raiders currently have the NFL’s worst record: 0-3. Las Vegas will draft a quarterback, I believe, if they get a high enough pick
The Titans improved to 1-2
The Lions are 1-2. Seattle plays Detroit in Week 4.
The Jets are 1-2
The Commanders are 1-2 and Wentz may not survive another season
QB Survivor 2023 important updates:
QB SURVIVOR BENCH NEWS Tyler Van Dyke, Miami: He seemed to be a solid cast member, but the former four-star recruit was benched in Saturday’s loss to Middle Tennessee State and he’s in danger of losing his job to highly-touted 2021 recruit Jake Garcia.
D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson: He was “the last one OUT” in our voting, but after a 5 TD/0 INT performance against Wake Forest, he may need to stay close to the phone.
QB SURVIVOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sam Hartman, Wake Forest: On the other side of the field, Uiagalelei met his match in Hartman, who had 337 yards, 6 TD/0 INT. Wait until you hear Hartman’s story, I think you will be compelled.
Chance Nolan, Oregon State: With 0 TD/4 INT, Nolan’s bid to be Seattle’s QBOTF could end before it begins.
Anthony Richardson, Florida: Though he threw for 453 yards and finally had a touchdown pass, scoring four times total, the Gators lost to Hendon Hooker’s Volunteers and it remains unclear if Richardson is ready for the NFL. Hooker had 349 yards passing, 112 yards rushing, and scored three times.
Will Rogers, Mississippi State: Charles Cross’s former teammate, Rogers also threw six touchdowns this week. The air raid QB is up to 16 TD and three INT in four games.
Just having Jamal Adams would have gotten that win. Add to that Tre Brown or better instead of Jackson, who tries his best, but was a liability. And figuring out our 3-4 or abandoning it. All that will make our team much better. Getting Geno more protection from the middle now, would be nice. The Rookie tackles played good. Mafe looked good.
The offense was improved over what I watched last week, but, the defense has the same problem it had last year and maybe the year before that. It can’t get off the field unless the other teams scores or makes a bad play. Was it in the 3rd quarter where we had them in a 3rd and 19? Didn’t seem to be much of of a problem for the Falcons getting a 1st down.