Seahawks-Jets: 5 points about the game
Seahawks-Jets: 5 points about the game
How Kenneth Walker, Jordyn Brooks, and the playoffs look after Sunday: Seaside Joe 1399
Going into their Week 17 game against the New York Jets, the Seattle Seahawks knew they had a playoff pulse, but couldn’t waste time worrying about the results of other games. That opportunity went out the door after going 0-4 against the awful NFC South and dropping a home game to Derek Carr’s Raiders.
Multiple times this season (well, this is probably a yearly occurrence for most competitive teams) I heard fans say that the “Seahawks didn’t deserve to make the playoffs” after those difficult losses. So it would be a waste of energy to now start counting tiebreakers and “What if” scenarios given that Seattle blew their chance to be in control.
The Seahawks were not in control of their playoff fate. Even after beating the Jets 23-6 on Sunday, they are not in control of their playoff fate. The Seahawks once again can’t worry about what the Green Bay Packers do in Week 18 as it relates to their playoff fate. Pete Carroll should have only one goal left for the 2022 season: Finish with a winning record.
If the Seahawks make the playoffs, cool. If the Seahawks miss the playoffs at 9-8, that’s still fairly cool.
These are five points about the game. Thank you to everyone who has helped support the Seaside Joe project with $5/month. Consider upgrading or giving the gift of Joe to a Seahawks fan to keep the free daily streak alive. Tomorrow is 1,400 straight days of Joe!
Read next: Seahawks updated 2023 draft order and thoughts on C.J. Stroud, Jalen Carter, and Anthony Richardson!
Packers control the playoffs
To make the playoffs as a wild card, the Seahawks need to beat the Rams, and the Lions must beat the Packers. I consider that a coinflip.
The Rams lost 31-10 to the Chargers on Sunday, dropping to 5-11. Seattle has to prove that they’re better than this version of the L.A. Rams, as they’ll be without Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, and Cooper Kupp.
The Lions beat the Bears 41-10 on Sunday, they remain a formidable offense. Detroit beat Green Bay 15-9 in Week 9. The Packers have won four straight games and I will not bet against Aaron Rodgers over Jared Goff. However, both teams are fighting for everything and the Lions won’t go out quietly.
The Seahawks can’t worry about Lions-Packers. They need to take care of business against a division rival and then they can hold their heads up high(er) after the conclusion of the regular season in any case.
Geno Smith shouldn’t factor into decision to draft a QB
This was one of Geno Smith’s better starts of the season and certainly an improvement over the previous three. Geno finished 18/29 for 183 yards with two touchdowns and he had 18 yards on five carries, but he could have had better numbers with a little more help. Tyler Lockett entered the game with a finger injury and missed part of the contest with a leg injury, finishing with two catches for 15 yards; DK Metcalf only had one three-yard catch on five targets; DeeJay Dallas’s 41-yard shovel pass reception was more receiving yards than any of his teammates had total!
It was not a great game by Geno, it was also not a game that makes you panic if Geno is starting for the Seahawks next season. And the idea of Geno starting for the Seahawks next season should not make you panic…but whether you do or don’t worry about Geno’s potential 2023 return to Seattle should not factor into whether or not the Seahawks can draft a quarterback this year.
The concepts of keeping Geno Smith and drafting a first round quarterback should be mutually exclusive.
Sunday was a continuation of Geno being a perfectly capable starting quarterback but not one who will ever be on the upper echelon of those who consistently elevate their teams into being playoff teams. Case in point, the Green Bay Packers control their fate in the playoff race and the Seahawks do not. The Packers did not draft Aaron Rodgers at a time when they “needed” a franchise quarterback.
Seattle may have a gift with their extra first and second round picks and I’m comfortable with any outcome: Drafting a QB, not drafting a QB…It’s good to have a quarterback who doesn’t make fans panic at the position, but the Seahawks must remain open to quarterbacks who might make their opponents panic in the future.
Seahawks probably without Jordyn Brooks now
Jordyn Brooks had a bad looking knee injury and Seattle had to give extra reps to Tanner Muse. It seemed that this was one of the better games of the season for Cody Barton, a 2023 free agent.
When you see a box score with Muse, Johnathan Abram, Teez Tabor, Myles Adams, it’s a reminder that the Seahawks are down a few names on defense at this point in the season. And that Seattle will be looking for a few new starters in 2023.
A significant knee injury for Brooks at this point in the year means a lot. It means that the Seahawks have to be prepared for having a different starting inside linebacker in Week 1 of next season. It means reconsidering the fifth-year option for Brooks, which is a decision they have to make in the coming months. It means considering drafting a linebacker at his position in the first or second round; which is different than saying that Brooks is out of a job in the future, because Seattle could use help all over the defense.
In the right now, it appears that the Seahawks will be starting Tanner Muse in their season finale and if they get anymore games after that.
Mike White is not a good quarterback
However you think the Seahawks defense played on Sunday—six points allowed, 4-of-13 on third down, 0-of-2 on fourth down, 279 total yards allowed, 4.1 yards per pass allowed—the grade has to come with the context that Mike White is horrible.
White has played in eight games in his career and he’s thrown multiple interceptions in five of those, including Week 17 against the Seahawks. White went 23-of-46 for 240 yards, two interceptions, and was sacked four times for 36 yards loss. Darrell Taylor had 2.5 sacks, Quinton Jefferson had 1.5 sacks, and Seattle combined for 10 QB hits and a forced fumble.
Taylor now has 8.5 sacks with one game to go. Jefferson now has 5.5 sacks, a career-high.
Bringing back Uchenna Nwosu, Taylor, Jefferson, and Boye Mafe in 2023 is an interesting start to Seattle’s front-seven edge unit. Adding a first round pick to that group is another wrinkle that could push the Seahawks into being a good pass rushing unit again.
I want to pair Kenneth Walker with another starting RB
I had a 70-yard run by Walker on my Vision Board this week and he immediately had a 60-yard run. So close!
Walker finished with 23 carries for 133 yards, his second-straight game over 100 yards. He now had 936 yards going into the season finale, 64 yards shy of a 1,000-yard rookie campaign and he missed two games.
But I would still love to see the Seahawks either re-sign Rashaad Penny, bring in a big name like Josh Jacobs, or draft a running back on day two. It’s a lot of pressure on Walker to put the team on his back and it’s better for everybody to continue to use him in tandem like the Browns do with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
Pocic had a great year in Cleveland
What a nice problem to have to decide what to do with 4 top 80 picks in the 2023 draft, including a # 3 most likely. If Seattle goes defense with pick 3 Anderson would be my guy.
There was a lot of scoring in the bowl games. There appears to be more QB talent this year than the marquee obvious. That's what good scouts can find. A player who fits the teams chemistry and scheme. Someone to develop behind Geno for a year or two. Seattle is not a pass first offense and probably won't be in the next two years. RB and offensive line are pretty important ingredients here. That goes for the 49ers, Rams and Philly. Even GB has become a running offense. Part of the the Mike Shanahan disiples philosopy. D-Line needs some help but I don't know that Carter is the answer. Who is the sleeper in the draft? Barton I think earns a new contract and Homer walks, Dallas,
Penny (vet minimum) and a 3rd rounder to fill the rest of the room. Walker is your starter obviously. RG is a need along with center. Seattle could still resign Blythe on a one year deal for insurance. No one else in the league will pay him much. Gabe Jackson is history. J Adams needs to restructure his contract as no one will want to trade with Seattle for him. Maybe that can help other parts of the team. Neal has earned a contract probably with that money. Seattle needs another vet FA on the D Line. Woods, Harris, Jefferson, Mony, Adams returns with a draft pic and another vet. Seattle will draft another corner late round and another receiver. Young is still worth a look. Goodwin returns. Treadwell might be worth a small contract. Melton has sailed. Should Seattle draft Darnell Washington? That's like getting a tackle that can catch...Hmmm. That makes sense for Seattle on 3 TE sets which is not going away.
After seeing so many high scoring bowl games I wonder if there isn't a later round QB who might be that guy for the future.
Seattle definately has something to build on for 2023. If you can't get Anderson this year bring in Lavonte David who's a FA next year. A good fill for Brooks to heal and work with Barton. Seattle still drafts a young guy at LB. Is there an under the radar swing tackle lurking out there on a current roster/ps or in the draft. Where is the strenght in UDFA next year and who the best risk/reward.
Right now the Packers are the favorite to make the 7th seed. They are playing good D and running the ball well. 152 yards between Jones and Dillion. Roger's passed for 159 and one TD. Defense and a running game is still a good formula and hasn't gone out of style apparently. The 49ers are winning with a 7th round QB...think about that.
How nice is it to be relevant the last week of regular season in the NFL when no one would give you the time of day last September.