Postmortem: Seattle v The World

[Sibelius Hindemith]

The AFC is dreadful so far this season. 13-26 record against the NFC and outscored by 163 points. It has arguably 6 of the the league's worst 7 teams.

[Michael K.]

I didn't pay close attention but this seemed like the Jags game. Another clearly decided win that wasn't as close as the final score. The Commanders could be tough but the seahawks certainly know how to win on the road. Then its really the Rams isn't it? This isn't the team that lost to the Giants last season. I think the attitude and preparation has matured. We shall see if there's a let down. But at this point this isn't a team anybody is going to want to face.

It was probably the amount of time I spent watching the Mariners that game, but this felt a bit different than the Jags game. It might have been the only game I have ever watched the Seahawks repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot trying to extend a lead and still never worried we might lose. I was actually SHOCKED when the Texans scored before the two minute warning. Even that play felt fluky. Our defense just dominated them all night.

Weren't we still missing Love and another guy in the secondary? That's pretty impressive. I realize that once Collins went down they were stuck with Schultz and the backs, and they are another team that I think is missing the boat thinking that Nick Chubb should be relegated to dive plays on first and second down, but he might have finally broken down. But still, it's been a long time since I watched the Seahawks play a team with a legit starting NFL QB under Center and simply thought that team had no chance against us on offense. Tougher games to come, but have to tip the cap at this point to MM and the Defense.

[Donn Beach]

I didn't pay close attention but this seemed like the Jags game. Another clearly decided win that wasn't as close as the final score. The Commanders could be tough but the seahawks certainly know how to win on the road. Then its really the Rams isn't it? This isn't the team that lost to the Giants last season. I think the attitude and preparation has matured. We shall see if there's a let down. But at this point this isn't a team anybody is going to want to face.

It was probably the amount of time I spent watching the Mariners that game, but this felt a bit different than the Jags game. It might have been the only game I have ever watched the Seahawks repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot trying to extend a lead and still never worried we might lose. I was actually SHOCKED when the Texans scored before the two minute warning. Even that play felt fluky. Our defense just dominated them all night.

Weren't we still missing Love and another guy in the secondary? That's pretty impressive. I realize that once Collins went down they were stuck with Schultz and i backs, and they are another team that I think is missihng the boat thinking that Nick Chubb should be relegated to dive plays on first and second down, but he might have finally broken down. But still, it's been a long time since I watched the Seahawks play a team with a legit starting NFL QB under Center and simply thought that team had no chance against us on offense. Tougher games to come, but have to tip the cap at this point to MM and the Defense.

That's what I meant when I compared them. That quality that they were in control of the game, they exerted their will, that's exactly it. I find a lot of interesting angles to it. MM talks about complementary football. I think if you compare the TB game with the Texans game you see it, what he's getting at. With TB you had the offense trying to pick up the defense and with the Texans it was the other way around, the defense picking up the offense. I understand your concern about MM being defensive minded, look at the Jets. It was my concern as well, could he see beyond his side of the football. I think the deal is my expectations have been exceeded, and once that happens I become a real fanboy lol.

They're squirting tears in Baltimore lol

Many believed Macdonald should have been the next head coach of the Ravens. After another year of coming up short in the playoffs, this time in a horribly coached loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, fans were calling for Head Coach John Harbaugh to be fired. Instead, they kept Harbaugh, and let Macdonald earn his much-deserved promotion with another franchise.

Baltimore is quickly learning that the move was likely a mistake. On primetime television, Macdonald showed the world exactly what the Ravens missed out when they let him depart in the 2024 offseason.

In Week 5, Baltimore was dismantled by the Texans. A struggling Houston offense hung 44 points on the Ravens’ defense in a blowout win. Two weeks later, Macdonald showed what a competitive team should look like against the third-worst scoring team in the league.

The Seahawks held Houston to 254 total yards and maintained a bend don’t break mentality, holding their offense to just one touchdown in three red zone opportunities. They especially feasted on their rushing attack, holding the Texans to 56 yards on 17 carries and 3.3 yards per carry.

In comparison, Baltimore Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s unit allowed 417 total yards to Houston, including 250 passing yards and 167 rushing yards

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles ... 7_42933190

[Michael K.]

That's what I meant when I compared them. That quality that they were in control of the game, they exerted their will, that's exactly it. I find a lot of interesting angles to it. MM talks about complementary football. I think if you compare the TB game with the Texans game you see it, what he's getting at. With TB you had the offense trying to pick up the defense and with the Texans it was the other way around, the defense picking up the offense. I understand your concern about MM being defensive minded, look at the Jets. It was my concern as well, could he see beyond his side of the football. I think the deal is my expectations have been exceeded, and once that happens I become a real fanboy lol.

They were actually too aggressive on Monday, at least late in the game. Throwing incomplete on second and third down killed the clock and allowed them to score before the two minute warning. Smart of the return man to run it out, making the two minute warning obsolete. But I would have run the ball, at least on second down, and then had a higher percentage throw dialed up if needed on third down. I would love to have heard the strategy on that one. Makes you wonder if Darnold was instructed that he either throws complete or tucks and runs, and he just threw it out of instinct?

To me the lack of aggression is a bit different, I think, than what a lot in here believe. Sometimes it's just playing with tempo when you are moving the ball. We are methodical sometimes, when I don't believe we need to be. Sometimes it isn't the play call, but the formation. I don't like all the shotgun runs, and but also don't know that every time you line up in a heavy or tight formation that you have to run. We are predictable. Monday night we took a shot on third and long. I love it. It was an incomplete pass, but that is normally a draw play where we add five or six yards to the punt, and it really gains nothing. I hate settling for long FGs, and that is what I call it when on second and third and medium we make no effort to get the first down because we are afraid we might not be able to make a long kick, then we miss the long kick anyway.

The scheme seemed to be get on a lead and take the air out of the ball. And doing that against someone as explosive as Tampa was? Odd decision. That said? We are a fluky INT from possibly winning that game anyway.

[trharder]

I now find myself in the odd position of being the doubting Thomas of this group.
Even MK has softened his stance on MM and the Seahawks current offensive philosophy. (rant incoming)...

Short version - I'm not sold on this team and its chances of being a deep playoff team.
Yes, the defense is good. Maybe top five even, but I'm telling you, if you literally rely on the defense to win you
games, you will fail. The defense scores very few points for one thing. I'm currently convinced MM really does think
the way the Hawks won the last two games is the right way to do it. Open the offense until you get a lead, then go
into turtle mode to run out the clock. The Hawks will get beaten twice by the Rams with the same game they played
in the last two. They will have a hell of a time beating the 9ers. The softer teams will continue to give MM the idea
that his philosophy is the best way, because the defense really is good and allows him to, but the Seahawks will
get drug when the chips are on the line. This shit won't win playoff games.

[Michael K.]

Can’t argue much with that. Careful, you are starting to sound like me!

[auroraave]

I now find myself in the odd position of being the doubting Thomas of this group.
Even MK has softened his stance on MM and the Seahawks current offensive philosophy. (rant incoming)...

Short version - I'm not sold on this team and its chances of being a deep playoff team.
Yes, the defense is good. Maybe top five even, but I'm telling you, if you literally rely on the defense to win you
games, you will fail. The defense scores very few points for one thing. I'm currently convinced MM really does think
the way the Hawks won the last two games is the right way to do it. Open the offense until you get a lead, then go
into turtle mode to run out the clock. The Hawks will get beaten twice by the Rams with the same game they played
in the last two. They will have a hell of a time beating the 9ers. The softer teams will continue to give MM the idea
that his philosophy is the best way, because the defense really is good and allows him to, but the Seahawks will
get drug when the chips are on the line. This shit won't win playoff games.

Who is claiming they are making a deep playoff run? They are year two into a new regime, there has been roster churn, so far both seasons they are improving, they have one of the best defenses in the league - which will pretty much always keep you in the game, they have an offense that is trending up, they have turned the QB position into a net positive. They are likely one more draft away from being in that elite-ish conversation. They still need improvement on the oline, the LB room needs depth and they need another playmaker on offense. Literally every single team in the league has a weakness. That's stone cold reality.

You are ignoring the strategies they are using - lean on the D, play conservative against the best defenses to reduce risk. Is that not smart? Is that not showing adaptability? Is that not showing a coaching staff with depth in thier approach? Is every game supposed to be a blowout? They literally lead the division in scoring offense and the defense is second. The team is still growing into what they will be. I don't get this hand wringing about a team that has not played their best ball half way into the season while battling injuries, and yet are 5-2, tied for first in the division and are trending upwards by every metric. Once you get into then playoffs - anything can happen. Luck, injuries, getting on a roll at the right time. This team isn't perfect, no team is, but this team is headed in the right direction in a big way, the correct way, with strength and depth, and coaches making strategic decisions - both in the macro and the micro. They are playing the long game.

Instead of lamenting, seems to me you should be embracing the process of the rise of the Seahawks. This 'OMG, they'll never be good enough" mantra - with that attitude - nothing ever will be. Are they supposed to play mistake free football? Are they supposed to start out playing at thier ceiling of potential? Is there no learning curve? No adjustments period?

When complaining - maybe consider the long game playing out right now. A solid talent base, solid coaching staff, above average QB play... all of these are only going to improve. Year two of what is clearly a winning administration - and you're handwringing 7 games into a season where the team is tied for first and considered a top ten team. The problem isn't the team isn't good enough - the problem is people with unattainable expectations. Maybe a reality check is on order. Look where they are coming from - the Pete Carroll inplosion years - and look where they are now - TWO YEARS LATER - one of the hotter teams in the league. Schneider is also killing it. But yeah, they're basically the Cleveland Browns. Probably time to have a jersey burning ceremony.

I seem to remember some people having insane meltdowns after the loss to SF. Those didn't age well, did they? The team is actually pretty good. The reality is, no matter what, some people are just going to complain, the sky is falling (insert name) sucks!

As fans, we want them to win every down every quarter every game. But expecting that - that's not reality. People complaining about 'what isn't' or what this team will never be, while watching this same team and administration building something pretty cool - I just don't get that point of view. So many positives - and yet - constant fucking complaining. Move to Cleveland, grab a Jets jersey, then talk about 'what isn't and what will never be'. Just imagine this team with Geno.

Seattle is playing the long game while you are thinking about the short game.

[trharder]

I don't need anyone to claim they are making a deep playoff run if I believe they are capable of making one.
I believe the defense is top five. I believe Darnold is pretty damn good. I believe JSN is the best offensive weapon in the league.

The current philosophy will get beat by the Rams, probably twice. The Seahawks won't be able to just turn the faucet
on when needed. They should be practicing what it will take to win playoff games in real time, in games.
MM is saying publicly the way they are playing is by design, I believe him, but they still committed four turnovers.
Yes, the defense was so overwhelming it negated the negativity of the turnovers, but relying on the defense, even
a great defense, will lose when it counts the most. If you don't believe what MM is saying, consider the recent
examples - Just before half, with three timeouts, and plenty of time to score a TD, they instead choose to run the
clock down and settle for 3. WTF. They continued to send Walker up the middle even when it was obvious it wouldn't
lead to moving the chains, I believe, by design, not lack of execution.

[auroraave]

Tom Brady does a pretty accurate and fair top-ten list. FTR, FTN and Sea all in it - God help the NFL if this division gets healthy. Seattle still probably the third best team in the division - and that's not an insult when you look at how good FTR & FTN are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM0tV-JMqyI

[auroraave]

I don't need anyone to claim they are making a deep playoff run if I believe they are capable of making one.
I believe the defense is top five. I believe Darnold is pretty damn good. I believe JSN is the best offensive weapon in the league.

The current philosophy will get beat by the Rams, probably twice. The Seahawks won't be able to just turn the faucet
on when needed. They should be practicing what it will take to win playoff games in real time, in games.
MM is saying publicly the way they are playing is by design, I believe him, but they still committed four turnovers.
Yes, the defense was so overwhelming it negated the negativity of the turnovers, but relying on the defense, even
a great defense, will lose when it counts the most. If you don't believe what MM is saying, consider the recent
examples - Just before half, with three timeouts, and plenty of time to score a TD, they instead choose to run the
clock down and settle for 3. WTF. They continued to send Walker up the middle even when it was obvious it wouldn't
lead to moving the chains, I believe, by design, not lack of execution.

You can also make a pretty strong argument that the Rams and 9ers are simply better teams. That's not a knock on the Seahawks or an indictment of the players or coaches. Those two teams just keep winning - and have stability in the coaching staff and in a lot of the core players, and clearly quality depth. I believe a lot of those roster's successes are built on the backs of the draft - and by bottoming out they acquired high end draft picks for years in a row - something Seattle has never had the luxury of. I think this team is one more draft away from potentially ascending to the top of the division. I don't see LA or SF getting better - they've likely peaked and are due for a decline - that should happen in concert w/ Seattle's continued rise.