Seahawks beat Falcons yet let themselves be dominated in 2nd half

The Seahawks moved to 6-2 after a win against the undermanned Falcons. But what could have been a beautiful game was not in the second half.

The Seahawks won on Sunday versus the Falcons. That win moved Seattle to 6-2 and firmly in playoff position. But Seattle once again won a game in closer fashion than they should have. The lack of killer instinct on this team is concerning.

There were a lot of positives in the game for Seattle as they did win, but they were also outscored in the second half by a now 1-7 Atlanta team 20-3. Seriously. 20-3. Yes, Seattle won. But do you feel as good about it, 12s, as you did when the game was 24-0 Seahawks at halftime? No. No, you don’t.

I know what the reasoning will be tomorrow. Pete Carroll will say the team had a big lead and were just trying to sit on that lead. As I tweeted during the game, it is great at times to have a prevent defense late in the second half, but the entire second half? Nope. Not in any way, fashion or form. Seattle needed to knock the Falcons out and the coaching staff simply did not allow that.

The statistics at the end of the game were laughable. Atlanta outgained Seattle in total yards 512 to 322. Passing yards were 443 for Atlanta to 171 for the Seahawks. I know people will grumble about me grumbling that a win is a win. But I am thinking long-term. Seattle’s coaching staff limits the team in a lot of ways. If New England were up 24-0 at halftime, I guarantee you the game against a 1-6 team does not finish being 27-20.

https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/1188516915867717633

The Seahawks had the better talent on the field on Sunday and that is why they won. Russell Wilson was 14 of 20 for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chris Carson ran 20 times for 90 yards and would have had more had the Seahawks not given Carson carries on obvious run plays trying to run the clock at with 15 minutes left in the third quarter.

The first half was a thing of beauty. Seattle was in control and controlling the tempo. They played with the confidence of a team that was facing an already-underperforming foe without their starting quarterback. But then Seattle let backup Matt Schaub throw for 460 yards. This is not what a team with Super Bowl hopes does.

If not for Marquise Blair, there is a good possibility Seattle doesn’t win the game at the end. Blair finished with 11 tackles, 9 solo, and caused a fumble when the Falcons were at the Seattle 5-yard line. Blair may have been the Seahawks best player on defense against the Falcons and that is good for the future. But Blair appeared to have got an injured at the end of the game and had to leave. It was uncertain how bad the injury was.

Seattle finally did get a sack from a defensive lineman, Jadeveon Clowney, who was great again today. Seattle should re-sign him to lots of dollars. He has been worth it. Bobby Wagner also had a sack.

Again, Seattle won, but the coaching scheme kept them from being even better. At some point, the Seahawks cannot rely on personnel to beat others teams because these are not the Seahawks of 2013. Coaching philosophy, and the need to attack, needs to improve or Seattle will be short-lived in the playoffs, if they even get there.