Seahawks loss to Vikings shows long-term problems

I am going to say it. We’ve seen the best days of Pete Carroll with the Seahawks and they won’t be coming back. Maybe it’s the not-great drafts but it’s definitely the bad defense. And Carroll is to blame for keeping Ken Norton Jr employed. Seattle fell to 1-2 on Sunday after a 30-17 loss to the Vikings.

Seattle once led time of possession 14 minutes to 4. As it turns out it’s hard to believe this was the same game that turned out that the Vikings held the ball for 35:53 to 24:07 for Seattle. This means of the last 41 minutes, Minnesota had the ball for 31 of those minutes.

Too many times – it felt like every time – the Vikings had a receiver wide open when they needed a first down. This was an embarrassing defensive performance for the second straight week. Norton doesn’t have the imagination or skill to be a DC. That Carroll keeps him employed should put Carroll’s job in jeopardy.

Seahawks lose to Vikings in week three

But let’s not blame this 1-2 start that feels like the season is going nowhere already solely on the defense. Through three games, the Seahawks offense has scored a combined 13 points and scored zero against the Vikings in the second half. When Seattle needs to score points and eat clock, it can’t. And feels like, it won’t.

The shame is that this offense is no better than it was before this season and the defense is the same, maybe worse. Yet, Seattle fired its offensive coordinator from last year but kept its inept defensive coordinator.

Both Ken Norton Jr and Tre Flowers have important jobs on this 2021 team. Maybe that says all we should know about this year and the next few. Seattle isn’t going to make the playoffs this year. The NFC West isn’t going to be worse in 2022 or 2023 but Seattle might be. There is no evidence the defense is going to be good. But there is no information that says Shane Waldron will be anywhere near a good offensive coordinator.

Seattle scored zero points in the second half. They have now scored a combined 13 points in the second halves and overtime of the first three games of 2021. That means defenses adjust to what Seattle does offensively but Waldron doesn’t adjust back. That’s bad.

Seattle will now be 2 games back of the division front runner (heck, maybe all three other NFC West teams) after three weeks. This might be the last season we see Russell Wilson as the Seattle quarterback. Maybe the last year of Pete Carroll as head coach. Changes might be extensive after this season and that might be a needed and good thing for 2025 but the next few years could be rough.