3 takeaways from Seattle Seahawks feel-good Week 17 win
By Jake Luppino
Pete doing what he does best
Multiple times I’ve said perhaps the one word that could sum up the 2021 season for the Seattle Seahawks would be frustration. Entering the season with Super Bowl expectations, they will end the season with at most, 7 wins. This is the first time Pete Carroll has 10 losses during his tenure in Seattle. It is also the first losing season in the Russell Wilson era.
Whatever you want to blame the season on, whether it be injuries, unfortunate breaks, missed field goals, overthrows, drops, etc., Pete Carroll has kept his team motivated all the way. I don’t think many understand how difficult it is to keep a team motivated when you are pretty much playing for nothing.
In his post-game presser, Pete jokingly said — although I thought he was serious — that he told his guys to treat this Week 17 game as the NFC Championship and Week 18 as the Super Bowl. Whether or not the players actually bought it, I don’t know. But, their energy and impact on this game were obvious.
Over this season, many fans have been forced into picking a side of the Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson debate. I’ve refrained from doing so. Rather, I have just appreciated both of them. Despite contrary belief, I think they actually going really well together. Just because Pete likes to run the ball doesn’t mean Russ can’t thrive in this system. Yes, they need to be more creative and have better protection up front, but those are issues that can get fixed.
I truly don’t know what to think of Carroll’s future in Seattle. But, if he does go, I think many who have blamed him over the last three seasons will see how fortunate they were to have him when he’s gone. Players love playing for Pete. His energy is outmatched and his love for his players is genuinely authentic.
Personally, I feel Pete is going to be very reluctant to walk away in the offseason as he believes he has the pieces to the puzzle for a Super Bowl. Nonetheless, I will always appreciate Pete for his time in Seattle and for what he was able to accomplish.