Trying to reach the playoffs this season, the Seattle Seahawks failed to deliver against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 which pushes their losing streak to 3 straight. The loss also knocked them further from playoff contention in the NFC which was achievable at the midpoint of the season.
Seattle tried everything it could against a way mightier opponent in the Chiefs, which clinched the AFC West title in the process. However, Seattle could not muster anything up with their offense up until the 4th quarter. This was, on paper, supposed to be a shootout between two teams that cannot stop any other teams’ offenses but the Seahawks fell flat on their faces in this game.
This loss further vindicates, that this team, cannot still be viewed as a playoff contender amidst all the excitement during the middle part of the season when the Seahawks kept winning games. After all, this team is playing with a bunch of rookies, with a journeyman quarterback in Geno Smith, although the latter has resurrected his career this season, had been mediocre during the losing streak.
Seahawks who blew it in Week 16
The Seahawks have a tough hill to climb if they wish to make it to the postseason this year, as they see themselves from the outside looking in with a 7-8 record behind the New York Football Giants and the Washington Commanders. Not only that, but they will also have to waive off the surging Detroit Lions and the rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, who were also chasing a playoff spot.
With their playoff dreams fading, here are the 3 duds from the Seahawks’ Week 16 loss against the Chiefs.
Geno and the Seahawks failed to produce
On a somewhat must-win game for Seattle and even facing a daunting task to go toe to toe with a perineal Superbowl contending team in the Chiefs, Geno Smith and the Seahawks were not able to get anything going. On paper, this game was supposed to be a high-scoring affair between two teams that had question marks on defenses, instead, the Chiefs were the only team that showed up on this frigid game in Kansas City.
Playing in freezing temperatures, the Seattle Seahawks offense was stone cold for the entire game except for a late fourth-quarter drive that they were able to score. Other than that, the offense was stagnant and could not get anything done. Aside from Kenneth Walker III, who ran for 107 scoreless yards, the Seahawks could not find any answer from their anemic offense.
Geno Smith could not deliver on this game throwing for only 215 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Those numbers from Geno and the Seahawks will not get things done against the Chiefs. The loss of Tyler Lockett due to a finger injury that needed surgery, showed how greatly he was missed in the passing offense. The Seahawks must now quickly find someone to compliment DK Metcalf on this offense if they wish to still reach the playoffs this season.
Seahawks having troubles against tight ends
In back-to-back weeks, Seattle was gashed by a tight end. In Week 15, they were run over by George Kittle, and in Week 16, it was Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce who did the damage. Although most will say that Kittle and Kelce are two of the top tight ends in the league today, even with that said, the Seahawks cannot allow these players to run all over the field getting in open spaces to catch and run the ball.
The Seahawks’ run defense was the most glaring defect in the offense for much of the season, covering what was another problem, which was their coverage of tight ends. At times, the rookie cornerbacks are outmatched, or blowing their coverage on the tight ends, leaving them wide open. Travis Kelce was able to catch 6 passes for 113 yards against the Seahawks, in a game where the Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes could only throw for 224 yards.
When you hold a superstar quarterback like Patrick Mahomes to less than 300 yards and 2 scores, a team must be able to win, but with the offense sputtering, the Seattle defense needed more.
Seahawks wide receiver group banged up
Last week against the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks lost Tyler Lockett due to a finger injury that required surgery. Seattle is still unsure if Lockett will be able to play this season and help out the team to reach the playoffs but in the meantime, the Seahawks are in shambles trying to find an alternative.
This week against the Chiefs, the Seahawks were hoping that Marquise Goodwin can somewhat replace the void left by Lockett, but he was not effective. It was not Goodwin’s fault in this game as he was in and out of the field after aggravating his wrist injury in the third quarter. If Goodwin has to miss time, there is no telling who the next man up will be for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks’ wide receiver depth chart is so thin behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and it is showing its ugly face now. Seattle cannot ask Geno Smith to force-feed Metcalf on tight or double coverage, that will only lead to more turnovers. The Seahawks will have to lean heavily on their tight ends Will Dissly and Noah Fant, who scored the lone touchdown against the Chiefs, to help out this receiving group.