3 biggest overreactions to Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the 49ers

In every Seattle Seahawks season since their Super Bowl runs in 2013 and 2014, there has been the “painful clarity game.” Whether you think you’re a title contender, playoff hopeful, or delusional about where your team stands on its trajectory, there’s always that clarity game where it sets in that you’re probably not going to reach your goals.

In the past, the Pete Carroll Seahawks experienced this in 2015 when they lost in the final seconds to the Carolina Panthers, a precursor to MVP Cam Newton taking the NFC throne from Seattle. Heartbreaking losses at home to Bruce Arians and the Arizona Cardinals litter this type of game over the past decade. Last season, it was both the destruction we faced at Baltimore (showing we were not close at all to the contenders) and the embarrassing loss at home against the Steelers, effectively ending the Pete Carroll era. 

There is still a long way to go this season, but Thursday night felt like a painful clarity game for the Seahawks, as it felt like they watched San Francisco come into Seattle and manhandle away all hope for the NFC West crown. 

Difficult losses like these tend to lead to some strong takes and overreactions, and we are going to dive into the biggest three right here.

Three biggest overreactions to the Seattle Seahawks Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers

“You don't know ball if you think one game proves Geno Smith isn't the guy”

Not to name names, because you already know who they are, but there is a loud group of Seahawks fans that don't want to have any conversation about Geno Smith unless it's about him being a franchise quarterback.

Geno Smith has been a really incredible story for the past three seasons while playing much better football than Russell Wilson did in his last 25 games with Seattle. He's a quarterback that I could easily see going to the playoffs consistently and could even mess around and get Seattle to a conference championship. 

There's nothing to scoff at there, but that can't be the goal. The goal is to get back to 2013 and 2014, hoisting trophies and hanging banners. To be the best, you need the best, and you need to be at the best. Geno is not and has not achieved those things. 

Since becoming the starter, Geno Smith is now 0-5 against San Francisco, the standard of the NFC. In the biggest games, he has had massive turnovers lately in games that have destroyed any chance at an upset.

The goal shouldn't be to “upset” the 49ers but go out and beat them and be the better team. Through three seasons of Geno Smith Seahawks football, that has not been proven the case, so questions should be asked, despite the odd narrative with Smith. If there's a chance that a rookie could become the one to overthrow this 49ers' reign, then you keep taking that shot, especially when Smith has yet to prove he can be that man.

“The best thing to do is just tank here on out”

I hate this. Tanking in the NFL just rarely works. There are ten horror stories from the Jets, Browns, and Jaguars for every one Houston Texans tank to glory rebuild. Football, maybe more than any sport, needs a positive organizational culture. Tanking stomps that out and creates something rotten that is nearly impossible to remove. 

John Schneider and Mike Macdonald’s goal should be to try to win and develop. The trade for Roy Robertson-Harris shows that. If they end up 6-11 but are playing hard and competitive football, then so be it, but don't actively try to win only a few games. You'll end up farther from the Super Bowl than you've ever been before.

“Bet people are missing Pete Carroll right now”

I saw this a ton on Thursday night and into Friday after the loss to San Francisco. I love Pete Carroll and will always be thankful for the greatest Seahawks memories and teams that I may ever see. I also know that I was tired of zero conference championships in eight seasons and a 3-6 playoff record during that time.

The time had come for a change, and it's unrealistic to expect Mike Macdonald and his young coaching staff to come in right away and dominate with Carroll’s players. It took a season for Macdonald's defense to become elite in Baltimore, and by the third season, it was one of the best defensive units the league has seen in the past decade.

I don't like three-game losing streaks and I'm tired of watching Seattle lose to San Francisco, but I'm not missing Pete Carroll.

More Seahawks news and analysis: