Problems Seahawks must fix before their Week 15 clash with Packers

The Seattle Seahawks left the Arizona Cardinals' hopes for the division crown in tatters, but that doesn't mean Seattle will have an easy time hanging on to first place. They still have some things to clean up and not much time to do it.

The Seahawks' next opponent will be the Green Bay Packers. Yes, they have four losses, but those losses have come to teams with a combined record of 34-5. Losing to the Eagles, Vikings, and the Lions twice doesn't exactly mean you're a bad team. Three of those losses were by one score, too.

Rolling for 176 yards on the ground versus the Cards was great. But that's only the fourth-highest total Arizona has surrendered this season on their way to an 18th-place ranking in run defense. The Pack has allowed that many yards just once and enters Week 15 ranked 9th in the league.

The Seattle Seahawks need to find a consistent attack

Granted, I'm being a bit nitpicky here. After their midseason slide to 4-5, the Hawks have reeled off four straight wins to put themselves in playoff contention. Seattle played their most complete game to take control of the division, but they could have been even better. As noted by Canada's TSN, the Hawks haven't scored a touchdown on their first drive in 17 games. That's not the optimal mode to win in the playoffs. It won't help against the Packers seventh-ranked offense, either.

After racing out to a 24-10 lead over the Cardinals, the Seahawks offense was stuck in neutral for most of the second half. Two of those first-half touchdowns were on short fields, courtesy of the interceptions by Ernest Jones IV and Coby Bryant. The second-half drives weren't exactly the stuff of legend. Seattle managed three three-and-out punts and a pair of Jason Myers field goals. Those five drives ate just 11:32 on the clock. Again, not a winning formula against the better teams in the league.

That's why I'm not entirely sold on the Seahawks' improved running game. Yes, it was fantastic to see the line finally come through and level opposing players. The breakthrough play of Sataoa Laumea was especially gratifying, even if it does mean that John Schneider can just find guards anywhere. Still, Seattle only ran for 51 yards in the second half. I know I'm being greedy, but the Hawks aren't quite there yet.

It's far too early to say the Seattle running game is fixed based on one game - and really, one half. Penalties were an issue in the second half as well. A false start on Abe Lucas on the first play of the fourth quarter turned third and two into third and seven, then a Michael Dickson punt. The next Seattle series was tanked when Charles Cross and Lucas combined for 15 yards in penalties to push the Hawks into second and 25. Thankfully, Dickson was back in form as he buried the Cardinals at their own two-yard line.

Yeah, it feels a bit ungrateful to say the Hawks still have problems after such a terrific win. But if they perform against the Packers the same way they did in the second half of the Cardinals game, they're going to be in trouble. The resurgent Rams are looming at the end of the season, so the Hawks need every win they can get.

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