Riq Woolen reveals what really caused his misstep in Seahawks’ Week 13 win

The Seattle Seahawks were well ahead and in no danger of losing in Week 13 to the Minnesota Vikings when cornerback Riq Woolen got his team's fourth interception of the game. This one happened in the fourth quarter with Seattle up 26-0 and just five minutes left. Woolen felt the freedom to make a mistake.

His interception was a brilliant play. He initially had coverage on the outside of Jalen Nailor. Soon after the snaps, Woolen understood that the slot receiver, Jordan Addison, had broken free uncovered, so the cornerback rotated quickly to where Addison was and picked off the pass.

The play showed a good level of football IQ, and proved that a focused Woolen can be one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. But he turned that interception into something else the corner is guilty of: Trying to be meaninglessly showy.

Riq Woolen explains his fantastic-turned-terrible play in the Seattle Seahawks Week 13 victory

Woolen intercepted the pass at the Seahawks' 7-yard line and began returning the ball as if he had fielded a punt. He ran toward the other sideline until he was about to be tackled, and then he cut toward the middle of the field. The issue was that the cornerback was holding the ball so that it could easily be hit out of his hand, and it was.

He fumbled, and the Vikings recovered. Ultimately, Minnesota got the ball back and only nine yards further than they had it on the previous play.

Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald said after the game that he was screaming at the cornerback to have better ball security, but Woolen didn't hear him, or he didn't listen. It was a mistake he shouldn't make again.

Taking to social media later, Woolen delivered a hilarious description of what he was thinking: "thought I was RB1 for a sec." He doubled down in his next tweet, writing, "Most definitely gonna get down close games but we up a lot in tranna show my WR side lol."

In other words, he was aware the game was a blowout and was trying to make a play that got him on highlight reels. It did, but not for the reason Riq Woolen hoped. Instead, he turned into a coaching moment of how not to hold the ball in the NFL.

Still, the cornerback has been playing a bit better of late. He hasn't allowed more than 38 yards in coverage in any game since his Week 1 meltdown. He's also given up just one touchdown since then. Is he doing well enough for the Seattle Seahawks to sign him to an extension next offseason? Possibly, but he needs to stop making any kind of senseless errors.