Sure, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Chicago Bears in Week 17 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but the game was certainly an ugly one. Seattle won 6-3 and neither team scored in the second half. The Seahawks' defense played well, though the Bears' offense is extremely bad. So was Seattle's.
Chicago's defense limited Seattle to just 265 total yards, most in the first half, and 5.2 yards per play. The team rushed for 122 yards, but 90 of that was extremely early in the game. Once the Bears adjusted, Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb could not adjust back. All the success of the running the ball vanished.
Worse, Grubb seemingly lost the ability to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba involved in the game for long stretches. Tight end Noah Fant led the team in receiving, but with only 43 yards. Grubb's play-calling was confusing and seemingly bent on not being efficient. On third-and-short situations, he often called for a screen pass or an obvious run.
Ryan Grubb should not get a second season with the Seattle Seahawks
The truth is that while Grubb must have a good offensive line for his offense to work well, which it did in college at the University of Washington if the O-line is poor, Grubb has no real idea how to work around it. Seattle's offense looked lethargic and uninspired. No one player was to blame, and quarterback Geno Smith did not throw an interception, but the unit did not appear to believe it could do much.
Coming into the game, the Bears were 31st in the NFL in allowing yards per attempt. Smith averaged 7.0 yards per pass, and again, lots of that was in the first half. On Seattle's four full possessions in the second half, the team punted three times and fumbled once. At no point were they capable of getting close to the Bears' end zone.
Seattle still can make the playoffs. Should the Los Angeles Rams lose to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and then the Seahawks defeat the Rams in Week 18, Seattle will win the NFC West and make the postseason. Someone expecting Seattle's offense to play well enough to beat Los Angeles, though, might be asked to answer a few questions from a licensed therapist.
The Seahawks need to make some changes this offseason. The defense has improved, but the offense has digressed. Ryan Grubb has not shown he can be a good NFL offensive coordinator. He needs to be one of the changes the team makes.