The Seattle Seahawks special teams played as badly as they could in the first half versus the Jets. Everything that could go wrong, did. The Seahawks' comeback from this disaster was a complete miracle.
The Seahawks got off to a slow start on offense. 12s are used to that, of course. The defense bailed them out again, forcing their league-leading 38th three-and-out. The Hawks were forced into a three-and-out themselves, but things started to turn for the worse on the Jets' next possession.
New York drove the ball 80 yards to take the lead on a Rodgers to Adams 8-yard touchdown pass. The drive was aided by a facemask penalty on Leonard Williams on what was otherwise a sack on Rodgers. It was clearly a penalty, but it was also almost incidental to the play. That's okay; Williams would more than makeup for it later. He blocked the extra point and would do much more later. But the wheels came off the special teams unit immediately after.
Seahawks special teams plays a disastrous first half but the defense saves them in the second half
Disaster number one. Dee Williams fumbled the ensuing kickoff, handing New York the ball at the Seattle 27-yard line. Riq Woolen forced a fumble two plays later, but the Jets recovered. Two plays later, the Jets took the ball into the end zone and converted the two-point conversion. What should have been a seven-point deficit was now a two-score obstacle with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
Not to be outdone by his teammate, Laviska Shenault decided to muff the kickoff. At least he recovered the ball. Luckily, it didn't stop the Hawks from getting their first points of the game. Geno Smith connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for two big gains en route to a 12-yard scoring toss to rookie tight end A.J. Barner. Yay, breathing room for the Seahawks, right?
Except it wasn't. Jason Myers kicked the ball just short of the end zone as he often has this season. Kene Nwangwu made the Seahawks pay with a 99-yard touchdown return. It's not like the Hawks weren't aware that he was a dangerous return man. He had three kickoff returns for scores in three seasons with the Vikings. The momentum switched from Seattle to New York in seven seconds.
You'd think that special teams coach Jay Harbaugh would be coaching his guys up. Field the ball, hold the ball. Instead, Shenault muffed the kickoff again. He picked up 10 yards on the return, but then stumbled and lost the ball. Once again, New York had the ball in Seattle territory.
Disaster was averted by the Big Cat, as he pulled off what was the play of the day. Leonard Williams saved this game for the Seahawks, true. But the special teams unit said, "Hold my beer, bro!" as the extra point attempt was blocked. Myers did get the ball a yard into the Jets' end zone on the ensuing kickoff, but the Hawks' coverage was again terrible. This time, Xavier Gipson took the ball 45 yards to set the Jets up at their own 44-yard line.
The Seahawks' defense bailed them out, shutting Rodgers down on two straight attempts to pick up the first at the Seattle 48-yard line. Jason Myers eventually converted on a 54-yard field goal to pull the Hawks within five points. The Hawks' self-destruction didn't end there, not by a long shot. But at least the special team's shenanigans were over. The Hawks need to take a long look at the performance of coach Jay Harbaugh after this debacle.