Week 8 has already offered the Seattle Seahawks a win, not of their own hands, but by the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers dropped their matchup against the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon in a 26-15 defeat. The loss marks the 49ers' third loss of the season as they slip to 5-3 and third in the NFC West.
Sunday's results leave Seattle tied with the Los Angeles Rams atop the division with identical 5-2 records. Like the Rams, the Seahawks are having a solid season to date, and the 49ers' loss is a welcome development heading into their bye week.
However, even while things are looking up now, and Seattle is heading out of the bye week riding a momentum burst from Week 7's Monday Night Football win over those same Texans, that doesn't necessarily mean Seattle can afford to take it easy, nor does it mean that the path ahead is paved with gold — it's more like gravel.
Seattle Seahawks have to maintain focus despite division rival's loss
San Francisco's loss is Seattle's win, but the Seahawks need to pull in other wins this week in a different way, which is why their bye week came at a good time for a few reasons. For one, the week allows Mike Macdonald and the organization to assess the team's roster needs as the NFL's trade deadline approaches on November 4.
Secondly, with injuries to key players like outside linebacker Derick Hall, safety Jordan Love, and cornerback Devon Witherspoon resulting in missed games this season, an extra week off provides more slack on the rope for them to get healthier. Macdonald did state that all three should return after the bye.
Another reason is Sam Darnold-related. Against Houston, Darnold had his worst game of the season, which included costly turnovers and shaky play overall. Now, I'm sure Macdonald isn't worried about a Darnold regression after a bad turnout.
That being said, given the eight-year veteran's track record — aside from his Minnesota Vikings season — it's not entirely unreasonable to think back to a past Darnold who only had bad games and grow a slight sense of worry.
If only for Darnold, the bye week offers up the opportunity to lock back in and prepare for a solid month of November in which the Seahawks face not only two division opponents, but also his former team, the Vikings.
Again, Seattle enters their off week on the tailwind of an ugly yet necessary win, so there is momentum in that. However, taking into account their division and its competition — not to mention the fact that all three of the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers could realistically make the playoffs — does any of this make Seattle's current situation a mirage?
Maybe not a mirage, per se, but the way the Rams are winning and putting up points this year, and the fact that Kyle Shanahan somehow has the 49ers playing winning football despite the plethora of injuries they have sustained —this is not the time for Seattle to sit back and take their cleats off.
One 49ers loss doesn't burn their season. In the same way, one 49ers loss doesn't win the Seahawks the division. They still meet their rivals from The Bay once more to close the season down on January 4th. Everything could come down to that one, final matchup, which makes every week, even a non-game week, just as important.