The Seattle Seahawks faced a major setback as they stumbled against the Baltimore Ravens, revealing significant concerns as they head into the second half of the season. Despite currently sitting in a tie for the NFC West lead, the Seahawks’ 37-3 loss against the Ravens emphasized the gap between a good team like Seattle and an elite team like Baltimore.
While a 5-3 record through eight games is not a failure for the Seahawks, their three losses so far have cast a shadow over their accomplishments in the first half of the season. The team suffered a surprising blowout loss to the Rams, struggled in the red zone in a four-point loss to the Bengals, and experienced a devastating defeat at the hands of the Ravens, marking Pete Carroll’s second-worst loss as the Seahawks’ head coach.
Although the Seahawks have shown glimpses of their potential with wins against teams like Detroit and Cleveland, their overall performance has been lacking. It remains uncertain whether they are capable of making a deep playoff run should they secure a postseason spot.
One of the highlights of the Seahawks’ season has been their defense, which was among the top-ranked in the NFL until their game against the Ravens. Seattle’s run defense, in particular, was impressive, but it was completely dismantled by Baltimore’s dominant rushing attack, allowing 298 yards on the ground, the most during Pete Carroll’s tenure as head coach. Despite this concerning performance, the Seahawks believe it to be an outlier and credit the return of key players like Bobby Wagner and Jarran Reed, as well as the contributions of rookies and new signings.
On the offensive side, quarterback Geno Smith needs to reset after a subpar performance in the past five games. Smith has struggled to take care of the ball, throwing six interceptions, losing two fumbles, and getting sacked 13 times during this stretch. While some of the blame falls on the offensive line’s inability to protect him adequately, Smith needs to be more careful with the ball and improve his communication with his receivers to prevent interceptions.
Second-year edge rusher Boye Mafe has been a shining star for the Seahawks this season. Continually improving since his rookie year, Mafe has had a sack in six consecutive games, tying a franchise record. His consistent presence in the pass rush has been invaluable to Seattle’s defense.
On the flip side, wide receiver DK Metcalf has had a relatively quiet first half of the season in terms of catching the ball. Against the Ravens, he only had one reception for 50 yards. Metcalf has struggled with injuries to his ribs and hip but needs to show more consistency and become a bigger factor in the passing game moving forward.
In terms of injuries, Seattle considered itself relatively healthy last week, despite shoulder injuries to rookie defensive end Derick Hall and running back/special teams player DeeJay Dallas. While Hall seems to be feeling better, Dallas’ availability remains uncertain. The Seahawks are also hopeful for the return of right tackle Abraham Lucas, who has been out since Week 1.
Looking ahead, the next two weeks are crucial for the Seahawks as they face Washington and the Rams. These games will set the tone for the remainder of their season, which includes tough matchups against San Francisco, Dallas, San Francisco again, and Philadelphia.
One area where the Seahawks need significant improvement is on third downs, both offensively and defensively. Currently ranked 30th in the league, Seattle is converting just 31.9% of its third-down chances and allowing teams to convert at a 45.3% rate. This combination is unsustainable and will need to be addressed in the second half of the season.
In summary, the Seattle Seahawks have displayed major concerns as they stumble against the Baltimore Ravens. While they remain in a tie for the NFC West lead, their three losses and overall performance cast doubts on their ability to make a deep playoff run. The defense, once a highlight of the season, was exposed by the Ravens, while quarterback Geno Smith needs to improve his decision-making. On a positive note, edge rusher Boye Mafe has been exceptional, but wide receiver DK Metcalf needs to contribute more. Injuries are a concern, and the Seahawks must address their struggles on third downs. The next two weeks will be pivotal, and the Seahawks must perform well to set the tone for the rest of the season.
