Quick Takeaways From Seahawks - Ravens →

It doesn’t take much to ruin a Presidential campaign. Sometimes, all it takes is refusing to wear makeup, forgetting your own policies or an unfortunate yell. One blunder, and boom … you’re done.

I don’t want to make too much out of Russell Wilson’s careless pick-six to Marcus Peters, but that stumble in his MVP campaign was the Dean-Scream-esque moment for a Seahawks offense that never recovered Sunday. On top of that, it opened the door for another MVP candidate to enter the fray: Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson.

Everyone knows how mobile Jackson – who drew a Michael Vick comparison from Jadeveon Clowney after the game (and once from Vick himself) – can be.

“Yeah PAWL, but all he can do is run.”

I don’t subscribe to that theory. Jackson’s stats might indicate otherwise, but he made pretty throws downfield and was victimized by a few drops. And with the way he ran through and around Seattle’s defense (14 carries for 116 yards and a TD), even IF he could only run he’d be just fine. Because who can actually stop him? I don’t even blame the Hawks’ defense for their struggles containing him. Those Vick comparisons are legit.

I do blame a lackluster offensive gameplan. When Wilson’s struggles began – an 0-for-6 stretch in the second quarter, including the pick-six – the Hawks didn’t turn back to Chris Carson and the ground game. And for whatever reason, they kept trying to run plays AROUND the Ravens. Baltimore’s defense was too fast for that to work.

And I do blame Pete Carroll’s decision to attempt a 53-yard field goal in the rain on a fourth-and-3 at the Ravens’ 35. That’s a tough ask for any kicker, let alone Myers (who made the rest of his kicks today). Going for it (which the Ravens did on fourth-and-2 from the Seahawks’ 8 on the following drive, scoring a TD on said play) would have been a better choice. No matter Wilson’s struggles Sunday, he’s still Russell Wilson, and 3 yards is very manageable. Playing the field-position game and punting it (no matter Michael Dickson’s recent struggles) would also have been better than handing things over to Jackson and company close to mid-field.

Perhaps it was naive of me to ponder first-round bye possibilities for the Seahawks. The defense isn’t good enough to win a game on its own, and a sub-par day from Wilson completely derailed Seattle. The Seahawks were going to need to win this game to keep that conversation alive. The Saints, Packers, and 49ers all handled their business Sunday. The Seahawks didn’t. And without some help, any playoff appearance will likely start on Wild Card weekend.

For takes from the rest of my 710 teammates, go here…