Heading into the 2015 NFL season, a quick look at the Seattle Seahawks schedule suggested the reigning NFC champions would start the year 4-2 at worse. But six weeks into the campaign, Seattle sits at 2-4 and one loss away from must-win territory.
In two straight weeks, the Seahawks have given away fourth-quarter leads. The Cincinnati Bengals engineered a 17-point comeback against the vaunted defense, while the Carolina Panthers—at CenturyLink Field—overcame a nine-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining.
After an offseason full of changes on the offensive line, Seattle’s offense has regressed from a top-tier unit to a surprisingly mediocre and sometimes flat-out bad group.
The Seahawks previously relied on a dominant running game, but Marshawn Lynch is only averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Yes, Beast Mode has battled an injury, but he’s been a non-factor when healthy behind that inexperienced offensive line.
After taking 4 more sacks Sunday, no one has been sacked more than @Seahawks' Russell Wilson this season: pic.twitter.com/ZFsfS7YW6S
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 19, 2015
Though the protection has regularly faltered, Russell Wilson is to blame for some of the sacks, too. The dual-threat quarterback has struggled to identify open receivers despite ample time to throw. All the problems amount to an ugly 36.9 mark on third down, a purely average 22.3 points per game and four losses.
It’s early. The season is not lost. But considering that the Seahawks will likely need 10 wins to reach the playoffs, the schedule looks relatively daunting.
Seattle has two games remaining against the Arizona Cardinals, who currently lead the NFC West. The Seahawks will also host the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Ben Roethlisberger should be back for that matchup. Road games against the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens are far from assured victories.
Plus, intra-division games with the San Francisco 49ers (twice) and St. Louis Rams can be low-scoring messes. Since Seattle has had trouble closing games on offense, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers or Rams stole a win.
The Seahawks have yet to prove they’re capable of dominating all three facets of the game for 60 minutes, so an 8-2 finish to the season seems unlikely—though it would be foolish to count out Seattle.
If Pete Carroll’s team rips off four straight wins by topping the 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Cardinals and 49ers, the worries about the Seahawks won’t have as much traction. But if Seattle falters more than once, the postseason will be slipping from its reach.