The Seahawks are only one win by the Packers away from getting eliminated from the playoffs – whether they beat the Cardinals on Sunday or not. That state of affairs is eerily similar to the end of last season, when Seattle needed a similar assist from Detroit in order to make the postseason. This year they will be relying on the Bears to upset Green Bay, provided they can take care of business in Arizona.
Regardless of what happens in this final week of the season, it should be clear by now that there is something seriously wrong with this team.
Last season the Seahawks’ greatest weakness was their run defense – a glaring flaw that cost them several games against inferior teams. This year Seattle appeared to have righted the ship – putting together one of the league’s stingiest run defending units in the league the first several weeks of the season. However, over time their ability to stop the run devolved, and since Week 11 they have unquestionably been the worst run-defending team in the entire NFL.
There have been far-worse losses this season, but Sunday’s 30-23 loss at home to the Steelers was arguably the most-revealing game of 2023. For all their talent, this is a grossly underachieving team that keeps getting beat in the same ways – and not just week to week – but season to season.
The guy who’s responsibile is at least accepting the blame. Speaking on the radio yesterday head coach Pete Carroll said that his emphasis on limiting the *checks notes* explosive passing game of Pittsburgh’s offense was to blame for players overcompensating and not focusing enough on the run. Here are his full comments.
Discussing the run defense, Pete theorized that his emphasis on limiting Pittsburgh's explosive passing game got into his players' heads and negatively impacted their run D. Says he takes the blame for that, and noted that run D was better in 2nd half. pic.twitter.com/05Zq41iChc
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) January 2, 2024
Naturally, that answer didn’t sit well with a lot of Seahawks fans, many of whom seem to be ready for a major change at the top this offseason.
Here are some replies that illustrate how Seattle fans are feeling.
EXPLOSIVE PASSIVE GAME?! WITH MASON RUDOLPH?!
— Moral Kombat (@maybe_i_dunno) January 2, 2024
Same damn thing with our offense. He’s so obsessed with getting those explosive plays that it seems he inhibits his QB’s. I mean Russ and Geno get the same knocks. Not throwing over the middle and holding the ball too long. You’d think PC would use that short passing game better.
— The Bazz (@bazzmann22) January 2, 2024
Bad coaching, comes back every season
— 🚨LOST TO MASON RUDOLPH🚨 (@BaylessFan) January 2, 2024
destroying the run defense because you're worried about Mason Rudolph throwing deep on you?!
— Jesse (@KoalaSalesman) January 2, 2024
I hope he really looks in the mirror this off season and does a very harsh and realistic reflection and retrospective of the team and himself
— Ninja (@hawksninja) January 2, 2024
Oh no I think the backup qb jokes cooking the defense finally got to him /s
— ak (@awk_1990) January 2, 2024
Pete doing Pete things; take the heat off the players and onto himself, rightly or wrongly thats always his MO. The run “lack of D” has been difficult to watch, but this game it was unbearable and sad.
— Ann (@RESeattleAnn) January 2, 2024
Every week, same response from Pete: “I take blame for that.” I freakin love Pete, but he’s just not resonating with today’s game. He needs to update the 2010 Win Forever version to a 2024 Win Forever & Ever version or walk away.
— KUYA™️ (@KuyaChrisL) January 2, 2024
He’s cooked man😂
— Smoove (@jbunnies12) January 2, 2024
Lmaooo Pete. He’s a funny guy.
— Chris Leeper (@RoseBug_22) January 2, 2024
wtf?
— B² (@BAMSZN) January 2, 2024
Coach better.
Time for a change
— Dave B. (@DaveB355636) January 2, 2024
— 👩🏻🦰Jen_Mazz🇨🇦🍎🇮🇱🇺🇦 (@savagecookie) January 2, 2024
😂😂 he gotta be trolling
— fatmfk (@fatmfk) January 2, 2024
He can keep shouldering the blame…but tape dont lie…who aint reading keys and handling their biz, next man up.
— Bill Burbank (@billburbank1) January 2, 2024
Pathetic
— sarors (@Sarav_RS1) January 2, 2024
time for forced retirement
— Joseph Condon (@newfguy) January 3, 2024
Honestly, this is just such BS from Pete Carroll. There were players there to make the tackle. They just didn't. Tackling is a fundamental football skill. When your team is bad at the fundamentals…it's coaching.
— N8_Seahawks (@RealEstN8) January 3, 2024
Wtf Pete I like pete but man he needs to adjust to the new
— Savataric 2004 (@savataric) January 2, 2024
This is some BS. Terrible strategy.
— Brendo Pretendo (@BrendoPretendo) January 2, 2024
@PeteCarroll take that blame and leave Seattle #firepetecarrol pic.twitter.com/eHBZk8l9qd
— CRISE NO SEAHAWKS #GENO2023 (@CRISENOSEAHAWKS) January 2, 2024
Pete is barely coherent. I love the guy but he just doesn’t make sense half the time.
— UW HUSKY NATION (@run_the_ball_14) January 3, 2024
