Cigar Ideas, Recreation 15: Nearer, however no cigar as Seahawks lose once more

The Minnesota Vikings traveled to Seattle with a 12-2 report that lots of people throughout the NFL have been fast to devalue. However make no mistake, the Vikings are a very good fucking workforce and at this time, the Seahawks gave them every part they might deal with. And whereas the 27-24 loss deeply injured Seattle’s playoff hopes, I consider this afternoon’s efficiency provides actual trigger for hope after the ‘Hawks folded towards the Packers final week.

I wish to be extraordinarily clear— I’m not right here to equivocate shortcomings. During the last 13 years I’ve written about sufficient variations of the Seahawks that vary from unhealthy to all-time-great to have a modicum of perspective and my stance on 2024 has all the time been that this can be a diagnostic season. Most franchises that transfer on from Corridor of Fame coaches suck for some time and but right here the Seahawks are, with a profitable report below a first-time head coach with a younger roster dealing with one of many hardest schedules within the league.

The pessimists studying the earlier paragraph will write it off as homerism or paint me as a pollyanna seeing this workforce by rose-tinted lenses. Overly optimistic followers may even see it as a common salve for the very actual short-comings of a workforce that’s clearly not able to compete for a Tremendous Bowl. Probably the most correct view of the 2024 Seahawks, for my part, is that they’ve already outperformed expectations (Vegas staked them as a 7.5-win season) whereas nonetheless being miles away from the very best groups within the NFL. It’s okay to take a holistic view of this workforce and I’ll go as far as to encourage it.

The great from at this time facilities round a perspective that watched an inferior workforce punch above their weight for 11 of 12 rounds. The unhealthy facilities round a half-dozen avoidable errors that value the Seahawks a win that will have dramatically altered the franchise’s trajectory. The half we give attention to says extra about us than it does about this workforce, which is unapologetically flawed and superior on the identical time.

Make no mistake, the Seahawks have been a handful of ill-timed penalties away from in all probability profitable this recreation however correct opinions of this workforce must take every part into consideration and whereas the bottom model of discourse revolves across the QB and OC, you remove a number of poorly-timed fouls and Seattle has a signature win on their resume with a transparent path to the playoffs. However Seattle additionally beat the Jets and Cardinals largely to high-leverage penalties from their opponents so I believe the foremost takeaway needs to be that with a view to have an actual shot on the Lombardi you both must be exceptionally disciplined or so proficient you could overcome your indiscretions. The Seahawks are neither however, I believe an correct evaluation of them locations them nearer to both ultimate than the overall consensus pegged them for 4 months in the past.

I do know, I do know— lots of you studying this are saying “Who cares? They lost.” And like, I get it. The purpose of this column has all the time been to try to accurately assess the workforce as an entire by the variably-inebriated lens with which I view the sport every week. And I believe the model of the Seahawks that we noticed at this time was perhaps the truest we’ve seen all yr: adequate to push a very good workforce to their absolute restrict however not but adequate to conquer them.

And that’s okay. I actually consider that. There’s an enormous a part of me that needs I’d nonetheless be writing Cigar Ideas recaps subsequent season as a result of I’m so bullish on Seattle’s improvement however for a lot of causes (that I could expound on later), that’s not within the playing cards. What I can say is that this afternoon we noticed the very best and worst elements of this workforce and the truth that they’re 8-7 by 15 video games feels nearly proper.

Look, y’all noticed this recreation play out. The Vikings whipped ass early and the Seahawks received the center third of the cintest. The ultimate stanza was evenly performed however errors value the house workforce in crunch time and for as easily-repairable as Seattle’s shortcomings are, it doesn’t change the truth that they reared their ugly faces when it mattered most. Possibly this workforce tightens that up below Mike Macdonald sooner or later, and perhaps they don’t. My private opinion is that this season has already provided proof-of-concept for optimism shifting ahead whereas acknowledging that an 8-7 season holds a mirror as much as every of us close to what sort of soccer followers we’re.

Lengthy story, brief: the Seahawks had an opportunity to beat a greater workforce in a giant spot however self-inflicted wounds robbed them of a defining victory. C’est la vie*.

*Peruvian for “what the fuck?”

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SMOKE RINGS

~I promised my spouse I wouldn’t flip the Geno Smith part of Smoke Rings into a web-based battle. I like her so god rattling a lot that I’m going to do my greatest regardless that a decade+ of writing for this viewers is aware of the feedback part after a loss will devolve right into a binary “discussion” and actually, wonderful. Possibly greater than any recreation in his Seahawks profession, at this time’s efficiency tees up the *discourse* and the elements of his efficiency at this time that every of us select to give attention to is sort of undeniably a mirrored image of how we cheer for this workforce.

Dealing with one of many three greatest defenses within the NFL, Smith accomplished 71% of his 43 passes for 315 yards and three TDs towards 2 INTs. It was the most effective performances towards Brian Flores’ vaunted scheme the NFL has seen all yr however I’ll let the smoother-brained contingent of the inhabitants spend their power telling you why that was unhealthy.

On the core of all of that is how a lot impression you give to an yearly atrocious offensive line. A few of you (one way or the other) consider you could simply change Geno’s efficiency behind a JV OL whereas others are too fast to dismiss his errors. Y’all know the place I stand and albeit I discover the talk exhausting. Take from at this time’s recreation what you’ll. Simply watch out what you would like for.

~Ken Walker was lastly again at this time after a few weeks off and I actually want he might’ve seen a constructive recreation script as a result of he has juice that nobody else on this roster does. Sadly— and true to type— he hardly ever had a chance to hit the highest pace that differentiates him from the majority of NFL RBs. No operating again in your complete league has seen fewer yards earlier than contact than Walker however he’s managed to make up for his blockers’ shortcomings with a powerful impression within the receiving recreation. With Seattle spending actually each possession trailing on the scoreboard, Walker needed to make his presence felt by the air and he did so to the tune of eight catches for 28 yards to pair together with his eight rushes for 28. He’s simply so a lot better than what his OL is permitting him to do,

~Zach Charbonnet, who I consider is I good— benefitted towards unhealthy operating defenses over the past couple of weeks however was ineffective at this time in restricted alternatives towards the most effective run Ds within the league. 14 yards on three alternatives. He stays a worthwhile member of the Seattle offense however the workload between him and Walker is reflective of the expertise delta between him and the starter.

~Seattle has loved the most effective receiving corps within the NFL and for every part they’ve completed to beat the extreme deficiencies of their offensive line, their ceilings have been lowered in direct proportion to the OL’s lack of ability to guard their QB. A technique nice receivers can achieve a bonus over scheme-vs-scheme matchups is profitable 50-50 balls however the contested catches have been lacking for Seattle this season.

Enter DK Metcalf and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Metcalf outmuscled a defensive again for Seattle’s first landing then hung onto a ball regardless of getting blown up by two defenders down the seam within the second quarter. JSN got here away with a improbable trust-ball catch towards double protection over the center within the third quarter and all of these receptions had a huge effect on the truth that Seattle had an opportunity to win this recreation late.

Metcalf continues to be clearly taking part in by an harm (as evidenced not solely by his missed practices each week since his knee and shoulder accidents however by the truth that he hasn’t been focused on a single go-route since he acquired banged up) nevertheless it was tremendous encouraging to see him win deep for his first TD in two months.

~Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to be that dude. He earned a team-high 12 targets en route main the workforce in receiving yards but once more, together with a slick landing that gave his workforce an actual likelihood of profitable. There have been a few alternatives that went un-converted however an 8-95-1 line performs 10 instances outta 10. Defenses have but to shift their security coverages in direction of him the best way they proceed to do towards Metcalf however this afternoon was the primary time I noticed the opposing DC give it some thought.

~Tyler Lockett is now nothing kore than an PI service provider however there’s nonetheless worth in that. Bummer to see him be such an afterthought however all of us knew at the present time was coming. Nonetheless good to see him transfer the chains a pair time one way or the other.

~The tight ends have been efficient security valves at this time, with Noah Fant, AJ Barner, and Pharoah Brown combining for six catches, 80 yards, and a TD with Fant main the best way to the tune of 3-50-0.

~O-line was really actually good for 3 quarters however they completely collapsed within the 4th. I used to be so inspired by the best way they dealt with the blitz-heaviest scheme within the NFL however the factor about relentlessly attacking an opposing offense is that sooner or later, the cracks will present and people fissures have been broad sufficient to stroll by unfettered down the stretch. Name it a B- effort.

~Permitting 27 factors is type of a mean efficiency in at this time’s NFL however I believe the protection was usually higher than that. They acquired completely killed by two penalties— Tre Brown’s offsides on a third down cease and Byron Murphy’s inadvertent facemask on what ought to have been his first profession sack. Each fouls turned drive-killing stops into touchdowns and that, to me, was the distinction on this recreation

~Leonard Williams continues to be wonderful, logging 5 tackles with relentless stress whereas Jarran Reed, Boye Mafe, and Derrick Corridor all recorded sacks..

~Tre Brown was lastly again at this time however he had a tough sequence within the second quarter. A wonderfully-executed blitz on third & 7 pressured a Darnold incompletion however Brown was inexplicably lined up within the impartial zone. On the subsequent play, the Vikings hunted him on a one-on-one with Justin Jefferson for a go-ahead landing. The little stuff issues. Robust fist project again however you gotta deal with the trivialities, particularly towards an offense aa good as Minnesota’s.

~All in all, I believed the secondary was extra good than unhealthy. Julian Love continued to offer constant top-level protection, permitting Coby Bryant and Devon Witherspoon to assault relentlessly. Facet notice: I’d pay my subsequent mortgage invoice for an unfiltered Mic’d Up phase between Spoon and Jefferson. Additionally, Josh Jobe was good at this time regardless of being tasked with among the hardest assignments within the sport.

~There’s been lots of ink spilled about Riq Woolen— each complimentary and derogatory— and it seems he was benched for the opening sequence as a direct rebuke of his poor efficiency final week. Kudos to him for answering the bell. I believed he was wonderful at this time, with a number of high-leverage move breakups and a seeming willingness to stay his nostril into each contentious scenario.

~It’s not nothing that that is the primary time I’ve talked about Ernest Jones shortly, and even this point out highlights his lack of impression. After main the workforce in tackles in every of his first 5 video games as a Seahawk, he has been near invisible for 2 weeks now and the tape can’t assist however make one surprise if the knee harm that gave the Rams pause isn’t appearing up late on this season.

~The Seahawks misplaced this recreation due to penalties; little doubt in my form. A few of them, like Murphy’s aforementioned facemask have been simply unhealthy luck however others, like Brown’s impartial zone infraction, Laumea’s false begin, and others sucked momentum away from a workforce in determined want of it to beat a superior opponent. One of many issues I used to be most enthusiastic about with the Mike Macdonald rent was a lower in on-field fouls however we have now but to see that happen, because the Seahawks now rank twenty ninth in penalties among the many 32 NFL groups.

~On the plus facet, it really felt like a home-field benefit at this time so kudos to these of you who have been within the stands. Doesn’t change the truth that the Seahawks stay sub-.500 at house over the past six seasons (embarrassing) however at the very least it felt like there was a noise benefit this afternoon.

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The Seahawks are 8-7, which when zoomed out, feels good. In spite of everything, expectations have been low, consensually talking. However the NFC has been surprisingly spry this season and because of this, there actually isn’t a highway to a wild card berth. It’s NFC West title or bust now, and there’s no path to that shy of profitable the final two video games with some assist.

From a win-now perspective, at this time harm. However in the event you’re like me and are taking a longer-term view on this workforce’s improvement, this end result was oddly encouraging. I don’t bemoan this loss, and even final week’s loss, that a lot when seen by this lens. I do, nonetheless, fault this workforce for dropping video games towards the Giants and Rams in efforts the place they have been the higher workforce on the sector.

Seattle pressed their noses up towards these of a workforce one recreation off the tempo of the very best report Within the NFL and have been frankly a few flags in need of beating them. That’s encouraging. I do know there’s a contingent of you studying this which might be livid that I’m not excoriating the Seahawks for at this time’s loss however once more, I simply take a longer-term view. In case your measure of success for a Seattle squad that’s mired in transition was a deep playoff run then this end result is deeply discouraging. In case your perspective stretches into the intermediate future, there’s nonetheless lots to be ok with.

It is a first rate workforce that borders on being good. However they’re nonetheless a good bit from being nice and now that we’ve seen what championship soccer appears to be like like, we perceive how far that. bridge to cross really is. I don’t suppose that ceiling was a sensible expectation for this specific season however I do suppose competing for a Tremendous Bowl is the aim value measuring your self towards and this workforce ain’t there but.

8-7. Beat the Bears on Thursday and beat the Rams in Week 18 and you bought a shot. Something much less and also you’re fucked. Nonetheless, the model of this workforce that continues to crystalize is encouraging; right here’s to them following by.

Massive highway recreation on brief relaxation arising. Go win that one and see the place the chips fall. I’ll test again in after that one however till then, onward and upward my associates.

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***Maintaining this right here for the remainder of the season — simply need y’all to know the way a lot I recognize y’throughout all these years***

Guys, I can’t let you know how a lot I’ve loved penning this column over the past 13(!) years. It’s with equal elements gratitude and sorrow that I announce this might be my ultimate season writing Cigar Ideas.

Few issues have given me higher pleasure than recapping Seahawks video games for y’all around the years and I’m eternally grateful for the unimaginable help y’all have proven this column over time. I’m proud, appreciative, and glad.

The podcast will proceed.

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As most of you understand, Cigar Ideas can be a podcast. Take a look at this week’s dialog with ESPN’s BRADY HENDERSON:

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