State of the team, Week 15: L.A. Rams

End of an era? Not yet

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Logo -- Los AngelesTwo weeks ago, Seattle knocked off the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles, and it sure looked like the Seahawks were getting ready to spread their wings for another long postseason flight.

Even a 30-24 loss in Jacksonville last week did nothing to shake the faith — the Seahawks basically beat themselves thanks to Russell Wilson’s overly aggressive interceptions and a few other mistakes.

There was plenty of reason to think they could beat the Rams at home and take control of the NFC West. And even if they had lost by just a touchdown, it wouldn’t have been unexpected or created a huge stir beyond the uphill battle to make the playoffs.

But a 42-7 demolition has raised a ton of questions about the future of these Seahawks.

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Week 15: L.A. Rams, X's & O's

For Hawks, first downs are worst downs

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Logo -- Los AngelesThe Seahawks have been one of the worst first-half offenses in the league this season, ranking 25th with 8.5 points. That’s nine points less than the Rams, who play in Seattle today in what is almost a must-win for the Seahawks.

A big reason the Hawks have failed so miserably in the first half is their inability to do anything on first down.

For full games, they are the second-worst rushing team in the NFL on first down, and Russell Wilson is having the worst season of his six-year career for first-down passing.

The loss to Jacksonville last week exemplified the issues they have had there, while also providing a glimmer of hope that they might be close to fixing the problem.

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The roster, Week 15: L.A. Rams

Why waive Glowinski?

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Logo -- Los AngelesWhy Mark Glowinski?

That’s what some fans are asking after the Seahawks surprisingly waived the third-year guard among their moves Saturday — while putting Kam Chancellor on IR and calling up practice-squad linebacker Kache Palacio and cornerback Mike Tyson.

Chancellor had languished on the 53-man roster ever since he was injured against Arizona five weeks ago. With injuries to Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, the Seahawks need potential reinforcements at the position.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 15: L.A. Rams
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CHAWK LINES -- Rams at Seahawks

Malik McDowell met with Pete Carroll and John Schneider and issued an apology (which surely was written by the team). He has two strikes, but he will get a third chance to show he is not a total screw-up and waste of a second-round draft pick. As Carroll said, “Let’s hope this isn’t an indicator of things to come.”

“My life and my kids are more important than football,” Cliff Avril told SI.com in a story on Week 4’s NFL bloodbath that included Chris Carson also being lost for the season. Avril, who had spinal surgery in November, seems likely to retire.

No Seahawks will be suspended for the ugly end to the game in Jacksonville. But fines could be coming. The NFL also issued a stern warning about attacking referees in any way (take note, Germain Ifedi).

Bobby Wagner (hamstring) is questionable for the NFC West showdown with the Rams this week. K.J. Wright (concussion) and Mike Davis (ribs) seem like they might be good to go.

 

State of the team, Week 14: At Jacksonville

Despite flaws, Hawks still can beat anyone — time to prove it

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Logo -- At JacksonvilleComing off their watershed win against the Eagles, the Seahawks had a chance to confirm they were ready for a big run into the postseason. All they needed to do was beat the NFL’s best defense a week after beating the best offense.

They couldn’t do it, though, and now they have to beat the Rams next week — and the final two on top of that — to assure themselves of a sixth straight postseason. If they lose another game, they will need big help to get into the playoffs in a loaded NFC.

As ugly as that 30-24 loss in Jacksonville was, the Seahawks showed enough for us to think they still could make a run to the Super Bowl — assuming Russell Wilson quits throwing interceptions and Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright don’t miss any time.

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The roster, Week 14: At Jacksonville

Hawks finally found their five O-linemen

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Logo -- At JacksonvilleAs Luke Joeckel returns to Jacksonville to face the team that made him the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft, the Seahawks finally have put together a quintet of blockers that could carry them the rest of this season — and perhaps for the next few.

The crew of (from left) Duane Brown, Joeckel, Justin Britt, Ethan Pocic and Germain Ifedi looks like the best Seattle has had in two seasons. It should be, based on draft pedigree — Brown, Joeckel and Ifedi were first-round picks and Britt and Pocic second-rounders.

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Playoffs, Schedule, State of the team

Playoff scenarios as final quarter begins

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No. 2 seed scenarioAmazing what one big win can do for a flagging franchise trying to find its footing.

After the Seahawks had lost two straight home games for only the second time with Russell Wilson, they were on the outside looking in at the postseason picture. But they quickly dug out of the slump with an upset victory over the NFC’s top team, Philadelphia.

Now the Hawks (8-4) suddenly own their destiny again, and Atlanta helped their pursuit of a top-two seed by knocking off the Saints on Thursday night.

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Contracts, The roster

Key guys playing big roles in contract years; who might be back?

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Salary cap logoThree-quarters of the way through the season, the Seahawks are finally starting to look like the Super Bowl contender we all expected.

Well, not exactly like we all expected.

Having lost three star defenders and their preferred starting running back, while dealing with a variety of other injuries and issues (penalties, offensive line shuffling, etc.), they have had a lot to overcome and have changed in unexpected ways. That explains why it took them 12 games to look like one of the NFC’s top teams.

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Week 13: Philadelphia

‘It’s December — time to be great’

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logo-philadelphiaDon’t sleep on the Seahawks — at least now that they’re awake themselves.

K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner took offense that the Hawks were underdogs to the Eagles at home and people were writing them off. But the Seahawks had only themselves to blame after losing two straight home games they could have won (or tied in the case of the Falcons).

To shut people up, the Hawks had to open some eyes and prove they were still contenders. And they did that vs. the Eagles, coming up with their best win of the season, 24-10 and making it look like the Hawks are ready to make their typical December run. They’re a league-best 20-5 in the final month with Russell Wilson.

“It’s December,” Wilson said. “It’s time to play. It’s time to be great.”

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Week 13: Philadelphia

Defining game: Wilson is 5-0 in his birthday week

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logo-philadelphiaHow apropos that the 10-win Eagles come to town this week — giving the Seahawks their annual defining game at the usual moment, right after Russell Wilson’s birthday.

The Seahawks seem to have a watershed game right around Wilson’s birthday (Nov. 29) every year, and they are 5-0 in games played on or immediately following his big day. They’ll look to make it 6-0 against the juggernaut Eagles.

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