The Seattle Seahawks could have stolen one on the road vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, but were unable to put together enough offensive firepower to thwart the AFC contenders. No, it wasn't like Joe Burrow's team played all that well to begin with, but Cincinnati improved to 3-3 on the season, while Seattle stumbled to 3-2. A win in the Queen City would have done wonders for Seattle's viability.
Saddled with a disappointing 17-13 loss to Cincinnati, people are wondering what the heck went wrong for Seattle. The Seahawks were already coming off their bye week and had multiple weeks to prepare for a Cincinnati team that had largely been out of sorts since losing last year's AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead. Still, the more experienced team found a way to win at home.
So let's blame some people because why not? Seattle has a navigable part of its schedule coming up before the bulk of divisional play commences. While the defense certainly did its part, the offense cannot look like this if the Seahawks want any hope of splitting with the San Francisco 49ers. Although the Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding, the Los Angeles Rams do look much improved as well.
Without further ado, let's play the blame game and find some Seahawks to pin this Bengals loss onto.
Seattle Seahawks stumble vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Who is to blame?
3. This Seattle Seahawks offensive line is still very much a wet paper bag
Just when we thought the Seahawks were done being atrocious in trenches, the Seattle front-five resembled what I like to call a wet paper bag. It has been an issue throughout much of defensive-minded head coach Pete Carroll's tenure in the Pacific Northwest. While I respect general manager John Schneider finally investing resources into this position group, what a bad day for their linemen...
Starting quarterback Geno Smith was sacked four times for a loss of 29 yards in the contest. Cincinnati may have a great pass rush orchestrated by Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, but that is not how you win games offensively. While the yards per play (5.4) and yards per rush (3.5) were better than the Bengals' two marks (4.0 and 3.1), the offensive line struggled in the red zone.
Seattle was 1-for-5 in that part of the field. The Seahawks saw running back Kenneth Walker III score a one-yard touchdown on their first offensive series and were held out of the end zone for the rest of the ball game. For whatever reason, the Seahawks offense sputtered in those critical spots. Again, a lot of blame can be spread around, but better play out of the entire offensive line could have won this.
We have to wonder if this will continue to be an issue vs. stronger pass rushes on the road for them.
2. Shane Waldron got a lot of yards, but not many points for his offense
Last year was a fantastic one for the entire Seahawks offense, due in large part to the brilliant play-calling of its coordinator Shane Waldron. If the Seahawks are once again a playoff-caliber team, one would think he would be in serious consideration to get his own team. He might be a candidate to promote from within should Pete Carroll finally call it a career at some point in his very youthful 70s.
Again, great job getting seven points on their first offensive series of the game. But everything after that for the Seahawks was concerning to say the least. Turnovers, sacks and penalties flipped the game in the Bengals' favor in the second half, but the listless offense in the final three frames is what sealed the Seahawks' fate in this one. A C- effort out of the Seattle offense would have won the game.
Ultimately, you have to wonder what becomes of the Seahawks offense vs. some of the better teams it goes up against the rest of the way. I think against good, but not great teams they should be alright. However, Cincinnati had been struggling to find its footing and Lou Anarumo took Waldron to church. Anarumo should be an NFL head coach by now, but we have to wonder if Waldron will ever be one.
Carroll may get some blame, but again, offense is not his side of the ball. That would be Waldron's...
1. Geno Smith pretty much handed the game to the Cincinnati Bengals
If you want to place blame on anyone for Seattle losing on the road to Cincinnati, look no further than Seahawks starting quarterback Geno Smith. He may have thrown for well over 300 yards, but he did not have a touchdown pass on the afternoon and threw it to the other team twice. He got outplayed by Joe Burrow, who still hasn't been himself this season, for whatever reason. Smith played poorly.
I think what this game illustrated more than anything is although Smith is good enough to guide the Seahawks to something around 10 or 11 wins a season, he may not have what it takes to beat a good team on the road in the playoffs. In essence, Seattle has to win the division and get favorable scheduling breaks to go on a postseason run of sorts with Smith at the helm of Waldron's offense.
Ultimately, there are things that the savvy veteran Smith can clean up. Cincinnati is a good team with a loaded roster still trying to find itself. This win may help get them back on the right track as the weather starts to turn. As for Seattle, to come out this flat offensively in a game following a bye week, you have to wonder if this team has the mental fortitude to just win on Sundays when they have to.
Smith's carelessness with the football contributed greatly to the Seahawks losing to the Bengals.
