Disappointment flourishes
Three weeks ago, the Seattle Seahawks were considered in a class with New England and Philadelphia at the top of the NFL. Then 11 disastrous minutes against the Rams sent them into a free fall that hit bottom with a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Seahawks are hardly the only team struggling after starting with great expectations. That group includes St. Louis, which managed to allow 31 points to previously winless Miami on Sunday.
Add Tennessee, Kansas City, Carolina, Dallas and Green Bay, although the Packers have two straight good wins, while the Chiefs ran up 56 points with an NFL-record eight touchdowns on the ground against Atlanta, which entered the game 5-1.
Seattle’s fall is the most shocking.
The Seahawks were 3-0, including two road wins, had allowed just 23 points in almost four games, and were leading the Rams 27-10 at home two weeks ago with 8 minutes left. Then they allowed 23 more points in 11 minutes and lost that game in overtime; lost in Foxboro a week ago (everyone does that); and melted down Sunday in the desert.
Two bits of history that may have something to do with it:
• The loss to the Rams came after the Seahawks’ bye week. Seattle is tied with the Giants at 3-13 for the worst post-bye record; New York had a four-game winning streak broken Sunday in its first game back from its off week.
• When Seattle’s Mike Holmgren coached in Green Bay and Arizona’s Dennis Green was in Minnesota, Holmgren was 5-9 against Green. The Packers were usually the better team in those years. They had one great quarterback, Brett Favre, while Green was going through a young Rich Gannon, Sean Salisbury, Jim McMahon and Warren Moon (late in their careers), Brad Johnson, and Randall Cunningham.
Quarterback has been one of Holmgren’s problems.
Matt Hasselbeck, who last season emerged as one of the league’s better QBs, was 14 of 41 for 195 yards Sunday. That gave him a passer rating of 69.8 for the season, 24th in the league, compared to 88.8 for all of 2003, tied for seventh.
“I really have no answers,” Hasselbeck said. “I don’t know what the deal was, but it was my fault.”
There are other problems, too, including a defense that has allowed 88 points in the last three games.
In New England, the Seahawks trailed 20-3 early, closed to within three, then gave up a 48-yard pass on third down that led to the clinching touchdown. But that’s why the Patriots now have 21 straight wins – they make big plays against everybody.
Nonetheless, Seattle is only a half-game behind the Rams in the NFC West because St. Louis lost in Miami. So while Holmgren growls, “The mood stinks right now,” there’s plenty of time for a comeback.
Favre has sore hand
Brett Favre sprained his right hand in leading Green Bay to its 41-20 victory over Dallas and the hand progressively got worse.
Favre tried to fend off unblocked tackle La’Roi Glover midway through the first half and his hand hit Glover’s chest. But he still completed 23 of 29 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and said the hand hurt worse as the game went on – mostly on snaps, not throws.
His practice work will be limited this week, offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said.
Foster lost for season
The Carolina Panthers lost any hope of DeShaun Foster playing again this season when it was determined the running back needs surgery on his broken collarbone.
Foster was expected to miss six to 10 weeks after he was injured in an Oct. 10 loss to Denver.
Around the league
Dallas Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn will be out at least two weeks because of a sprained right foot. Coach Bill Parcells said the injury won’t require surgery but is “pretty severe.” Receiver Quincy Morgan strained his hamstring against Green Bay. Parcells said Morgan is day to day. … Mike Alstott will be sidelined at least a month after spraining his right knee during Tampa Bay’s 19-7 win over the Chicago Bears. … Oakland Raiders starting left guard Frank Middleton and rookie receiver Carlos Francis have been lost for the remainder of the season because of injuries that will require surgery. In addition, cornerback Charles Woodson was having an MRI exam for a hip pointer and his status was uncertain. … Left tackle Jonathan Ogden probably will miss the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday with a pulled left hamstring. … Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown is coming back from a broken fibula in his left leg and is expected to play Sunday. Outside linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski was to undergo an MRI for what is believed to be a high ankle sprain and is doubtful. Defensive end Grant Wistrom and outside linebacker Anthony Simmons remain out.