Forecast: unsettled
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Mike Holmgren addressed his players in a darkened room Friday morning, the result of a wind and rain storm that knocked out power to much of the Seattle region.
The setting matched the Seahawks’ mood.
What was expected to be a celebration of a third straight NFC West crown Thursday night turned into an examination of just what was wrong with the reigning NFC champs after a shocking 24-14 loss to San Francisco.
“It’s been a little bit of the same old, same old the last few weeks,” the coach said at team headquarters, which was running on generators. “We’ve been a pretty inconsistent football team where one phase of the football team might play well, but the complementary parts of the team didn’t, and that could change on a weekly basis it seems.”
Despite the two straight losses, the Seahawks (8-6) still control their fate in the NFC West. A win over San Diego on Christmas Eve or at Tampa Bay on New Year’s Eve will give the Seahawks the division crown and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
The main problems for Seattle again involved the offense. Even with MVP running back Shaun Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck back from injuries, the Seahawks have displayed only occasional signs of the machine that rolled through the NFC a year ago.
Against San Francisco, Alexander was limited to just 16 yards in the second half. He gained 40 of his 73 yards on one drive in the first quarter – capped by his 3-yard TD run, just his fourth rushing touchdown this year.
The inability to establish a constant ground game has been a problem since Alexander’s return from a cracked bone in his foot on Nov. 19. He has only one 100-yard game this season, and his 3.8 yards per carry average is well off his 5.1 of a season ago.
The running struggles were highlighted midway through the fourth quarter when Alexander and Mack Strong were stuffed on third-and-1, then fourth-and-1 at the 49ers’ 27.
Meanwhile, Hasselbeck was outplayed in the second half by his counterpart, Alex Smith.
Hasselbeck was intercepted twice, including at the goal line on the first possession of the second half. Until a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens with 9 seconds left, Seattle’s offense rarely threatened.
With the Seahawks unable to sustain drives, Smith suddenly channeled San Francisco greats of the past, putting together perhaps the best 15 minutes of his career in the fourth quarter.
On San Francisco’s final three drives, Smith completed 6 of 9 passes for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also added an 18-yard TD run, jogging alone into the end zone.
Smith’s play, combined with 104 yards rushing in the fourth quarter by Frank Gore, finally wore down Seattle’s defense.
“I thought the defense was prepared well and they played a good football game and at the end they were on the field too long,” Holmgren said. “They had to play too hard, too long.”
Holmgren said if these inconsistencies had festered earlier in the season, personnel or schematic changes could’ve been made. With just two games remaining, Holmgren believes it’s too late to make drastic moves.
Instead, the coach will be leading the mantra that Seattle can still accomplish its goals.
“I think that’s part of my job. I’ve got to show them and then I believe this, we’re going, we’re still going,” Holmgren said. “Are we disappointed, are we angry, are we frustrated, can we play better? Yes, yes, yes, yes. OK, but now, boom, that’s done. And we’ve got two games left in the regular season, let’s go.”