Hawks’ loss second-worst in franchise history
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Seahawks took the field in one of the league’s most legendary stadiums Sunday, and put on a nearly historic performance.
Historically awful that is, requiring a record book to show just how bad Seattle’s 48-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field truly was.
The Packers’ 48 points were the most scored by any Seattle opponent since November 1983, and the 38-point margin of defeat matched the second-largest in the Seahawks’ 33 seasons. Only a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tight end John Carlson prevented the Seahawks from suffering the indignity of the franchise’s largest loss ever.
And on a day when Matt Hasselbeck became the franchise’s leading passer, he was intercepted four times in a game for the first time since Dec. 20, 2009. Oh, wait – that was just last week’s double-digit loss to Tampa Bay.
With all the double-digit dustings Seattle has suffered this season, it’s hard to keep them all straight.
Seattle has lost 10 times this season, and nine of those defeats have been by more than 10 points. After one more rout, what’s left to say?
“You can almost give it any adjective, really” receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. “It’s terrible. It’s embarrassing. … It’s unbelievable.”
Well, that about covers the offense, which was held to a single touchdown for the second consecutive week. Hasselbeck was picked off the first two times Seattle crossed midfield, negating scoring chances and leaving Seattle’s defense to swim upstream.
Hasselbeck’s first interception was returned 29 yards by Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk and set up the Packers’ first touchdown four plays later. The second came in the end zone, with Seattle threatening to cut into the Packers’ 14-0 lead. Green Bay lineman Johnny Jolly tipped a ball intended for Houshmandzadeh, and safety Atari Bigby picked it off.
Seattle had outgained Green Bay to that point, yet trailed by double digits. When the Seahawks finally scored on Olindo Mare’s 28-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, the Packers answered by scoring on their next six possessions, a run of 34 consecutive points in a span of 29 minutes. During that time, the Seahawks offense gained a total of four first downs, threw two interceptions and crossed midfield only once.
“They’re all very distinct in my mind. It’s an awful feeling every time,” defensive end Patrick Kerney said after seeing his team outscored 106-24 in the past three games. “There’s not much more to say about it.”
Packers running back Brandon Jackson had never scored more than a single touchdown in a game in his three NFL seasons. He scored three times Sunday. Running back Ryan Grant scored twice, and his 56-yard run was the third-longest ground gain against Seattle this season.
Even 32-year-old Ahman Green, 10 years removed from his last game as a Seahawk, scored on a 6-yard run with 6:39 left in the game.
That made the score 48-3, leaving Seattle in danger of surpassing the worst loss in franchise history – 51-7 in Dallas on Nov. 27, 1980.
They avoided that historic lowpoint when Carlson made a 16-yard touchdown catch with 4:15 left.
Packers 48, Seahawks 10
| Seattle | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | — | 10 |
| Green Bay | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 | — | 48 |
GB—Jackson 13 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)
GB—Grant 3 run (Crosby kick)
Sea—FG Mare 28
GB—Grant 56 run (Crosby kick)
GB—FG Crosby 29
GB—Jackson 6 run (Crosby kick)
GB—Jackson 4 run (Crosby kick)
GB—FG Crosby 52
GB—Green 6 run (Crosby kick)
Sea—Carlson 16 pass from Hasselbeck (Mare kick)
| Sea | GB | |
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total Net Yards | 291 | 417 |
| Rushes-yards | 29-115 | 32-153 |
| Passing | 176 | 264 |
| Punt Returns | 1-20 | 0-0 |
| Kickoff Returns | 7-142 | 3-68 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 0-0 | 4-32 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 19-37-4 | 16-29-0 |
| Sacked-Yds Lost | 3-22 | 1-9 |
| Punts | 4-47.8 | 4-41.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 8-86 | 5-50 |
| Time of Poss | 27:46 | 32:14 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Seattle, Forsett 14-70, J.Jones 14-39, Hasselbeck 1-6. Green Bay, Grant 16-97, Green 8-29, Jackson 5-20, Rodgers 1-9, Flynn 2-(minus 2).
PASSING—Seattle, Hasselbeck 19-37-4-198. Green Bay, Rodgers 12-23-0-237, Flynn 4-6-0-36.
RECEIVING—Seattle, J.Jones 6-51, Branch 5-53, Houshmandzadeh 4-51, Carlson 2-24, Butler 1-15, Forsett 1-4. Green Bay, Jennings 4-111, Finley 3-80, Driver 3-33, Jackson 3-19, Nelson 1-17, Hall 1-7, J.Jones 1-6.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.