Seahawks’ defense has vanished

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The first month of the Seattle Seahawks’ season will be remembered for a dominating defense that did so many good things that it left the high-potential Seahawks’ offense without much reason to contribute.

The final month of the regular season could well be about the opposite.

At a time when the offense seems to be hitting its stride, Seattle’s defense can’t hit anybody. At least, it can’t bring anybody down.

Seattle’s defense played another stinker Sunday, missing tackles, blowing assignments and generally making the New York Jets look like the 2004 Indianapolis Colts.

“There was no excuse,” middle linebacker Orlando Huff said after the Seahawks’ 37-14 loss Sunday. “We should have been able to stop them, but we didn’t.”

The Jets piled up 482 yards of total offense, 134 of which came via the running of Curtis Martin. New York scored on its first four possessions, then scored touchdowns on two of the first three drives of the second half.

If the scene looked all too familiar, it might be because the Seahawks have now allowed averages of 423.8 yards and 35.3 points over the past four games.

“It’s the same things. I sound like a broken record,” defensive end Chike Okeafor said after another disappointing performance from a defense that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL on Oct. 5. “We’ve got to be consistent. We’ve got to be accountable. We’ve got to make plays. We’ve got to swell hearts up. It’s about desire. You have to want that (stuff) more than the (player) across the line.”