Russell Wilson posts lowest passer rating since middle of rookie season

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson entered Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers on a typical November hot streak but left wondering what went wrong and how to fix it after a 14-5 loss. The offense managed just a field goal, which was somewhat gifted following a safety by the defense.

Wilson finished the day 17-of-33 for 151 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 38.8. It’s the second lowest rating of his career after a 38.7 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 of 2012; that was a 13-6 loss and just the seventh game of his career.

Over the next nine games of that season, Wilson posted a rating of 116.5.

Since then, Wilson hasn’t posted a regular season rating of 45 once. He had a rating of 44.3 in the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers in 2014 after throwing four interceptions. This performance can be somewhat blamed on an offensive line that was without starting center Justin Britt, instead putting in rookie Joey Hunt out of TCU. They also benched right tackle Garry Gilliam for Bradley Sowell early in the game — and that seemed to help tighten things up a little bit, but Wilson was still on the run after nearly every snap, if he wasn’t getting sacked. Wilson was sacked six times for a loss of 33 yards.

It was only the sixth multi-interception game during the regular season of Wilson’s carer — he was previously 4-0 when throwing exactly two interceptions.

The last pick, while not a great throw, did come on a forced situation as the Seahawks were down nine points and needed a touchdown immediately. They could have opted to get closer for a field goal try, but going for the touchdown was worth it. Bradley McDougald jumped the route and made a nice play on the attempt to Tyler Lockett, even if his decision to return it and stay on his feet was idiotic. Wilson’s first pick to Alterraun Verner was just bad all-around.

He did rush for 80 yards, doubling his season total.

It hurts his overall season numbers, November numbers, road numbers, turnover numbers, and MVP chances, but fans can hope that Britt returns in a week, George Fant figures out why he was so bad on Sunday, and the offense has a better plan next week against the Carolina Panthers.

It’s nothing to panic about, but it is worth talking about.