Seahawks season ends with 28-23 loss to Packers

And that’s the season.

The Seattle Seahawks had a terrible 1st half, and as usual in so many games over the years, they relied on Russell Wilson to produce a 2nd half rally. Despite his best efforts, the defense could not get critical stops and the Green Bay Packers advance to the NFC Championship Game with a 28-23 win at Lambeau Field.

Seattle was down 21-3 at halftime, 28-10 early in the 3rd quarter, but the offense was outstanding in the 2nd half thanks to Wilson’s brilliance. Unfortunately, the defense was destroyed on 3rd down all game long and fittingly that’s what cost Wilson a chance at a game-winning drive.

We’re headed for the offseason, and for a team that lived by the close game, the 2019 season dies by the close game.

1st Half

The Packers got the ball first and they wasted no time getting it down the field. Aaron Jones was able to break free into Seattle territory on his first carry. Aaron Rodgers converted a 3rd and 8 with Jimmy Graham, and a 3rd and 7 to an open Davante Adams for a touchdown. 7-0 Packers.

Seattle nearly turned it over right back to Green Bay when they went on offense. Jacob Hollister fumbled on a first-down catch, but no clear recovery was determined on review, so it was a lost challenge by Matt LaFleur. The Seahawks punted three plays later, but the defense forced a three-and-out afterward to get the offense back out there. Unfortunately, three Marshawn Lynch runs in a row didn’t get them ten yards, so another punt. The Packers went three-and-out after an OPI nullified a 3rd and 3 conversion, and a great tackle by Bradley McDougald denied them 3rd and 13.

A 28-yard throw to Tyler Lockett from Russell Wilson got the Seahawks into field goal range, one play after Wilson was lucky not to have been picked by Kevin King. They wouldn’t get another first down though, so they settled for a Jason Myers field goal from 45 yards out. 7-3 Packers.

Aaron Rodger and Davante Adams were in a groove and the Seahawks did little to stop that. Even when he didn’t catch a pass, Adams turned 2nd and 13 into a first down by drawing pass interference on Shaquill Griffin. Aaron Jones eventually got into the end zone from a yard out, but only barely, and Green Bay extended their lead in the 2nd quarter. 14-3 Packers.

The Seahawks were able to get another good drive going thanks to a couple of nice completions from Wilson to Lockett and DK Metcalf, but a killer sack on 2nd down and a failed 3rd and 8 pass led to a 50-yard Jason Myers field goal, which went wide right. The punishment was another Aaron Jones touchdown after an 11-play, 60 yard drive. 21-3 Packers.

Seattle tried to get points before halftime and instead a Hail Mary fell short as time expired.

2nd Half

The Seahawks got the ball back to start the 2nd half and unleashed a very nice 10-play, 69-yard drive that included a 4th and inches conversion to Tyler Lockett near the goal-line. Marshawn Lynch just broke the plane for a touchdown on the next play. 21-10 Packers.

Could the Seahawks get a stop? Hahahahaha of course not. Jimmy Graham caught a great pass from Rodgers for 27 yards on a crucial 3rd down, then two plays later Davante Adams was able to burn Tre Flowers and turn upfield for a 40-yard score and his second TD of the game. 28-10 Packers.

Back came Russ, making plays with his arm and his legs. A 12-play, 84-yard drive saw him throw a touchdown on the run to Tyler Lockett from seven yards out. 28-17 Packers.

To start the 4th quarter, Seattle’s defense forced a critical three-and-out, with Bradley McDougald blowing up an Aaron Jones running play and Bobby Wagner breaking up a 3rd down pass from Rodgers.

The Seahawks offense returned to the field and on a free play, Tyler Lockett held onto his ball after a big hit by Kevin King, gaining 19 yards.

Wilson continued to pick apart a winded Packers defense, finding Jacob Hollister, Travis Homer, and DK Metcalf along the way to a 9-play, 79-yard touchdown drive, which Lynch getting another one-yard score. The two-point conversion failed. 28-23 Packers.

A 3rd and 10 defensive situation could’ve given the Seahawks the ball back and instead they had a poorly timed blitz, and Aaron Rodgers found Geronimo Allison for a first down. Tre Flowers was beaten in coverage. A Clowney holding penalty added to a Rodgers scramble for more yardage and into Seattle territory. Want to know how they avoided giving up points? The Griffin twins sacked Rodgers.

Tyler Lockett caught a first-down pass, but Malik Turner dropped one that would’ve kept the chains moving. The drive died on a Preston Smith sack and they punted it back to the Packers with 2:32 left and all of their timeouts. On 3rd and 8, Rodgers found Adams wide open for a critical first down into Seattle territory, but he went out of bounds and saved the Seahawks a timeout.

With 3rd and long again but only one timeout following the two-minute warning, the season depended on making a stop. Jimmy Graham beat Lano Hill and just got enough for a first down. I swear he was short but the play stood. Game over. 28-23 Packers final.

Seahawks injury report

LG Jamarco Jones suffered a concussion in the 2nd quarter and missed the rest of the game. He was replaced by Phil Haynes.

C Joey Hunt left the game for a few plays in the 1st quarter after dislocating his finger. Jordan Roos temporarily replaced him.

DL Jadeveon Clowney got hit in the balls and had to miss a few plays in the 2nd quarter.

DT Quinton Jefferson left with a foot injury in the 3rd quarter and did not return.

Next week’s opponent

The offseason.