Field Gulls - NFL 2022, Week 15: Seahawks’ slide continues with 21-13 loss to 49ersThe stupidest name in smart football analysis.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50215/fieldgulls-fav.png2022-12-16T11:01:04-08:00http://www.fieldgulls.com/rss/stream/232717252022-12-16T11:01:04-08:002022-12-16T11:01:04-08:00Good news on Ken Walker, bad news on Lockett, Brooks
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<figcaption>Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Lockett could return later this season.</p> <p id="Z4fRcN">Pete Carroll gave several injury updates following the Seattle Seahawks’ Thursday night loss to the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>. </p>
<p id="3NsUuq">Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like everyone made it through unscathed. </p>
<p id="Eli25V">Carroll mentioned the ailments of Al Woods, Jordyn Brooks and Tyler Lockett, with one positive addition of Kenneth Walker not being injured. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pete Carroll on <a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeattleSports</a> says he doesn’t know how long Jordyn Brooks (neck) will be out.<br><br>Three games left for 7-7 Seahawks</p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1603809484144803841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">From NFL Now: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Seahawks</a> WR Tyler Lockett is having surgery on his fractured finger and is out this coming week, at the least. <a href="https://t.co/JqQWgJ3jeA">pic.twitter.com/JqQWgJ3jeA</a></p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1603818047248138254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carroll said Kenneth Walker III made it through the game well with his ankle injury. "He was fine,'' Carroll said. Says of Al Woods that "he wasn't ready. He just wasn't ready.'' Says hope is the next few days off will help Woods a lot.</p>— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) <a href="https://twitter.com/bcondotta/status/1603809699157397504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="0l4sBi">Lastly and most seriously, Bryan Mone’s season is over with an ACL injury.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ACL injury for Seahawks DT Bryan Mone, Pete Carroll says. Season-ending. Surgery upcoming. <a href="https://twitter.com/thenewstribune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thenewstribune</a></p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1603615751033991168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="ZT4DvK">Jordyn Brooks left the game in the second half, while Al Woods did not play and Tyler Lockett broke his finger late in the game. </p>
<p id="wLJ7Vs">Lockett’s injury is the biggest loss, but also presents the clearest path forward. Theoretically he could miss only one game and return, but with the season having gone the way it has, that will become a joint decision based on discernment and risk than anything else. </p>
<p id="zB5Aqp">Brooks did not return to the game on Thursday, and could see his spot atop the NFL tackle list slip a few places in the coming weeks. Tanner Muse replaced Brooks mid-game while Cody Barton slid to the MLB spot.</p>
<p id="rGtzPA">Al Woods didn’t play in this game. Somehow, against a superior opponent, the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> played better against the run this time than they did without him against the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a>, but in general Woods has been the only player to make consistent impact up front most games. </p>
<p id="DiYhvb">Mone being out left the Seahawks even thinner at DL and now he won’t be back again this season. Expect Myles Adams to get more snaps in his absence.</p>
<p id="w1Crvc">Thursday Night Football continues to be a bad tradition from a player safety standpoint. </p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/16/23513043/seattle-seahawks-tyler-lockett-al-woods-jordyn-brooks-walker-carroll-thursday-nfl-injury-updateTyler Alsin2022-12-16T09:44:05-08:002022-12-16T09:44:05-08:0012 Thoughts after the Seahawks fall to .500
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<p><em>Some FTR optimism as Seattle prepares for the final 3 games ...</em> </p> <p id="njn5Bd">When the season started, if you had told me the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> would be 7-7 with 3 games left to play, I would have been fairly happy.</p>
<p id="nob3PR">As is, not so much.</p>
<p id="6eNZCN">Watching the team I love lose 4 of their last 5 games will do that to me.</p>
<p id="76L8lL">And yet, I remain optimistic despite the setbacks.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="1H3osg">
<h3 id="hYPaoh"><strong>Thought #1</strong></h3>
<p id="9cqDlr">Godwin Igwebuike needs to be added to the active roster.</p>
<p id="0HR6IM">Now!</p>
<ul>
<li id="hXG8Ys">
<strong>This week:</strong> 3 kickoff returns for 83 yards, long of 31, average of 27.7</li>
<li id="O5ZpWH">
<strong>Last week:</strong> 3 kickoff returns for 104 yards, long of 50, average of 34.7</li>
<li id="PG3gon">
<strong>Combined:</strong> 6 kickoff returns for 187 yards, long of 50, average of 31.2</li>
</ul>
<p id="PkvT16">For some perspective on those numbers . . .</p>
<ul>
<li id="nyY3VJ">
<a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DallDe00.htm">DeeJay Dallas</a> has returned 12 kickoffs this year for 270 yards with a long of 30 and an average of 22.5</li>
<li id="MqYh5p">Last year, DeeJay Dallas returned 33 kicks for 764 yards with a long of 40 and an average of 23.2</li>
</ul>
<p id="8wxL8H">And then there’s this:</p>
<p id="uLm7Wf">Among players with at least 10 kickoff returns this season, Minnesota Running Back Kene Nwangwu leads the league with a 25.8-yard average.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="zADCIp">
<h3 id="prDlFn"><strong>Thought #2</strong></h3>
<p id="fbrPNp">In addition to returning kicks, I’d like to see Igwebuike on offense.</p>
<p id="9gInIj">Sure, he only has 18 carries and 7 receptions in his NFL career but he has 118 yards on those 18 carries (6.6 average) and 60 yards on the 7 receptions (8.6 average).</p>
<p id="w5Qv4p">We’ve seen what he can do in space.</p>
<p id="8biNVZ">Get the man the ball.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="GahZzH">
<h3 id="5pKTKt"><strong>Thought #3</strong></h3>
<p id="Qm7Eyd">I’m completely bummed about Tyler Lockett breaking his finger. If he’s unable to return this season, he’ll end the year 36 yards shy of his 4th consecutive 1,000-yard season.</p>
<p id="12KNFy">And that will be a shame because the franchise record is 4 straight.</p>
<p id="Y8p6wf">Unsurprisingly, the record is held by Steve Largent who had 1,000+ yards in four straight seasons <strong>twice</strong> - first, from 1978 to 1981, and again from 1983 to 1986.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="KRODzR">
<h3 id="wponIO"><strong>Thought #4</strong></h3>
<p id="huALoB">As hard as it was to watch the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> celebrate their NFC West title on our home field, I don’t believe the difference between them and us is nearly as large as it appears.</p>
<ul>
<li id="dxOOgO">Seattle blew multiple coverages that led to big plays at inopportune times</li>
<li id="6Fy6xU">Quandre Diggs dropped an EASY interception</li>
<li id="OBWVZ6">A few plays after the Diggs faux pas, Travis Homer coughed up the ball in Seattle territory and the Niners returned it to the 6-yard line</li>
</ul>
<p id="8Emlha">I’m not going to say that Seattle would have won the game if those things didn’t happen, but I will say that the Niners played an almost-flawless game and Seattle was still within one score with 3 minutes to play.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="l3eorz">
<h3 id="aNjbM1"><strong>Thought #5</strong></h3>
<p id="ncfKfp">Much will be made about the Seahawks being on the outside looking in regarding playoff positioning. As well it should.</p>
<p id="aAy9Ff">But . . . </p>
<p id="JNJ5es">Seattle is still in the 8th spot right now - the same spot they were in before the Thursday Night game.</p>
<p id="RCBeBA">And the Seahawks still hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions who are the only team that can catch them, record-wise, this week.</p>
<p id="9F3xFc">More to the point, the 2 teams directly ahead of Seattle - the <a href="https://www.hogshaven.com/">Washington Commanders</a> and <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> - play each other Sunday night. Both currently sport records of 7-5-1 which means one of them will fall to 7-6-1 this week (unless they tie . . . again).</p>
<p id="RXVsoz">A half-game lead with 3 games to play isn’t an insurmountable lead. Especially if it’s the Giants that lose on Sunday night.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="BxwMrc">
<h3 id="RmQ5cm"><strong>Thought #6</strong></h3>
<p id="kZ7nIS">Let’s continue on this vein and assume for the moment that it’s the Giants that lose on Sunday night.</p>
<p id="wt5rxJ">Next week they play the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> on the road.</p>
<p id="PN0MxF">Week 17 has them hosting the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>.</p>
<p id="oMS267">Their season finale is in the City of Brotherly Love against the league-leading <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a>.</p>
<p id="jBePLH">Yes, it’s possible that the Eagles could be resting players in Week 18. But let’s assume that’s not the case. The Eagles <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401437893">won the first matchup by 26 points.</a> My money is on them completing the sweep.</p>
<p id="JD0CId">Oh, and if the Giants do lose to the Commanders on Sunday night, it will be their 4th loss in their last 5 games. Sound familiar? The difference between them and Seattle is that Seattle won 1 of their last 5; the Giants could only manage a tie.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="UgYY4H">
<h3 id="mSK0CL"><strong>Thought #7</strong></h3>
<p id="7bmfYh">What if the Giants win?</p>
<p id="RTo8kh">Well, then we need the Commanders to lose one more game than us over the last 3 weeks of the season.</p>
<p id="JjFenh">The good news is that they very well do that.</p>
<ul>
<li id="s0Yi8w">
<strong>Week 16:</strong> at San Francisco</li>
<li id="ucRH1J">
<strong>Week 17:</strong> vs. the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>
</li>
<li id="fmZxoa">
<strong>Week 18:</strong> vs. the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p id="SShjg6">For what it’s worth, the Cowboys beat the Commanders by 15 points (25-10) back in Week 4 with their backup quarterback, Cooper Rush, completing 15 of 27 passes for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="fsQN9q">
<h3 id="PV5oWc"><strong>Thought #8</strong></h3>
<p id="xCXQJc">Seattle’s final 3 games are against the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com">Kansas City Chiefs</a> on the road, against the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> at home, and against the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Rams</a> in the Lumen Field season finale.</p>
<p id="konDYo">Two wins in those 3 games could lock up a playoff spot.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="BN3kmH">
<h3 id="kEV1zb"><strong>Thought #9</strong></h3>
<p id="ncWVO8">If the Seahawks miss out on a playoff spot, their native pick in the first round of the 2023 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> would be no worse than #18.</p>
<p id="LUDc84">With a little bit of luck (so to speak), it could be in the top-15.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="nEIhIh">
<h3 id="JYsawg"><strong>Thought #10</strong></h3>
<p id="FTCadF">Jalen Carter or Will Anderson.</p>
<p id="vskajv">That’s the answer to the question of who I want the Seahawks to select with the 2023 R1 that they got in the Russell Wilson trade.</p>
<p id="okDZHr">Don’t get cute, John (and Pete); just pick one of those 2 players when you go on the clock with Denver’s pick and then grin like the Cheshire Cat until you’re on the clock again.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="WV7gLr">
<h3 id="b1ZXKg"><strong>Thought #11</strong></h3>
<p id="jYvarg">Geno’s string of 12 straight games with a completion percentage over 60 and a passer rating over 80 was snapped last week against the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a> when Geno went 21 of 36 (58.3%) for 264 yards with 3 TDs, 2 INTs, and a passer rating of 85.9.</p>
<p id="aE7YP3">Against the Niners, Geno was 31 of 44 (70.5%) for 238 yards with 1 TD and a passer rating of 90.9.</p>
<p id="Pmz1UF">I’m bummed the streak got snapped, but that’s 13 of 14 games that Geno has bested 60% completions with a passer rating over 80 and regardless of what else happens this week, he’ll be the the only QB who can say that heading into Week 16.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="zihCHn">
<h3 id="M0ruaC"><strong>Thought #12</strong></h3>
<p id="sI3qGT">The Seahawks need 1 win over their last 3 games to best last year’s 7-10 record and 2 wins over the last 3 to finish above .500.</p>
<p id="GYz5Md">I think they can do it.</p>
<p id="1ORHgk">Go Hawks!</p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/16/23512374/12-thoughts-after-the-seattle-seahawks-fall-500-nfl-playoff-raceFrank T. Raines2022-12-15T22:39:18-08:002022-12-15T22:39:18-08:00Instant Reaction to Seahawks’ 21-13 loss to 49ers
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<img alt="San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qPLct-G7811S6tW3UH7JJg3fsBo=/0x0:3810x2540/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71756583/1449500862.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The 49ers are now NFC West champions.</p> <p id="eGX1QE">The Seattle Seahawks (7-7) lost 21-13 to the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) on ‘Thursday Night Football’ at Lumen Field. It really was a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated, and the 49ers are NFC West champions for the second time in four seasons. </p>
<p id="8TcbxF">What more can be said? The offense was cooked against the 49ers defense and the defense did what it could against the 49ers offense but still had too many critical mistakes that led to points. As if that wasn’t enough, Tyler Lockett has a serious finger injury, Bryan Mone has an ACL injury, and Jordyn Brooks left with a sore neck. It was a loss with injuries and insults and very little to actually enjoy.</p>
<p id="MVbanV">Field Gulls Podcast host Dan Viens has the reaction podcast to the Seahawks’ fourth loss over the past five games, which puts them in a position where missing the playoffs is now very likely to happen. Listen in the audio player below!</p>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/15/23512326/instant-reaction-podcast-seahawks-loss-49ers-nfl-thursday-night-footballMookie Alexander2022-12-15T22:35:00-08:002022-12-15T22:35:00-08:00Winners and Losers from 49ers 21, Seahawks 13
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<img alt="San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rB8EZEWkyTyrd17nS3jf8imT2GI=/0x0:4832x3221/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71756579/1449493376.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Seahawks are not in the 49ers’ league.</p> <p id="d3YusM">The NFC West belongs to the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>, and they clinched in the no longer fearsome venue that is Lumen Field.</p>
<p id="ehv1Xj">It was always a tough task for the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> to get anything out of this game, and while they were competitive enough to <em>only</em> lose 21-13, the game felt more lopsided than that. We’ve had some thrills and more wins than most had expected, but there is still a massive talent disparity between the top of the NFL (of which the 49ers are among that group) and where the Seahawks are. It was evident with their losses to sub .500 teams and confirmed with how outgunned they were against the 49ers. Unlike most other games this season it was almost a horribly unenjoyable effort so devoid of big plays that it was largely boring to watch. </p>
<p id="wGFw15">Winners and Losers time. </p>
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<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="l4H7yF">
<h3 id="DkONRu">Winners</h3>
<p id="aGcWHX"><strong>Myles Adams</strong></p>
<p id="c53BVo">Pressed into action with Bryan Mone’s injury, Adams had a pass defensed at the line of scrimmage and had the only tackle for loss the Seahawks managed on any 49ers rushing attempt. </p>
<p id="jpVb36"><strong>Noah Fant</strong></p>
<p id="w9Wjm9">Fant has emerged as the team’s top receiving option at tight end. He finished the night with 5 catches for 32 yards and the Seahawks’ only offensive touchdown in 120 minutes of football against the 49ers. </p>
<p id="mukrc8"><strong>Godwin Igwebuike</strong></p>
<p id="JSXUl1">Please make him a permanent part of the active roster. Watching him return kicks is like a different experience compared to... well... everything else we’ve seen over the past few years.</p>
<p id="BmO3CY"><strong>Jason Myers</strong></p>
<p id="auxtQw">He’s still not missing! No missed field goals or PATs since Week 5.</p>
<p id="Lkh51k"><strong>Michael Dickson</strong></p>
<p id="7dQS1D">Wasn’t that punt to the 1-yard line gorgeous? </p>
<h3 id="BpSHGg">Losers</h3>
<p id="rn1zBV"><strong>Quandre Diggs</strong></p>
<p id="Jra7Z7">I really don’t like doing this but I have to. Diggs has not been great this season and that dropped interception was huge. Seattle got the ball back anyway but the field position mattered so much and would’ve affected the playcalling and decision making before the end of the half. Quandre was caught out on the first George Kittle touchdown and then whiffed on the second one.</p>
<p id="SitQiu">The injury against the Cardinals last season really was awful and it’s surely affected his performance this year. I don’t know what the ramifications are for 2023 but Diggs is really struggling out there and it sucks to watch.</p>
<p id="V48YXE"><strong>Travis Homer</strong></p>
<p id="sVpNTh">Can’t fumble. Can’t do it. Seattle has turned it over in every game this season and that was the most damaging play of the game and one of the most damaging plays of the whole season. </p>
<p id="PI9Lgi"><strong>The entire offensive line</strong></p>
<p id="CrnTEf">They never had much of a chance. Charles Cross and Abe Lucas got ripped up by Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam. Against an elite defensive line you would expect the rookies to struggle so I am not that bothered. Run blocking again remains an issue but the 49ers run defense is phenomenal.</p>
<p id="PbWKWk">This interior is so bad, though. Damien Lewis I think has been fine if not pretty good for the most part. What I am certain of is that Austin Blythe cannot be this team’s starting center in 2022. I know there’s a certain <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com">Kansas City Chiefs</a> star we’d have rather seen be this team’s C but we have discussed this to death. Blythe is essentially better Joey Hunt and that is not a ringing endorsement. The Gabe Jackson/Phil Haynes rotation has me going “neither” for 2023.</p>
<p id="RBufkt">The OL is still a work in progress. A new center and right guard are needed next season... especially center. It turns out re-signing Ethan Pocic (who himself is injured, at the moment) would’ve been fine based on his performance in Cleveland.</p>
<p id="iQRaJw"><strong>Darrell Taylor</strong></p>
<p id="sbvubs">The good news is that Darrell forced a hold on Mike McGlinchey, which is Seattle’s first holding penalty drawn on a pass play since the <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Chargers</a> game in October. Two plays later he jumps offside on 4th and 7 when the 49ers were never going to go for it and just wanted to run the clock down. Just a poor discipline move that I suspect is part of why the coaching staff has not been willing to play him much.</p>
<p id="QMn2qn">Taylor’s roster spot even with a year left on his contract should not be a lock for 2023. Seattle really has a hard time drafting reliable edge rushers under Pete and John. </p>
<p id="pXbg2q"><strong>DK Metcalf</strong></p>
<p id="04zthB">It was not an effective game for DK, who had 7 catches for just 55 yards and rightfully had a catch taken away for OPI. I am really annoyed though with his 15-yard penalties. Off the top of my head that’s the third one during this 1-4 stretch and two of them were when the Seahawks were losing. You can complain about the officiating all you want but this has to stop.</p>
<p id="4Aj2XF"><strong>Jordyn Brooks</strong></p>
<p id="h9rdmz">It’s probably time to look a little more critically at Brooks. He couldn’t bring down Ray-Ray McCloud on a 3rd and 15 and ended up getting blocked out by George Kittle. Ryan Neal didn’t help him either by taking a terrible angle. Much like Diggs, Brooks got frozen on the (admittedly well designed) first touchdown to Kittle on the second pump fake by Brock Purdy. The highlight of his night was actually stopping a screen, which I didn’t think was possible with this defense. Before his sore neck kept him out of the last couple of possessions it was not one of Brooks’ best outings. It’s been too easy to pick on Cody Barton; Brooks is the one I’m not terribly high on. The disparity between him and Barton and Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw is staggering.</p>
<p id="4xqYsT"><strong>Geno Smith</strong></p>
<p id="wgE3dR">The final statline shows Smith at 31/44 for 238 yards and a touchdown. He was under constant duress and that looked all too familiar when thinking back to some of the worst Seahawks games over the past several seasons.</p>
<p id="8uHmEi">I don’t want to look at Geno through the prism of Russell Wilson or his past play with the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a>. It is most useful to compare him to the other 30+ starters in this season. But I do want to note that he was fortunate once again not to have had multiple interceptions, including a pick-6 negated on a horrible roughing the passer call against Nick Bosa. The stats put Geno at 0 turnovers but his efficiency has dropped significantly for several weeks. They’re beginning to stack up and while not every turnover (like the Dee Eskridge dropped toss) is his fault, Smith has undeniably come back down to Earth. He’s still been more good than bad, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that the spectacular start was never sustainable. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Geno Smith<br><br>Weeks 1-4: 5th in EPA/play, 30.9 total EPA<br>Weeks 5-14: 18th in EPA/play, 29.7 total EPA<br><br>Mistakes have been killers, with Geno losing more expected points to INTs, sacks and fumbles since Week 5 than any other quarterback <a href="https://t.co/1GximK1y3v">pic.twitter.com/1GximK1y3v</a></p>— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinCole___/status/1602304208757211137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
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<p id="miMGgU">Against a defense this stout with a bad running game and an offensive line way out of its depth, Geno was up against it tonight. But in the long-term these final few weeks may shape what the Seahawks see in Geno and whether or not they will commit to him long-term, short-term, or move on entirely. I’d like to see Geno stay on the team in 2023 but I will confess that these past few weeks have given me trepidation about a big money, long-term commitment. </p>
<p id="6YYc52"><strong>Shane Waldron</strong></p>
<p id="SsE52J">Beyond the shotgun heavy approach, the eradication of his scheme wants tight ends are taken away as passing targets, and everything else...</p>
<p id="gBCmQX">STOP THE DAMN SCREEN PASSES! STOP! STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!! </p>
<p id="uQyQuu"><strong>Pete Carroll - Defensive Mastermind </strong></p>
<p id="cTodwe">It must pain Carroll to watch another game in which his team struggles to run the ball and the other team can run it. I think I know what his priority will be in 2023. The 2022 Draft class was a promising start for a rebuild but watching weekly busted coverages and blown assignments regardless of the experience level of the roster is maddening. The Chargers are a terrible defense and they shut down the vaunted <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> offense while missing half of its lineup. </p>
<p id="QWiDBm">Carroll the coach seems to be unable to get this defense prepared to anything resembling an acceptable NFL standard, and it has been years since they have had above-average talent to compete with the best in the league. That falls on Carroll the personnel guy. We’ll see if 2023’s efforts to improve the trenches can go as well as the 2022 improvements at cornerback. If not... more of the same is coming. </p>
<h3 id="ERkdn9">Final Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li id="Rf1hfq">I don’t know what else I can add to the news of Tyler Lockett’s injury. It sucks and the Seahawks offense will crater significantly because of it.</li>
<li id="wQKliZ">Bryan Mone’s ACL injury figures to be a season-ender, which also sucks. </li>
<li id="4lGRwX">The run defense gave up 170 but it held up better than I thought, which is partially due to the people missing and partially because the run defense has been so much worse throughout the season. </li>
<li id="Gv55i8">Good to see Dareke Young make his first NFL catch, even if it did end up not counting. Oh well, perhaps he’ll have more chances with Lockett out.</li>
<li id="eHjHeI">Kenneth Walker III looked healthy and racked up 79 total yards of offense. His opportunities against that defense were always going to be limited, but he at least had a nice 34-yard catch-and-run that led to the touchdown.</li>
<li id="HqviX7">The Seahawks played the 31st ranked schedule by DVOA prior to tonight. Only the 49ers and (next week) the Chiefs figure to be <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> contenders. Ten of their games are against currently sub .500 teams and even an above .500 team in the Los Angeles Chargers <a href="https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/nfl/team-efficiency/2022/regular">rank 26th in DVOA</a>. This schedule was daunting looking in May but it turns out it was pretty damn easy, and the Seahawks sit at 7-7. Now that we have a large enough sample size, it seems a lot more like Seattle with even a moderately harder schedule would be a 4- or 5-win team. We know that after the fact but in the moment it was fun to watch this underdog story race out to a 6-3 start. Reality has set in and they just are not there yet. Do not be surprised if the Seahawks lose out, because that’s far more likely to happen than 9-8 and a shot at the playoffs.</li>
</ul>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/15/23512238/winners-and-losers-49ers-21-seahawks-13-nfl-analysis-thursday-night-footballMookie Alexander2022-12-15T22:26:38-08:002022-12-15T22:26:38-08:0049ers 21, Seahawks 13: Overwhelmed
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<img alt="San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oik0yX20TmLdLe9te7LZV9wEtms=/0x0:3896x2597/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71755964/1449494390.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Seahawks’ playoff hopes take another hit. </p> <p id="sQAJo5">The <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> (7-7) didn’t get blown out by the San Francisco 49ers (10-4), but not getting blown out is still a loss. Two touchdowns by Brock Purdy to George Kittle and a Christian McCaffrey touchdown off a costly Travis Homer fumble led to a 21-13 win for the 49ers to take the NFC West title at Lumen Field.</p>
<p id="G73upk">Seattle is not only staying out of a playoff spot but they no longer “control their destiny” such that winning out wouldn’t be enough. The offensive line got dominated by the 49ers’ monstrous defensive front, and while the defense did have some bright spots, the talent disparity on both sides of the ball was too much to overcome.</p>
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<h3 id="SukxQe">1st Quarter</h3>
<p id="UzRDQH">Godwin Igwebuike took the opening kickoff to his own 35, giving the Seahawks solid field position to begin the game. It was wasted after only getting one first down, and Geno Smith was fortunate not to get intercepted on his third attempt by Dre Greenlaw. </p>
<p id="EWQurU">The 49ers’ first possession ended in a three-and-out! Christian McCaffrey had a rush and a catch but the 49ers were backed up and didn’t go for it on 4th and 1 at their own 19. Seattle got the ball back and promptly went three-and-out. </p>
<p id="vx0F1h">A huge run by McCaffrey for 23 yards gave the 49ers their first jolt of offense. Only a handful of plays later, Kyle Shanahan dialed up a double fake screen and then a Brock Purdy throw down the middle to an open George Kittle for a touchdown. Just a brilliantly designed play. <strong>7-0 49ers</strong>. </p>
<p id="1xoj1D">Seahawks offense comes back out onto the field and goes three-and-out again. The 49ers got great field position on a lame Joey Blount fair catch interference penalty. Their own penalty on Mike McGlinchey erased a 3rd down conversion, and led to a punt. Darrell Taylor (who forced McGlinchey to hold) jumped offside on 4th and 7 for some reason, but the 49ers bailed them out. Seattle gave it back on a three-and-out, plus DK Metcalf got penalized for taunting. The team is losing, DK.</p>
<h3 id="A4oP4z">2nd Quarter</h3>
<p id="RDNygC">A block in the back penalty on Brandon Aiyuk combined with consecutive incomplete passes by Brock Purdy (who hit on his first 11 passes) forced another punt. Finally the Seahawks got a good drive going with a couple of Geno strikes to DK Metcalf, as well as an 18-yard run by Smith on a 3rd and 13. A completion to Noah Fant had the Seahawks on the cusp of the red zone, but eventually that stingy 49ers defense got the job done and held Seattle to a 38-yard field goal by Jason Myers.<strong> 7-3 49ers</strong>. </p>
<p id="JBzQBY">Quandre Diggs nearly picked off Brock Purdy on the other side of the two-minute warning, which would’ve set up great field position for the Seahawks. Instead they began their drill at their own 19 with all three timeouts. It was going well until Travis Homer fumbled on a huge hit by Dre Greenlaw. Charvarius Ward picked it up and took it all the way to Seattle’s 6. Christian McCaffrey scored two plays later. <strong>14-3 49ers.</strong> </p>
<h3 id="xCOcLp">3rd Quarter</h3>
<p id="uMpR19">One minute into the 3rd quarter, Purdy found a wide open George Kittle on a busted coverage for a touchdown. <strong>21-3 49ers</strong>. </p>
<p id="jDpo15">A pick-6 by Geno was negated by a roughing the passer call on Nick Bosa that was pretty iffy. Body weight rule, I suppose. Seattle was able to get a good drive going out of that good fortune and then had a setback when Geno’s deep throw to rookie Dareke Young at the 2-yard line was negated for an Abe Lucas hold. A Nick Bosa sack took them out of FG range, but Geno got them back into it with a throw to Metcalf. Jason Myers drilled one from 51.<strong> 21-6 49ers. </strong></p>
<p id="BY7DrY">The 49ers converted a 3rd and 15 to Ray-Ray McCloud on their ensuing possession, but an illegal formation put them behind the sticks and as a result they punted the ball back to Seattle and pinned them at their 4. Not every day you see a team get penalized three times in one play, but the 49ers did that and gave Seattle a new set of downs. </p>
<h3 id="QP7VDw">4th Quarter</h3>
<p id="9uLKMj">Seattle got into 49ers territory and had 3rd and 4 at the 35, which naturally is the time Geno Smith got devoured. A punt followed and Michael Dickson kicked a beauty to the 1-yard line. San Francisco only got one first down on a 3rd down throw from Purdy to Jennings, but that was all they got. The Seahawks got it back and Geno took a grounding penalty and that was the end of that.</p>
<p id="rPxoYV">A busted coverage/great play design by Kyle Shanahan saw Purdy hit an open backup TE Tyler Kroft to get into field goal range. However, a dropped pass led to a field goal attempt by Robbie Gould that was pulled wide right from 43 out. Still a two-score game with 5 minutes left! </p>
<p id="if5Kjq">Smith and Kenneth Walker III combined for a big play, with Geno finding K9 out in the flat for a catch-and-run of 34 yards. The next play was a Geno Smith touchdown pass to an open Noah Fant! <strong>21-13 49ers with 3:35 to go. </strong></p>
<p id="DMOMzn">Needing a stop, the Seahawks couldn’t prevent Brock Purdy from escaping the pocket and converting a 3rd and 1 with his legs. With 2:16 left and the Seahawks out of timeouts, it’s bleak stuff. Carroll challenging Purdy sliding too early was unsuccessful. The next 3rd down led to a 56-yard run by rookie Jordan Mason for the clinching first down.<strong> 21-13 49ers FINAL</strong>. </p>
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<h3 id="4WU9ga">Scoring Summary</h3>
<p id="BJcI0Q"><strong>1st Quarter</strong>: George Kittle 28-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy - <strong>SEA 0, SF 7</strong></p>
<p id="lG6fWH"><strong>2nd Quarter</strong>: Jason Myers 38-yard field goal - <strong>SEA 3, SF 7 </strong></p>
<p id="xISpme"><strong>2nd Quarter</strong>: Christian McCaffrey 1-yard touchdown run - <strong>SEA 3, SF 14 </strong></p>
<p id="hIePuA"><strong>3rd Quarter</strong>: George Kittle 54-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy -<strong> SEA 3, SF 21 </strong></p>
<p id="wmqo0e"><strong>3rd Quarter</strong>: Jason Myers 51-yard field goal - <strong>SEA 6, SF 21 </strong></p>
<p id="QtVd2m"><strong>4th Quarter</strong>: Noah Fant 9-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith - <strong>SEA 13, SF 21 </strong></p>
<div id="MgvNeS">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No quit in these <a href="https://twitter.com/Seahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Seahawks</a>. One possession game in Seattle!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsSEA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFvsSEA</a> on Prime Video<br>Also available on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/gyMqx7NKs2">https://t.co/gyMqx7NKs2</a> <a href="https://t.co/UzqfKEOvt4">pic.twitter.com/UzqfKEOvt4</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1603602313246973952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="iNq7pE"><a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401437901">Boxscore</a></p>
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<h3 id="JNoeeX">
<a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> Injury Report</h3>
<p id="3vqdP6">LB Tanner Muse limped off the field in the 1st quarter on a Seahawks punt. He returned to the game.</p>
<p id="YIOcOt">DT Bryan Mone suffered an injury in the 1st quarter to his left leg. He was ruled out. </p>
<p id="rllSP4">LB Jordyn Brooks suffered a neck injury in the 2nd half and was replaced by Tanner Muse. </p>
<p id="MgGkGc">WR Tyler Lockett went into the locker room with a wrist injury in the 4th quarter. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="H2sUVy">
<h3 id="7g6OKP">Next Week’s Opponent</h3>
<p id="rpuT2Z">The Seahawks plays on Saturday in a Christmas Eve road game against the soon-to-be AFC West champion <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com">Kansas City Chiefs</a> (10-3) at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT on FOX.</p>
<p id="8Hb8AH"></p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/15/23511699/seahawks-vs-49ers-live-game-updates-highlights-score-summary-recap-nfl-thursday-night-footballMookie Alexander2022-12-15T22:22:12-08:002022-12-15T22:22:12-08:00Cigar Thoughts, Game 14: Gap between Seattle and San Francisco remains evident
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<img alt="NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pGeMlfyeKgNiF46EfU_ZKAgFe6A=/0x0:3476x2317/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71756561/usa_today_19631450.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The San Francisco 49ers outclassed the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, clinching the NFC West as Seattle falls back to .500</p> <p id="oPjINi"><strong>***</strong>As most of you know, <strong>Cigar Thoughts is now a podcast</strong>. One of the perks of the pod is getting these articles in audio form, in addition to our sit-downs with our amazing guests. You can listen to all the shows, including this article, right here:</p>
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<p id="aYhpsH">—</p>
<p id="sAoGAS">The fact that this game carried as much import as it did says a lot about how far the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> have come in such a short time. It also served as a litmus test, as the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> came to town engorged on the blood of their last six foes. It wasn’t that long ago that this was the best rivalry in the NFL and with the Seahawks rising and the 49ers near the top of the heap, we may be headed back that way. But right now, in this moment, there is a clear difference in talent, execution, and experience between these two teams, and that disparity was on display for the entire country tonight.</p>
<p id="oGSgid">—</p>
<p id="ZWSlCq">The Seahawks started the game with the ball and immediately picked up a first down when Geno Smith followed up a six-yard Ken Walker III run with a five-yard completion to Tyler Lockett. It was a nice lil pop to keep a frenzied crowd titillated but the drive would stall after that. Damien Lewis got beat on a screen pass to Walker III for a loss of three and Smith threw consecutive incompletions, leading to a Michael Dickson punt that pinned the Niners at their own 10.</p>
<p id="4ImFVX">As the 49ers prepared for their first possession, Seattle’s much-maligned defense took the field having forced the fewest three-and-outs in the NFL. San Francisco’s offense, for their part, had committed the fewest, but the Seahawks immediately forced San Francisco off the field anyway. Cody Barton strung a Christian McCaffrey run out on first down, Jordyn Brooks snuffed a short completion to George Kittle, and Ryan Neal wrapped up McCaffrey short of the sticks to end the drive. Exactly what we needed to see and, more importantly, what that defense needed to feel.</p>
<p id="LkPenJ">From then on, however, the 49ers defense did what they’ve been doing all season, and it led to a quick three and out highlighted by a Talanoa Hufanga sack that knocked the ball from Smith’s hands. The Niners offense would be getting a lot more run if it wasn’t for the unmatched prowess of their defense, and they showed exactly what makes them so dangerous on their next drive. With their monstrous offensive line creating holes, McCaffrey used his shiftiness and explosion to exploit the gaps for big gains. And when he wasn’t rookie Brock Purdy calmly distributed the ball all over the field. </p>
<p id="nW6qmX">The steady march culminated in a beautiful play design that was executed flawlessly by Brock Purdy. On it, Purdy faked one swing pass, then turned and pantomimed another before pivoting back to the middle of the field to find a slanting Kittle wide open. Kittle caught the pass and weaved his way through the last two defenders and into the endzone to make it 7-0.</p>
<p id="vvJ4fB">The Seahawks offense continued their struggle, going three-and-out on their next two drives, leaving them with just 11 total yards on their first 11 plays. Fortunately, the defense did their part, taking advantage of 49ers penalties to stop two promising drives themselves and the punt-fest continued.</p>
<p id="dfqqgp">Smith got rolling on the next possession, finding DK Metcalf on consecutive throws for consecutive first downs. And when it looked like the momentum would stop faced with 3rd & 13 a couple snaps later, Geno kept it pushin’. As he dropped back to pass, Smith found no one open and leaked out to the right. As he approached the line of scrimmage, he pump-faked to freeze the isolated defender then gained the edge for a 15-yard scramble. A Walker III run and an out route to Noah Fant gained another first down before the drive finally sputtered out at the 20. Jason Myers trotted out and banged home a 38-yard field goal to close the gap at 7-3 and the game suddenly felt different. </p>
<p id="Y1J90V">The 49ers got another first down on their next possession before Purdy finally made his first mistake. Standing in a clean pocket, Purdy tossed one over the middle— right to Quandre Diggs. The ball hit Diggs in the chest but he couldn’t clasp it and it fell incomplete. It happened on third down so the Niners had to punt anyway but the drop cost Seattle at least 40 yards of field position with less than two minutes to go in the half and made scoring a whole lot tougher. </p>
<p id="Kqb1S9">Still, it was a big stop for a struggling defense and the good vibes continued when Smith found Lockett and Marquis Goodwin on consecutive plays for a first down. Feeling the flow, the Seahawks stayed no huddle and Travis Homer took it up the middle for five more. Smith went back to Homer with a little arrow route on the next snap, but Dre Greenlaw absolutely leveled him with a huge hit and the ball sprung free. Charvarious Ward scooped it up and returned it all the way down to Seattle’s 7. Two McCaffrey plunges later, the 49ers were knocking an extra point through the uprights to make it 14-3, where it would stay until halftime.</p>
<p id="Muja3z">The 49ers opened the third quarter with a big kick return and stepped on Seattle’s throat on their next play from scrimmage. Purdy dropped back as Kittle exploded out of his stance, and then just... didn’t get covered by anybody. Purdy hit him with ease for a huge gain and Kittle summarily dismissed Diggs and Barton inside the 10 for the long score. 21-3, and what felt like a close game less than two minutes of clock time ago was suddenly on the brink of a blowout.</p>
<p id="AdvQjZ">The Seahawks’ once burning fire had been reduced to embers and those were nearly stamped out completely when Geno underthrew Lockett a couple snaps later. The pass was undercut by Deommodore Lenoir, who returned it for a touchdown that was waived off by an admittedly bullshit roughing call against Nick Bosa. Granted a break, Smith was able to hit Metcalf three times on the drive, as the Seahawks inched it close enough for Myers to hammer a 51-yarder through the uprights. 21-6.</p>
<p id="oVKFep">After that it was a whole bunch of not scoring, with nary a real chance at it, until the Niners missed a short field goal with five minutes left in the game. It didn’t seem like much at the time but it kept the Seahawks within two scores. Through 55 minutes, Seattle had managed just two field goals but they weren’t ready to give up the ghost on the division just yet. Smith and Co took the field and got to work. </p>
<p id="c1LW6T">Geno found Metcalf for nine and after Walker III picked up the first down, hit Will Dissly for 13. Two plays later, Smith slung it out to Walker III in the right flat and the rookie smoked the lone defender’s pursuit angle to the sideline and turned upfield for 33. Despite the urgency of the situation, Smith remained calm and followed that big completion up with a seam pass to Noah Fant for a 10-yard touchdown that brought Seattle within eight at 21-13 with three and a half minutes left.</p>
<p id="0d1PrY">One more stop, and the Seahawks would get the ball back with an improbable shot at tying the game. That stop never came, however, as McCaffrey picked up one first down and Purdy scrambled for another, barely sliding past the first down marker and costing Seattle their final timeout on the ensuing unsuccessful challenge. From there, Seattle’s best case scenario was to force one last stop and get the ball back with about 30 seconds left. Instead, Jordan Mason burst through a well-blocked hole on the left side and juked Ryan Neal in the open field, streaking all the way down to the 2 before Mike Jackson knocked him out of bounds. Still, that run served as the finisher, and Purdy kneeled out the clock from there.</p>
<p id="ymaZBF"></p>
<p id="m7OGZt">—</p>
<p id="wF2yyR">SMOKE RINGS</p>
<p id="V4lI9G">~Games like this— scratch that— <em>defenses</em> like this make it tough to judge a quarterback. Geno Smith was under siege all night, with San Francisco’s monstrous front seven making it difficult to get through his reads and eliminating any of the boot-action / moving-pocket schemes Seattle likes to employ. And on the back end, the Niners secondary stuck to Seattle’s receivers like flypaper, providing exactly zero margin for error. They’ve been annihilating the stat lines of opposing quarterbacks all season long and today was no different, as they reduced Geno’s remarkable season-long efficiency to rubble until the final drive.</p>
<p id="XY9NvC">When the dust settled, Smith’s numbers were decent considering the circumstances. He dropped back to pass a career-high 47 times, completing 31 of 44 throws for 238 yards, a touchdown, and no picks while taking 3 sacks in the process. All told Seattle finished with just 207 net yards passing, or 4.5 yards per play. Sheesh.</p>
<p id="o4VLDo">Geno has narrowly avoided a lot of interceptions recently and that continued again today. An endzone shot in the first half went through Tanaloa Mufanga’s hands and the call that erased the pick-six was honestly brutal. His final numbers were fine, and he stayed true to his process until the bitter end, but this was not a great performance. No one’s is against these guys, though, and the 10 second half points Seattle scored was the most anyone has in seven games.</p>
<p id="Nh0Mad">~Yards were just so difficult to come by today and that’s reflected in Ken Walker III’s final line. For the fourth time in five games, Seattle found themselves down early and never got their run game into any kind of rhythm. Walker III finished with an underwhelming 47 yards on 12 carries but chipped in 32 more on four receptions. 77 total yards is just fine considering the circumstances.</p>
<p id="EpUKMc">I love Travis Homer and my confidence doesn’t waver one iota when he’s on the field. His fumble really hurt Seattle’s chances today, and you could see how bad he felt after, but I’m not sure there’s anybody who holds onto the ball the way Dre Greenlaw hit him. </p>
<p id="ZbVf6V">~DK Metcalf is the coolest for so many reasons but my favorite is the deep personal offense he takes at the gall of any cornerback daring to line up against him. It’s even better when that cornerback is someone like Charvarius Ward, who is just as fearless. These two tussled all game long, locking facemasks on every run play and battling for each pass like flags don’t exist. Just awesome to watch.</p>
<p id="bfKg2D">As far as his total output went, he was productive on a night when few others were. He caught seven passes for 55 yards on nine targets against phenomenal coverage and never backed down in the face of the best defense in the league.</p>
<p id="EHI49R">Tyler Lockett also caught seven of nine targets, turning them into 68 yards and a bunch of first downs. He is the finesse to Metcalf’s power and he was out there wiggling his way into soft spots in the defense all night. He’s on his way to another remarkable season and remains the most consistent playmaker in the offense.</p>
<p id="LiBwqr">~Believe it or not, I think the offensive line did alright. I know I’m beating the hell out of this drum but it’s impossible to talk about any aspect of the offense without acknowledging just how good their defensive counterparts were in this one. Charles Cross and Abe Lucas were admirable against Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam and three sacks is actually pretty good when you consider that they called 47 pass plays. The interior line held their own on most of the pass plays but were unable to create any holes big enough for Walker III to convert into long runs. That part of their game has really stalled out over the last five weeks.</p>
<p id="W3tsU2">~In the same way the 49ers defense creates constant tension for opposing offenses, their offense does the same. And that makes it tough on a team like Seattle, who still seems hesitant at the point of attack. Overall, I thought the defense played pretty well— certainly as well as any team has against the Niners lately— but the relentless pressure eventually creates, and then exploits, cracks in their opponents’ plumbing. And when those cracks give way, the 49ers explode. That’s what they did today, as Seattle kept them bottled up on the vast majority of their plays but when the opportunities were there, San Francisco maximized ‘em. The story of this game was the disparity in explosive plays. </p>
<p id="rzVmCe">Holding this offense to 21 points is really good but they allowed the Niners to wring out the clock with 170 yards rushing, pushing Seattle’s total over 1,000 yards allowed on the ground in the last five games. They gave up two long touchdowns to Kittle through the air but were actually excellent aside from those. Even with those two huge plays, they held the 49ers to 211 yards passing on 27 dropbacks and looked good in coverage aside from a couple blown assignments.</p>
<p id="bdPU32">~Michael Dickson and Jason Myers might be the best players on this team right now. Dickson was sensational, punting 7 times at 50 yards per, pinning 3 of them inside the 10 including killing one inside the 1. Myers nailed both his kicks as he continues to be the most accurate kicker in the NFL this season, converting 96% of his field goals and 97% of his extra points. The crazy thing about it is almost every attempt he’s had this season has cleared the crossbar in the middle third. He’s not even making us sweat.</p>
<p id="kiMJPq">—</p>
<p id="OzLBPJ">We lost a very close friend a couple days ago. Someone who fought so hard for the people in her life— who’s unrelenting optimism turned each occasion into a great time, and who went out of her way to help at every opportunity. Most importantly, she made everyone feel good about themselves whenever they were around her. There is a huge hole in my heart today, and in the hearts of hundreds of others. The world dimmed a little when she left us, but it’s much brighter than it was before she arrived.</p>
<p id="zSrBRp">Tonight’s outcome sucks, and it’s hard to watch the Seahawks stumble towards the finish line after such a promising start to the season. We care a lot about this team, this game, and it hurts to watch the <em>49ers</em> clinch the division on the Seahawks’ field. But I’m reminded that this <em>is</em> just a game, and that I am so fortunate to be healthy, happy, and able to watch it with people I love.</p>
<p id="JJtovx">Seattle’s arrow is still pointed up— maybe not as steeply as it was a month ago— but the team is young, fun, hungry, and brimming with potential. The postseason got a little further away today, but it’s very much still in play and the outlook for the ‘Hawks for the next few years is so much rosier than I would’ve imagined as recently as September.</p>
<p id="wjN1n3">I feel incredibly lucky to watch these guys play, and to have the opportunity to write about it for such a remarkable fanbase. I appreciate you guys so much and the fact that anyone reads this each week still blows me away. I’m grateful for y’all and I can’t wait to watch this team rise with you. Onward and upward. We love you Carmen.</p>
<p id="uqebzW"></p>
<p id="XTzo8C">—</p>
<p id="qIQqob">Lit up one of the fanciest cigars I’ve ever had tonight. The Year of the Rabbit from Davidoff is very difficult to come by and I’m extremely grateful to the guys at Seattle Cigar Concierge for providing the rare opportunity to get my hands on some. Delicious stogie, it burns forever, holds its ash to the knuckle, and never pulls hot. Super enjoyable experience!</p>
<p id="HYCKpC">This is the 4th year of our incredible partnership with <strong>Seattle Cigar Concierge</strong>. They have the plug on some of the most insane stogies on the market and they’re <strong>offering them to Cigar Thoughts readers for 20% off</strong>. These are extremely special sticks, and among the most enjoyable I’ve ever smoked. To get the hook-up, just email <a href="mailto:SeattleCigarConcierge@gmail.com">SeattleCigarConcierge@GMail.com</a>. They are carrying over 70 cigar brands with many rare releases, including Davidoff, Opus X, and Padron. You can also hit them up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/seattlecigars">@SeattleCigars</a>. Just be sure to mention that you’re a Cigar Thoughts reader. Many of you have taken advantage of this incredible opportunity and for those who have always wondered what elite cigars are like, this may the best chance you’ll get to step into that world.</p>
<p id="rK7l6X"><em>The 2022 season of Cigar Thoughts is also proud to be sponsored by </em><a href="https://www.fairhavenfloors.com/"><em><strong>Fairhaven Floors</strong></em></a><em><strong> </strong></em><em>and </em><a href="http://brandonnelson.com/"><em><strong>Brandon Nelson Partners</strong></em></a><em><strong> </strong></em><em>in Bellingham, WA.</em></p>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/15/23512028/nfl-winners-losers-playoff-odds-seahawks-49ers-fantasy-elon-musk-nfc-west-geno-brock-cigar-thoughtsJacson Bevens2022-12-15T21:31:44-08:002022-12-15T21:31:44-08:00Injury Update: Tyler Lockett potentially out for rest of season with broken finger
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<figcaption>Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Bad news for a banged up Seahawks team. </p> <p id="lBSKRK">It’s possible that we have seen the last of Tyler Lockett in the 2022 Seattle Seahawks’ season.</p>
<p id="hCO9tX">Late in the 4th quarter of Seattle’s 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Lockett was taken to the locker room with a hand injury, severity unknown. During the post-game press conference, Pete Carroll delivered the bad news: Lockett has a broken finger.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Lockett may have surgery. It’s unclear right now, pete says. But the broken finger is obviously a serious issue and could knock him out the lineup awhile, possibly whole season.</p>— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeDugar/status/1603616276949393410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pete Carroll compared Tyler Lockett's broken finger to the one Rashaad Penny suffered in 2018. I believe Rashaad broke his finger in mid-August and was ready to play in the season opener. But with that timeline, feels unlikely Tyler would make it back in regular season.</p>— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeDugar/status/1603620748966649856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="tVhqAX">To be a little more specific, Lockett broke his left index finger. </p>
<p id="3Pftn5">Lockett hasn’t missed a game due to injury since breaking his leg in Week 16 of the 2016 season. Last year he was forced out of the Los Angeles Rams road game in Week 15 after contracting COVID-19. Otherwise he has been a beacon of availability in addition to being such a dependable, crucial part of the Seahawks’ passing offense. This is a huge loss whether he misses a couple of weeks or potentially the entire regular season and beyond.</p>
<p id="xQ2eiE">The <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> passing offense that is already not deep at wide receiver. Carroll did say Dee Eskridge could come back soon after missing the last four games with a broken hand, but he’s lacked much meaningful production when healthy so expect Marquise Goodwin to be the WR2 by default.</p>
<p id="GlhFE6">This sucks.</p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/15/23512280/nfl-seahawks-injury-news-tyler-lockett-potentially-out-season-broken-fingerMookie Alexander2022-12-15T21:05:04-08:002022-12-15T21:05:04-08:00Twitter reacts to the 49ers sweeping the Seahawks
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<figcaption>Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="XSflDp">The Seattle Seahawks can be really hard to watch, but at least they kept it interesting with that last drive (the offensive one... not the defensive one that <em>was </em>offensive). There are some great players on this roster, but unfortunately they just can’t seem to put everything together at the same time. Or maybe they just don’t have <em>enough </em>talent across the roster where it matters. Most likely, it is a combination of both. There may be some light at the end of this tunnel (in the form of draft capital), even if a playoff berth is looking sketchy at best right now. But it is pretty hard to feel much of optimism after a loss like that, especially with this team now having dropped four of their last five... and the fans are really starting to feel it.</p>
<p id="78Rs32">When you’re right, you’re right.</p>
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<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/SysihKhLP1">pic.twitter.com/SysihKhLP1</a></p>— Mikaela Mattes (@mikaelamattes) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikaelamattes/status/1603603622931353600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out this crazy pic of a Seahawks fan <a href="https://t.co/C30PNsEryU">pic.twitter.com/C30PNsEryU</a></p>— same schtick different day (@BestGuyAround) <a href="https://twitter.com/BestGuyAround/status/1603606864263974922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The only Seahawk that can score points is Myers </p>— Becca (@BSnapz2019) <a href="https://twitter.com/BSnapz2019/status/1603587978752032768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I feel so bad for guys like Neal, Woolen, Geno, Metcalf and Lockett who actually play good week in and week out that have to deal with the rest of the bums.</p>— Jett (@Jett_BH) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jett_BH/status/1603580704608198656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">jfc I might just go to bed lol</p>— John P Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnPGilbertNFL/status/1603589666975924224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’d like our team to have a better defense.</p>— Kristina Loves Geno (@Kristina_Moats) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kristina_Moats/status/1603604127543853056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bruh I don't understand how a team can be so bad at defending short passes</p>— occasional good opinion haver (@wrongopinionman) <a href="https://twitter.com/wrongopinionman/status/1603589853882757120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thursday night games suck but at least we have a few extra days to prepare for our obliteration by KC.</p>— Ⓣ︎Ⓐ︎Ⓡ︎Ⓐ︎ (@hawk_lovr) <a href="https://twitter.com/hawk_lovr/status/1603607546400739328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordyn Brooks is having an awful game</p>— Seahawk Nerd (@SeahawkNerd) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeahawkNerd/status/1603589701209714688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well no wonder they are losing, what the fuck is this uni color combo? jesus fucking christ!</p>— rachel ️ ✊(wrathypoo) (@TheGaychel) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheGaychel/status/1603595868233297920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Dickson and Jason Myers are the best players on this team</p>— Jacson A. Bevens (@JacsonBevens) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacsonBevens/status/1603595162315546624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don’t get me wrong — you need help on the DL. I’d look there at No 2/3 overall. But this one felt like a tough task heading in and nothing felt overly surprising. Knowing you’ve got this one and then KC coming up though makes those losses against TB, CAR, NO and ATL feel costlier</p>— Stacy Jo Rost (@StacyRost) <a href="https://twitter.com/StacyRost/status/1603607488318042112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="RRzepQ">But I just ended up with a lot of questions... like what <em>is</em> a “catch,” and has anyone ever actually seen one? </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If this is overturned the NFL needs to review their catch rules.</p>— Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfbrown/status/1603593890174468096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That’s a catch!! </p>— Anne (@Anne_Lovinglife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Anne_Lovinglife/status/1603593766043910144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That should have been a complete pass.</p>— 12th Man Rising (@12thMan_Rising) <a href="https://twitter.com/12thMan_Rising/status/1603593772410994690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="71swb4">Or how <em>does </em>a quarterback slide work? </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The line judge here signals the touchdown on Brock Purdy's first down at the 36 yard line <a href="https://t.co/4Ipg5wUX9A">pic.twitter.com/4Ipg5wUX9A</a></p>— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNBWCV/status/1603604441420144642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">They literally NEVER spot the ball the way they just described it on a QB going into a slide. That’s nonsense.</p>— Rich Phelps (@RichPhelps) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichPhelps/status/1603604074985033728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">He started sliding short of the sticks</p>— Jacson A. Bevens (@JacsonBevens) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacsonBevens/status/1603603837721677829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ve never seen them say the knee has to hit to be when the slide starts?</p>— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickClaybon/status/1603603920789458944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="uJkWMa">But these things aside, it just seemed like this team couldn’t catch many breaks, and they didn’t do themselves any favors when opportunities presented themselves. Like that drop by Diggs.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That should have been an easy INT. Either way, a third down stop. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Seahawks</a></p>— Mikaela Mattes (@mikaelamattes) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikaelamattes/status/1603577991803842561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="zbv92n">But things weren’t all bad... at least Pete Carroll won. A challenge, that is.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pete Carroll Challenge time!</p>— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeDugar/status/1603596431339978752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pete Carroll needs to up his red-flag challenge stats. This should do it.</p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1603596447769067521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pete gonna win a challenge???</p>— Cigar Thoughts (@CigarThoughts) <a href="https://twitter.com/CigarThoughts/status/1603596835477917696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ok we get it, seahawks twitter <a href="https://t.co/krnDeNXmqN">pic.twitter.com/krnDeNXmqN</a></p>— John ️ Fraley (@johndavidfraley) <a href="https://twitter.com/johndavidfraley/status/1603597420042280960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="NFPfak">But lightning rarely strikes in the same place twice.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pete loses the challenge but I don't mind that because he would've had to call timeout anyway.</p>— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldGulls/status/1603603811243020288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="IAivcm">The defense has had its detractors all season, and even in a game where they only allowed 21 points, it still felt like they struggled make stops when it counted. Like that Ray-Ray McCloud catch-and-run on third and long.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seahawks' defense gives up a third and 15. They can't tackle Ray-Ray McCloud after a 4-yard pass, becomes a 16-yard gain</p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1603589808768811009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Neal had a great look at something that wasn't McCloud</p>— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickClaybon/status/1603589764946358274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="4ap8xJ">And the coaching continues to be puzzling at times.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not implementing a run game at all. ♀️</p>— Mikaela Mattes (@mikaelamattes) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikaelamattes/status/1603573824246943744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I want to hear why this was. I imagine it was the 49ers' defensive front aggression, width, and talent. But the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Seahawks</a> offense was one-dimensional as heck throughout this game. They abandoned any under center plan. It was all on Geno Smith in an increasingly nightmarish pocket <a href="https://t.co/OsstfnX0JS">https://t.co/OsstfnX0JS</a></p>— Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfbrown/status/1603606549888385024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="JcJchA">Geno Smith had another rough week, but can you really blame him? The pass rush was all over him all game, and the offense could never really get anything going. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">like, the protection was better versus the 9ers last year with brown and shell/curhan</p>— irreversibly genopilled but it's festive ❄ (@cmikesspinmove) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmikesspinmove/status/1603604543857909760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yeah, Geno Smith doesn't have a fighting chance right now. Not with that pass rush pinning their ears back.</p>— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CorbinSmithNFL/status/1603598349827211264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="nuWwe5">There was that funny sequence where the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> got flagged... three times. And the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> declined every one of them.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Never seen a team decline *three* separate penalties all at once so that's a first</p>— John ️ Fraley (@johndavidfraley) <a href="https://twitter.com/johndavidfraley/status/1603592630784622593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="B8Jcmm">All things considered, it was closer than some might have anticipated, but this is exactly the kind of game the 49ers are comfortable playing in right now. Hopefully, the Seahawks can capitalize on what little defensive improvement they saw in this game and make one final late season push. And if not... just think about the draft picks.</p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2022/12/15/23512137/twitter-reacts-san-francisco-49ers-sweep-the-seattle-seahawks-clinch-nfc-westDianeTaylor