3 Up, 3 Down: Winners, Losers From Seahawks Week 7 Defeat
After being tied at halftime and looking to be in control for most of the first two quarters, the Seahawks will likely be kicking themselves after reviewing the tape from Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Ravens.
While other mistakes cost Seattle as well, a pair of turnovers from quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver DK Metcalf led to their downfall in this game. Wilson threw his first interception of the season and cornerback Marcus Peters returned it for six, while Metcalf's fumble was also returned for a late score to seal a road win for Baltimore.
Even with the Seahawks defense holding the Ravens offense to a single touchdown and three field goals, those two turnovers prevented the team from capturing another victory and dropped them two games behind the 49ers in the NFC West.
Let's dive into our three big winners and three losers from Week 7.
Three Up
Jadeveon Clowney
Throughout the game, the entire Seahawks defense was able to apply considerable amounts to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Specifically, Clowney seemed to spend the entire game chasing Jackson all over CenturyLink Field and made several key plays in the run game.
While the six-year pro wasn’t able to record any sacks and just one quarterback hit on Jackson, he did produce three combined tackles and a tackle for loss. Even though the 26-year old has only produced a single sack this year thus far, Clowney remains one of Seattle's best defenders and his value goes beyond bringing down quarterbacks.
Marquise Blair
Despite making his first NFL start, Blair showed everyone why the Seahawks drafted him in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. He finished the game tied for second on the team with eight tackles along with a key pass deflection in coverage against tight end Mark Andrews that halted a Ravens drive in the first half.
Following his impressive performance against the Ravens, the Seahawks should feel more comfortable with Blair at strong safety if Bradley McDougald isn’t able to return for next Sunday's game in Atlanta. More importantly, his play in his first extensive action could put Tedric Thompson on alert trying to salvage his job at free safety.
Tyler Lockett
The mental connection between Lockett and Wilson was on display yet again. The fifth-year pro led his team in receptions with five catches for 61 yards and another mystifying touchdown grab at the end of a scramble drill in the second quarter. Similar to the touchdown against the Rams during Week 5, Wilson chucked the ball while under duress, only for Lockett to dive forward and somehow make the catch.
Lockett also made an incredible catch on a 50/50 pass from Wilson that set up a 31-yard field goal from kicker Jason Myers before the end of the first half. Even though his team wasn't victorious, Lockett's relationship with Wilson continues to play a huge factor in the Seahawks offensive success this season.
Three Down
Containing Lamar Jackson
So far this season, no one has been able to contain Jackson on the ground. This week in Seattle was no different, as he rushed 14 times for 116 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground. The Seahawks defense wasn’t able to prevent Jackson from escaping the pocket and scrambling for the first downs on multiple occasions.
Specifically, the Seahawks failed to contain Jackson during the Ravens pivotal scoring drive midway through the third quarter. They appeared to have Baltimore stopped two yards short of a first down to force a field goal, but coach John Harbaugh decided to go for it and Jackson exploded through Seattle's defense for a back-breaking eight-yard score.
DK Metcalf
Prior to a deflating fumble late in the fourth quarter, Metcalf was having a productive game. The rookie receiver caught four of his nine targets for a total of 53 yards, including a 37-yard reception in the first half. However, Metcalf’s fumble as he tried to move the football to his left hand happened with his team already down two scores with less than four minutes to play, putting the game out of reach for the Seahawks.
While the elements certainly didn't help his cause and slick conditions played a part in his fumble, Metcalf didn't use the weather as an excuse after the game. He and Seattle's offense simply have execute better next week against Atlanta.
Run Blocking
The Ravens defense made it extremely difficult for running back Chris Carson to find many running lanes throughout the game. With just 65 rushing yards on 21 carries, this was the first time Carson wasn’t able to rush for at least 100 yards since a Week 3 loss to the Saints.
The Seahawks injury-riddled offensive line had to deal with tough assignments going up against one of the best run defenses in the entire league. As a result, the Ravens defense was able to create a total of seven tackles for loss. If the Seahawks’ running game is going to rebound against the Falcons, they’ll need to do a better job establishing the line of scrimmage and creating push with the offensive line.
