Seattle Seahawks Stall in Second Half, Fall to Cincinnati Bengals
The Seattle Seahawks have continued to put the dismal memory of Week 1's loss to the Los Angeles Rams behind them, and have looked like a completely different offense since then.
But for Seattle, the bye week didn't prove to be of any benefit for an offense that had its woes rear an ugly head during Sunday's meeting against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Despite the impressive defensive effort against a talented Cincy offense, the Seahawks were done in by failures in the red zone in what turned into an ugly 17-13 loss to the Bengals.
The Seattle offense - which scored on the game's first drive via a one-yard touchdown from Kenneth Walker III - went 1 of 5 in the red zone, which was low-lighted by the final two trips of the game. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith faced the pressure of an underrated Bengals defense all afternoon, but had a chance to give Seattle a go-ahead lead on two drives in the final frame. However, down 17-13, two trips inside the Bengals' 10-yard in the fourth quarter yielded no points for the Seahawks, as the game ended with Smith tossing a pass into the ground while facing more pressure.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams (32) runs downfield after completing a catch in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Paycor Stadium.
© Kareem Elgazzar, USA TODAY
Smith finished 27 of 41 passing for 323 yards, but had two picks and was sacked four times.
The Seahawks' defense limited production for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, but his two first-half touchdowns proved to be the difference in a second half that featured one field goal apiece from both teams.
Burrow had 15 straight completions at one point in the first half, but finished 24 of 35 passing for just 185 passing yards and the two scores. Cincinnati star receiver Ja'Marr Chase finished with six catches for 80 yards, though the Seahawks limited him to just one catch for 13 yards in the second half.
The Seahawks will take on the Arizona Cardinals at home next week.
