Let’s put the repeat talk on hold, OK?
Unless you’re referring to the Seahawks turning in back-to-back quality performances, the R-word should be locked up somewhere in a backroom of your vocabulary. The NFL season is too long and perilous, and this Seahawks team isn’t exactly a continuation of the Super Bowl-winning squad of last season. The Seahawks are different and developing, and the process is going to take time.
That message is clear now. The Seahawks lost three games all of last season. In 2014, they’ve already lost twice in their first five games, and the latest setback is quite concerning.
In the Russell Wilson era, the Seahawks haven’t been outplayed like they were in a 30-23 defeat against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Cowboys (5-1) came to CenturyLink Field and legitimized their strong early-season play by dominating the Seahawks statistically and having the guts to pull out a close game in the fourth quarter.
The Seahawks specialize in outlasting opponents, in punishing them physically and in winning tough games. They’re used to administering thorough beatdowns and making the opponent surrender. They’re used to watching other teams wilt amid the crowd noise and crazed atmosphere of their stadium.
But the Cowboys displayed toughness and resilience and won Seattle’s way. They dominated the time of possession and gained nearly twice as many yards as the Seahawks (401-206). Quarterback Tony Romo didn’t implode. Running back DeMarco Murray managed his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance, gaining 115 yards on 29 carries. The Cowboys rushed for 162 yards, 100 more than the Seahawks’ stellar run defense was allowing per game.
If the Seahawks hadn’t dominated on special teams and capitalized on several Dallas mistakes, the game wouldn’t have been so close. On the concern scale, this registered higher than any recent Seattle defeat.
“That’s a really tough ballgame,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “We make no excuses. (The Cowboys) played really well, and they did a lot of cool stuff for their football team in all phases, and we were not right, really, in any phase of our game.”
It’s unprecedented for the championship-era Seahawks to play so poorly in a big game. They normally shine in these moments. Their competitiveness and preparation normally stand out.
Not this time. The Seahawks weren’t flat, but for the entire game, they were off. A bad pass here, a drop there. A missed tackle here, a third-down defensive breakdown there. A bad play call here, a bad play call there, a bad play call everywhere.
Maybe we’re spoiled by the Seahawks’ consistency. It was odd to see them so erratic. And now they’ve given an NFC upstart confidence. The Cowboys know they’re for real, and they know they can beat the reigning champs.
For the first time in a while, you’re looking at the Seahawks and wondering who the heck they are.
“It’s a hard lesson,” safety Earl Thomas said of the defeat.
As much as the Seahawks already understood it would be difficult to wear a helmet and a crown this season, the challenge screamed at them Sunday. The Cowboys played their best game, just as San Diego did in Week 2. The Seahawks will continue to get every team’s best punch, and as the season progresses, they’ll learn how to counter better. But right now, they’re still adjusting.
They’ve forgotten who they are on offense. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is turning away from Marshawn Lynch too often, force-feeding Percy Harvin too much and focusing too little on balance, fluidity and stretching the field in the passing game.
“Going into the season, we expected to do better,” wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. “We have a healthy Percy, so we expected more explosiveness from our offense. To not impact the game as much as we want to, as much as we think we’re capable of, is frustrating. No, we didn’t think it was just going to happen. But we expected better, for sure.”
This team can get better in so many areas.
The pass defense isn’t where it was, including coverage and pass rush. The Seahawks are battling a rash of injuries, with concerns about the health of five starters. They’re not playing with their trademark fire and swagger.
The Seahawks are still so good that, even at their worst, teams can’t separate from them. But the carefree team with unlimited depth from 2013 now has a thinner roster carrying the burden of expectations.
“I think everybody is a little frustrated,” said Wilson, who completed only 14 of 28 passes for 126 yards.
It’s too early to be outraged. The Seahawks have plenty of time to thrive. But they’re learning why it’s so hard to repeat in the parity-driven NFL. And this is why the Seahawks must block out the ultimate goal for now and focus simply on getting better.
Sunday was sobering. The competition isn’t catching up. The competition is right there, stride for stride.
Such is life in this league, where dominance is fleeting and a reigning champion is merely a target.
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