Sunday was a tough one for Seahawks fans.
After leading for most of their game against the Rams in Inglewood, Calif., the Seahawks found themselves in a familiar position. It seemed like a storybook ending. Geno Smith had returned for the final series to lead a potential game-winning drive. Jason Myers had kicked a game-winning field goal the week before. Surely, he could do it again.
But it wasn’t meant to be, and the Seahawks lost 17-16.
Here’s how national media reacted to the Week 11 loss.
The Seahawks will need Zach Charbonnet to step up if Kenneth Walker III is out for a while with an oblique injury, Bleacher Report wrote.
Based on [Pete] Carroll’s assessment, Walker could miss Seattle’s Thanksgiving game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks would have to unleash rookie second-rounder Zach Charbonnet, which may work in their favor.
Through Week 10, Seattle ranked 24th in rushing. Walker averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and Charbonnet averaged 5.6 yards per rush attempt.
In a 17-16 loss to the Rams, Charbonnet recorded 15 carries for 47 yards. For the season, he’s only logged 53 rush attempts. Though his sample size leaves some question marks, the first-year ball-carrier would have a shot to earn more touches if he has a solid outing against the 49ers’ fourth-ranked run defense.
CBS Sports gave the Seahawks a B-minus for their effort against the Rams after they were in control for most of the game.
This game is going to sting because the Seahawks probably should have won, but despite the loss, they’re still comfortably in the NFC playoff picture.
The Ringer said Drew Lock’s six pass attempts were enough for them.
I always appreciate Lock as performance art. There isn’t a quarterback more vibe-y. “I kinda feel like a deep throw now.” “Ooh, a scramble sounds nice.” That sorta thing.
On Thanksgiving, when I’m entering a state of blissful, tryptophan-induced hibernation on my couch at 8:30 p.m.? I want some actual, functional quarterback play. Geno Smith, the starter for the Seahawks who had to miss a couple of series, isn’t guaranteed to play on Thursday due to a triceps injury. But the 6-4 Seahawks are facing the 7-3, division-leading Niners for the first time this season — and it’s at home. If they want to stay in the race for the division, they need this game. And that means they need Geno.
NFL.com praised Smith’s resiliency to come back from an injury to try to lead a game-winning drive, even if the effort came up short.
He immediately showed enough arm strength, hitting Tyler Lockett for 13 yards. Three plays later, Smith put one on the money to DK Metcalf for 21 yards, pushing the Seahawks into field goal range. Instead of giving Smith another chance to move the ball through the air, Seattle ran for two yards. After a spike, Jason Myers was set up for a 55-yard field goal. The kicker booted it wide right. Gut-wrenching defeat. There will be a lot of questions for the Seahawks following the loss — from Smith’s status to what to do about an offense that went 1 of 11 on third downs after a 4-for-4 start to the game.