Seahawks: Did They Abandon the Running Game Too Soon Against the Cowboys?

The Seattle Seahawks had lost just one of their past 20 home games prior to Sunday's matchup at CenturyLink Field against the Dallas Cowboys.

Make that two of 21, following Dallas' 30-23 victory on Oct. 12. The Seahawks also rushed for a season-low 80 yards in falling to the Cowboys (5-1), who overcame a blocked punt and two turnovers that resulted in 17 Seattle points to win their fifth straight game.

Question is, did the Seahawks, who fell behind in the second and fourth quarters and were outgained 2-to-1 (401 total yards to 206) on the day, abandon their running game too soon?

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press/Associated Press

Seattle QB Russell Wilson ran with abandon in the Monday night win at Washington on Oct. 6, gaining 112 yards. He ran twice for 12 yards six days later when he was hemmed in by Dallas. More telling, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch seemingly never got the chance to rev up into "Beast Mode," carrying just 10 times for 61 yards, with 32 of those yards coming on one play.

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times noted Lynch's lack of use on Sunday.

"

Stone also notes the rather interesting Tweet from Marshawn Lynch's agent asking if Seattle OC Darrell Bevell knows he has a running back.

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) October 13, 2014"

Fact is, as a team, Seattle ran the ball just 18 times on Sunday, despite rallying for the lead after trailing 17-10 at halftime and then retaking a three-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation. Conversely, the Cowboys rushed 37 times for 162 yards, with DeMarco Murray leading the way on the ground with 29 carries for 115 yards, giving him six straight 100-yard games this fall.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told the Times it wasn't as simple as just handing off more to Lynch.

“We tried to get back to it (the running game) in the third quarter and it just seemed like we never really got caught up with the way we like to manage the game,’’ Carroll said. “We don’t feel very good about that. We want to get that done every time we go out.’’

The Seahawks (3-2) still lost for the second time in five games so far this season, after starting last season with an 11-1 mark prior to claiming their first Super Bowl title.

Against Washington, the Seahawks ran the ball 36 times for 225 yards in a 27-17 win. Versus Denver on Sept. 21, they carried 37 times for 129 yards in a 26-20 overtime triumph. Two weeks earlier in the season-opening 36-16 victory over Green Bay, they piled up 207 yards on 37 ground attempts.

Sandwiched in between the Denver and Green Bay wins was a 30-21 loss at San Diego in which the Seahawks ran just 13 times for 108 yards, with Lynch rushing just six times for 36 yards.

Coincidence?

Scott Eklund/Associated Press

Granted, Seattle came up short in the time of possession battle against both the Chargers and Cowboys, with the opponents chewing up clock and keeping Seattle's offense off the field while also wearing down the Seahawk defense. San Diego held the ball for over 42 minutes, while Dallas kept it for almost 38 minutes. It's something Seattle does well when the Seahawks are at their most efficient, but both the Chargers and Cowboys turned the tables on them.

Seattle also seems to want to keep using Percy Harvin as a running threat. Problem, is, he only gained seven yards rushing against Washington, and then had -1 yards against Dallas. He has 82 yards on 11 carries to date this year, but lately opponents seem to have figured him out. At least Dallas did, as Condotta noted late in the first half on Sunday:

"

Percy Harvin has four touches today for minus-six yards.

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) October 12, 2014 "

Former Seahawks QB Brock Huard didn't feel Seattle's play-calling was the problem.

"A lot of people want to talk about (offensive coordinator) Darrell Bevell," said Huard, blogging at SeattlePI.com. "When you get these defensive looks, it’s totally understandable why he called what he did. Seattle just has to play better."

Fair enough—but here's the rushing breakdown by the Seattle Times concerning Seattle's first five games this season:

More running equals more winning (and vice versa)
In Seattle’s three victories, it has run the ball an average of 36.7 times. In its two defeats, Seattle has averaged 15.5 carries. The rushing totals for Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin and the Seahawks:
Result	Lynch	Harvin	Team
Win-Seattle 36, Green Bay 16	20 carries, 110 yds	4 carries, 41 yds	37 carries, 207 yds
Loss-San Diego 30, Seattle 21	6 carries, 36 yds	2 carries, 15 yds	13 carries, 108 yds
Win-Seattle 26, Denver 20 (OT)	26 carries, 88 yds	No carries	37 carries, 129 yds
Win-Seattle 27, Washington 17	17 carries, 72 yds	2 carries, 7 yds	36 carries, 225 yds
Loss-Dallas 30, Seattle 23	10 carries, 61 yds	3 carries, -1 yd	18 carries, 80 yds