Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Full Report Card Grades for Seattle
Another week of continued struggles in the passing game for the Seattle Seahawks (6-4), and the offense just didn't have enough juice to respond to the Kansas City Chiefs (7-3). A questionable decision to go for it on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line also may have proven to be too much to overcome in the game.
Despite two turnovers from Kansas City, resulting in 10 points for Seattle, this game ultimately came down to fourth-down stops. The Chiefs stopped Seattle three times on fourth down, but it all started with the one previously mentioned.
Jamaal Charles gashed the Seahawks defense for his first 100-plus-yard rushing game of the season, giving the Chiefs their fifth straight win and moving them into a first-place tie with the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.
The Seahawks' loss allowed the San Francisco 49ers to move back into a tie for second in the NFC West and lowered the team's chances of catching the Arizona Cardinals. Let's take a look at how each positional unit performed in the game.
Final Game Stats
| Seattle Seahawks | Category | Kansas City Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| 372 | Total Yards | 298 |
| 168 | Passing Yards | 108 |
| 4.9 | Yards Per Attempt | 6.8 |
| 204 | Rushing Yards | 190 |
| 5.5 | Yards Per Attempt | 6.3 |
| 8-50 | Penalties | 3-6 |
| 0 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 5-12 | 3rd-Down Conversions | 2-6 |
| 35:57 | Possession | 24:03 |
Quarterback
1 of 10
Russell Wilson's stats don't look all that dissimilar from last year, but the results have been. The third-year quarterback is averaging fewer yards per completion and passing touchdowns when compared to previous seasons. His rushing yards, however, are up significantly—he is on pace for nearly 900 yards.
Wilson completed 20 of 32 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, making it the first game in three weeks he's completed more than 60 percent of his passes or thrown for a score. He still averaged just 5.6 yards in the game, however.
The quarterback continued to utilized his legs to keep drives alive, rushing for another 71 yards on eight carries. At one point it seemed the Seahawks would turn to simply calling designed runs for Wilson, but that point never seemed to come.
Why the team chose to rely on his passing in the red zone all game didn't make much sense. His inaccurate throws were down, but Wilson also overthrew receivers on plays that would have delivered big gains or points.
Grade: C
Running Back
2 of 10
Marshawn Lynch was the focal point of the offense again, helping lead Seattle to 204 yards rushing. Lynch had 124 yards on the ground on 24 carries for an average of 5.2 yards per carry, but he failed to make his way into the end zone for a score.
Robert Turbin had just 11 yards on four carries and Christine Michael had negative two yards on one tote. Lynch also made one catch for a gain of one in the game.
With Lynch and Russell Wilson continuing to be the catalysts for Seattle's offense but failing to rush for touchdowns, Seattle simply didn't have enough help to outscore Kansas City. I don't see Seattle getting away from running its offense through Lynch.
Grade: A
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
The Seahawks made a concerted effort to go after Chiefs cornerback Marcus Cooper in the game, meaning Jermaine Kearse was a bigger part of the game plan than at any other point in the season. Kearse stepped up to make several key grabs but also dropped a would-be touchdown right before the half.
Kearse finished the game with five catches for 54 yards, while Doug Baldwin made six grabs for 45 yards and a score. Tight end Luke Willson picked up 51 yards receiving on three receptions, and Paul Richardson also had three receptions for 24 yards.
At several points in the game, when Russell Wilson had plenty of time to throw, Seattle's receivers flat out failed to work their way out over coverage. No one in the passing game appears to be on the same page with Wilson, and none appears capable of consistently creating separation in his routes.
Grade: C-
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Offensive Line
4 of 10
In just his second game back from injury, Max Unger had to be carted off of the field after having a few big bodies roll up on the back of his legs. His availability for next week will be a point of concern after being diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and a tweaked knee injury.
Russell Wilson was hit nine times and sacked twice in the game, but he had plenty of time to throw the ball on several dropbacks. J.R. Sweezy was beaten soundly on a sack by Dontari Poe and had his struggles with the defensive tackle throughout the game.
It was another strong run-blocking performance by the unit, as the team averaged 5.5 yards per carry. It was a strong outing overall for the group, but the team needed stronger performances on two key fourth-down rushes late in the game.
Twice in the game, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to knock back Seattle attempts before they could even get to the line of scrimmage.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Seahawks' defensive line was dominated throughout the game, never generating any significant pass rush and being gashed for long runs with regularity. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith was never sacked and never hit in the game, though he only attempted 16 throws in the game.
Jamaal Charles entered the game having failed to rush for more than 100 yards in any game this season, but finished the day with 159 yards and two scores on 20 totes. Kansas City had 30 carries for 190 yards and an average of 6.3 yards per run.
The loss of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane for the rest of the year cannot lead to the complete deterioration of Seattle's run defense.
Grade: F
Linebacker
6 of 10
Malcolm Smith led all linebackers in tackles with just four, and he had the team's only tackle for a loss of yardage and one pass defended. K.J. Wright made four tackles of his own but wasn't the typical force he had been over the prior two weeks.
Bruce Irvin had an offsides penalty and a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the game en route to finishing with one tackle, and Kevin Pierre-Louis had one tackle in the game as well. On the plus side, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was a non-factor in the game.
He had three receptions for 37 yards and fumbled the ball away before halftime, leading to a Seattle field goal. All the negatives written about the defensive line and its performance in run defense extend to the linebackers group. The Seattle front seven failed to execute in the category, and it proved costly.
Grade: D
Secondary
7 of 10
Earl Thomas was flying all over the field against Kansas City, forcing the Travis Kelce fumble, and finished the game with a team-high 11 tackles and one pass defensed. Byron Maxwell recovered the fumble and performed well in coverage. Maxwell did have a penalty in the game for pass interference, however.
Kam Chancellor had six tackles and Richard Sherman had four of his own, but no one else in the secondary really stood out. the Chiefs had just 108 yards passing in the game, with Dwayne Bowe being the only wide receiver to make a catch. He had two grabs for 18 yards.
With the Chiefs' running game proving to be so effective, the "Legion of Boom" was rarely tested, but when it was, it was ready.
Grade A+
Special Teams
8 of 10
Kansas City had some nice returns on kickoffs throughout the game. The Chiefs averaged 31.7 yards per return, with a 24-yard return being the shortest of the day. De'Anthony Thomas had what looked to be a 40-yard punt return, but it was called back after it was revealed he had stepped out of bounds.
Ricardo Lockette was ejected from the game on the play, however, after throwing a punch at Chiefs CB Kurt Coleman on the sideline. Seattle's returners averaged just 15.8 yards per kick return in the game, showing a huge difference in starting position for each team.
Jon Ryan averaged 51.5 yards per punt and Steven Hauschka knocked through a couple 20-plus-yard field goals. Solid day overall, but the coverage teams continue to be an issue. An average 16-yard difference in starting position is big in such a tight game.
Grade: B+
Coaching
9 of 10
The Chiefs could run the ball, seemingly at will, while the Seahawks were stuffed when they needed it the most. The Seahawks' run defense has been elite all season but, much like it was against the Dallas Cowboys, it had no answers today.
The defensive line has slipped back into a nonexistent pass rush and, with no opposing run defense, the Chiefs were able to convert long, time-consuming drives and quick ones for scores. On the offensive side of the ball, there doesn't appear to be an answer for the team's passing woes until Russell Wilson gets back on track.
The team is reliant on Lynch and Wilson's legs to move the ball effectively. Special teams took a slight step back today. One major question has to stem from the decision to go for it on 4th-and-1 with six minutes remaining. A field goal would have made it a one-point game and left Seattle needing another one, rather than a touchdown, to win.
Grade: B
Final Grades
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| QB | C |
| RB | A |
| WR/TE | C- |
| OL | B+ |
| DL | F |
| LB | D |
| DB | A+ |
| Special Teams | B+ |
| Coaching | B |
| Cumulative Grade | B- |
The Seattle Seahawks lost a game they had a good shot to win, but execution and play-calling combined to cost them in the inter-conference matchup. Though any loss hurts, if the Seahawks had to lose a game it's better to lose to an AFC team than an NFC one for playoff ranking purposes.
They have the Arizona Cardinals headed to town next week in what could decide the outcome of the NFC West division race.
"Video of Russell Wilson after #Seahawks' "heartbreaking" loss at KC. "We think we could have-and should have-won it" http://t.co/QfDAv0IRtT
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) November 16, 2014"
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
