Seahawks Survive Colts’ Grit, But Offensive Concerns Loom Large
There are games that reveal flaws, and there are games that reveal character. Sunday’s clash between the Seahawks and a battered Colts team did both - and Seattle fans are left with a mixed bag heading into a pivotal stretch.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Seahawks didn’t look like a team favored by double digits. The offense sputtered early - again - and the running game remains stuck in neutral.
Over the last three games, Seattle is averaging just 8.3 points in the first half. That’s not just a cold streak.
That’s a trend. And it’s one that could haunt them when the stakes rise in January.
Third downs continue to be a sore spot. Drives stall, red zone trips end in field goals, and the rhythm just isn’t there.
The backfield duo of Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet isn’t producing the kind of punch this offense needs. Walker’s not breaking tackles, and Charbonnet hasn’t shown enough to demand a bigger role.
The blocking up front hasn’t helped either. For a team that wants balance, Seattle’s run game is putting far too much pressure on Sam Darnold and the passing attack to carry the load.
But here’s the thing - the Colts didn’t roll over. Far from it.
This was supposed to be a mismatch on paper. Indianapolis was missing two starting cornerbacks, All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and then lost their left tackle during the game.
Oh, and they were quarterbacked by a 44-year-old Philip Rivers, freshly unretired in a pinch-hit role. Yet they came out swinging.
Credit where it’s due: Shane Steichen and Lou Anarumo put together a smart, aggressive game plan. The Colts controlled the line of scrimmage for long stretches, keeping Rivers in manageable situations with a steady diet of tough inside runs, quick passes, and creative screens. They didn’t ask him to be a hero - not until the final seconds, when the game demanded it.
Defensively, Indianapolis brought the heat. The Seahawks had to fight for every yard.
Even when Seattle started to find some answers in the second half, nothing came easy. The Colts’ defense played with urgency, energy, and confidence.
They looked like a team with something to prove - and for most of the game, they backed it up.
Seattle was outplayed and outcoached in the first half. That’s not hyperbole.
That’s what the tape shows. But they didn’t fold.
And that matters.
This is where the narrative flips. Because while it’s easy to criticize the Seahawks for letting a depleted team hang around, it’s also fair to say this was a gritty, character-building win.
Playoff football is often ugly. It’s rarely clean, rarely comfortable.
And if Seattle finds itself in a slugfest come January, this game might serve as a valuable blueprint.
Jason Myers deserves a shoutout. The veteran kicker was perfect, knocking through two clutch field goals late when the pressure was sky-high. The offense may not have been clicking, but it did enough to get him in position when it mattered most.
And the defense? It held up its end of the bargain.
There were no sack fests or highlight-reel hits, but that’s not the story here. Rivers got the ball out lightning fast - by design.
Blitzing more would’ve played right into his hands. He’s seen every look in the book and would’ve picked apart an over-aggressive front.
The real key was scoreboard pressure, and Seattle didn’t apply enough of it until late. Once they did, we saw the payoff: a late-game interception when Rivers was finally forced to push the ball downfield.
The takeaway? The defense did what it could. If the offense had built a bigger lead earlier, the pass rush would’ve had its chance to feast.
Still, the biggest red flag remains the run game. It’s not just ineffective - it’s actively holding this team back.
Unless something changes, the Seahawks are going to have to win with Darnold’s arm and timely defense. That’s a tough ask in the postseason, especially if they can’t control tempo or close out games on the ground.
The offseason may bring changes - perhaps a more dynamic, explosive back to inject life into this ground attack. But that’s a conversation for another day.
Right now, all eyes are on Thursday. The biggest game of the season is up next, and with it, a shot to take control of the NFC’s top seed. The stakes couldn’t be higher - and the margin for error couldn’t be thinner.
Seattle’s flaws are real. But so is their resilience.