The NFC West shifted in a hurry in Week 5, and Seattle is the team left dealing with the fallout.
The Seahawks had a prime chance to grab control of the division race and make a loud statement against San Francisco. Instead, they let it slip away with too many mistakes, too many bad decisions, and too much sloppy execution at the worst possible moments.
Even so, they still had a real shot to tie or win late. That’s what made the loss sting more: they were close, but close does not count when the record is what it is.
And after dropping to 3-2, Mike Macdonald’s team is no longer the NFC West’s top team.
At the top now sit the San Francisco 49ers, who walked into Lumen Field with a 4-0 record that didn’t fully reflect the kind of team they are and walked out with their first true big win of the season. Kyle Shanahan’s group had this one circled, and it showed.
They bullied their way to payback for the blowout playoff loss and left Seattle with the division’s best résumé at 5-0. They’ve still got age and injuries working against them, but for now - and likely until the rematch in Week 12 - they own the No. 1 spot.
Seattle drops to No. 2, and the warning signs are still the same ones that have followed them through most of the season. The Seahawks have been sloppy far too often.
Their losses have been close, but being close only goes so far. They nearly stole the game on the final drive, yet “almost” isn’t a result any team can lean on.
The bigger concern is how they’re getting here. The run game needs to be more stable, Sam Darnold has been making erratic choices, and while turnovers haven’t fully burned them yet, that kind of play usually catches up eventually.
Still, the defense is hard to ignore. This remains a tough, gritty unit, and that’s a big reason the Seahawks are better than their record says.
Even so, they aren’t helping themselves, and there’s a sense they may be looking down on opponents a little too much.
The Los Angeles Rams sit at No. 3 at 2-2. On paper, they still belong among the division’s top teams, even though they’re not at full strength with Myles Garrett still dealing with a knee injury.
The problem is that they’ve looked far more vulnerable than most expected. Sean McVay is still Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford is a Hall of Famer, and the defense has real talent, so they’re always dangerous.
But as the Seahawks just learned, reputation doesn’t win games.
Arizona rounds out the division at No. 4, and it’s not a pretty picture. The Cardinals are either the worst or second-worst team in the league after falling to 1-4, and they couldn’t top 21 points against one of the most erratic defenses in recent NFL history.
Rookie quarterback Carson Beck could be on the field soon, Marvin Harrison Jr. has already been cut loose, and Jeremiyah Love hasn’t done much as a part-time player in Mike LaFleur’s offense. Right now, there’s not much talent and even less direction.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have Two Roster Battles Fans Can't Ignore
A sloppy loss to the 49ers put two parts of the roster back under the microscope for Seattle, and not just because of the final score. Five turnovers made the night ugly, but the bigger takeaway for the Seahawks may be how clearly some fringe battles are starting to take shape as the team evaluates who can help once the games start counting for real.
Nehemiah Pritchett and Byron Murphy II were among the players who stood out in a positive way, while the running back group did not make the same case for itself. George Holani and Emanuel Wilson had tougher outings, which only sharpens the focus on a position where Seattle may be looking for more reliability, along with added depth at cornerback. [Read more 🡒]
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Took The Seahawks Loss Hard For One Reason
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the kind of fourth-quarter moment that lingers, the sort a young receiver remembers long after the game ends. Late against the 49ers, he dropped a crucial third-down pass, and Seattles chance to extend the drive slipped away in a loss that became the Seahawks second of the season while San Francisco stayed undefeated.
Smith-Njigba did not hide from it afterward, acknowledging the drop and taking responsibility for how the game ended. For a Seahawks team that has been building through the early part of the schedule, the next challenge comes quickly with Denver on deck for Thursday Night Football, which leaves little time to dwell and even less time to let one play carry over. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Made A Special Teams Move That Could Matter Fast
The Seahawks made a quick special teams adjustment this week by activating wide receiver Irv Charles off injured reserve, putting him in line to be available for the upcoming game against the Broncos. Charles arrived in Seattle from the Jets in a trade and is expected to help mostly in the third phase, giving the team another option on a unit that often turns on depth and reliability.
To make room, Seattle released running back and kick returner Velus Jones Jr., a move that underscores how tightly the roster is being managed heading into the next matchup. Charles now gets a chance to factor in right away, and the timing suggests the Seahawks want a fresh look on special teams as soon as possible. [Read more 🡒]