Carroll’s optimism can only be put to the test if one little obstacle is resolved first: Seattle needs to find a way to qualify for the postseason. And at 6-6 right now, that’s not a given.
Carroll remarked, “I just think we’re of that calibre.” “We need to figure out how to get there and through it. I’m not sure if there are enough games. Perhaps there isn’t. Maybe the games run out for us. I’m not sure. But in the next weeks, we’re going to need to make some serious noise here. After that, we simply need to keep moving forward.
There were several conclusions that gave hope for Seattle’s future. Geno Smith had excellent rhythmic playing. DK Metcalf scored three touchdowns in an incredible performance. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a rookie, had his most productive game of the year.
Leonard Williams, a defensive tackle, stated, “There is just something small that is lacking right now that we can tighten up and finish these close games.” We seem to possess every talent in the world. There is talent. There is a desire to.
WHAT’S WORKING
Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was subtly called out last week by Carroll. It wasn’t a direct condemnation, but the words Carroll used made it clear he expected changes.
Despite the improvement, Waldron’s fourth-down calls all failed in the fourth quarter where just one conversion might have changed the outcome.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Seattle and Dallas were the two most penalized teams in the league leading up to Thursday and they lived up to that billing. The Seahawks were flagged 10 times for 130 yards and several of them were significant to the outcome. Riq Woolen was called for a 47-yard pass interference. A disputed delay of game pushed a field-goal attempt from Jason Myers back 5 yards and he subsequently missed. Tre Brown was called for defensive holding and illegal contact on the same drive.
That looked like the version of Smith that earned accolades last season. He was quick to get the ball out of his hands. He trusted his wide receivers. He made some terrific throws when facing pressure and counterpunched almost every big play made by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. If Seattle can get performances like that from Smith the next two weeks, it’ll have a chance against two top opponents.
STOCK DOWN
Jamal Adams played all but one snap and finished with 10 tackles. But it was not a good game for Adams. There were a handful of tackles Adams appeared to miss, but the moment that stood out came when he was unable to find the ball on Jake Ferguson’s 12-yard TD catch with 4:37 left that proved to be the deciding score. Adams was not in position and flailed late trying to deflect the pass. It was not a good look.
Seattle came out of the loss with two injuries of note, although the significance of either is still to be determined. Starting linebacker Jordyn Brooks suffered a sprained ankle that didn’t allow him to play in the second half. Brooks was in for just 26 plays but did manage to pick up a sack.
Running back Zach Charbonnet suffered a knee bruise in the fourth quarter on one of Seattle’s failed fourth-down attempts.
Carroll also did not have an updated timeline on starting running back Kenneth Walker III, who has missed the past two games with an oblique injury.
KEY NUMBER
36-1 — Seattle had been unbeaten under Carroll when scoring at least 35 points in a game. The last time Seattle lost when scoring 35 points was Week 17 of 2007, when it dropped a 44-41 game at Atlanta. Carroll lost only one game as a college head coach when allowing 35 or more points — the 2005 BCS title game vs. Texas when USC lost 41-38.
NEXT STEPS
The Seahawks get an extended weekend off, but the challenge only gets more difficult. Seattle travels to San Francisco on Dec. 10, a team has won four straight in the series and thumped the Seahawks 31-13 on Thanksgiving.
