False starts are so boring. They are the person in your friend group who interrupts a series of fun moments in a night out with a non sequitur story that halts all rhythm. They are the rental car counter you must visit before your vacation really begins. Unlike many other penalties, they keep a play from even happening, so you do not even get to see what was about to happen. Seahawks fans have managed to find a way to make them entertaining over the years by causing more than any other home crowd (at least since 2005, according to the broadcast yesterday). I was there when the Giants were harassed into 11 false starts. It was far from boring. It was a thrilling action movie. What folks did to the Panthers at Lumen Field yesterday was a comedy. I have never laughed so hard watching an NFL game.
Carolina was not only guilty of eight false start penalties (most in the NFL since 2011), but they were some of the most egregious faults you will ever see. Multiple offensive linemen jumped out of their stances as Andy Dalton walked up to the line of scrimmage. I had never seen that even happen once. It happened multiple times in this game.
But like your favorite new flavor of ice cream, once you know it exists, you want more. Dalton added to the fun by looking so damn annoyed each time. It was like his hair glowed brighter red as the game went on. Who knew the NFL could hilarious? That was not the only funny first. The Panthers had a false start on a punt. I have watched thousands of football games in my life at this point, and have never seen someone false start on a punt.
The Seahawks hardly earned the bedlam caused by the crowd in the first half of the game that saw them trailing the lowly Panthers. Geno Smith had an awful half, throwing an interception and making numerous other bad decisions that could have led to additional turnovers if not for heroic efforts by Tyler Lockett. The offense settled for four short field goals. If false starts are boring, Myers is often infuriating, so less of him is always preferred.
The defense was largely doing what you would expect from a Seahawks defense in the past six years, they were surrendering far too much yardage, especially on third down, to a terrible offensive team with absolutely no weapons.
It was less than a year ago that Sam Darnold came in here and clobbered Seattle. At least Seattle chose a different form of humiliation in this game. Instead of being physically overpowered in the run game, they let AARP member Adam Thielen go off for 145 yards and a touchdown. You can almost be certain that will his biggest game of the season.
A blown coverage led to an easy touchdown to another mid receiver, DJ Chark. It was unclear if the error was Mike Jackson’s playing man when others were in zone or Quandre Diggs not getting proper depth in his zone. Either way, it was appalling.
Jackson was in the game because of an injury to start Tre Brown (concussion), who was starting because of an injury to Riq Woolen. That was not the only set of compounding injuries. Dre’Mont Jones left (hip) at a position where Seattle already lost Mike Morris for the season. Darrell Taylor exited (shin) to reduce pass rush further (or did it?). An offensive line that was already missing their starting tackles and their starting right guard, lost Damien Lewis (hand) for much of the game.
This is not a normal amount of injuries to face in week three of the season. That early bye week may be a good thing after all.
Pete Carroll did provide some good news after the game, indicating that Woolen, Jamal Adams, and Charles Cross could all be back for Monday Night Football in New York.
The offensive line has performed pretty darn well in the face of all these missing bodies. Massive rookie Anthony Bradford got his first start in place of Phil Haynes. He had some predictably bad moments, but seemed to hold up okay. Evan Brown continues to do a good job in the middle. The tackles appeared to play better in the second half after struggling mightily against the quality edge rushers the Panthers feature in the first half. The exit of Frankie Luvu likely was part of the story there.
Smith had a remarkable amount of time in the pocket on a few different plays. He was a different player after halftime, completing almost every pass and making far fewer poor decisions. It may not be a coincidence that the running game got untracked as well.
Zach Charbonnet continued to progress to a new high water mark each week of his career. He flashed a few times against Detroit last week after being absent in week one, and then flashed a lot in this game. He delivered one of the most vicious hits of the game when he sent a Panthers defender back to Carolina near the goal line. This Seahawks team needs more physical dominance. You would prefer it in the trenches, but anywhere will do, and Charbonnet may be the best bet.
He looked like the perfect compliment to Kenneth Walker that the team envisioned when using such a high pick on him. Walker is more improvisational and a breakaway threat. Charbonnet is the hammer, who runs decisively. Walker runs around tackles. Charbonnet runs through them. Both shined in this game.
Seattle nearly doubled their season-high in rush yards with 146. Walker had 97, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Charbonnet had 46 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The Panthers are a bad run defense, but Seattle has faced poor run defenses before and managed to do little. That they did it with basically one starter on the offensive line makes it more impressive.
The best position group on the team so far this season might be the tight ends. Noah Fant continues to be a much better player this year than last. Colby Parkinson had one facepalm drop on a big play, but otherwise was productive as well. Fant and Parkinson are on pace to combine for nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 80 receptions on the season. That does not even include Will Dissly, who missed this game due to injury.
As much as we all want Jaxon Smith-Njigba to emerge, the offense seems to work best right now when featuring more tight ends and few three receiver sets. That may change once the offensive tackles return to protect the edge without as much help.
DK Metcalf had a nice day, playing through pain to eclipse 100 yards.
The players who got my attention the most, ironically, were on the defense that gave up 27 points and 378 yards to what might be the worst offense in the NFL.
Devon Witherspoon played a terrific game. He led the team in tackles from the corner position. That typically only happens when you are the player surrendering a lot of receptions and then tackling your opponent. That was not the case here. Witherspoon gave up almost no receptions on the day. His tackles were coming in run support and teammate support.
He had a terrific hit, where he flew in and knocked a Panther out of bounds. He broke up three passes. Although, one was whistled for an awful defensive pass interference penalty. He had a chance at an interception, but the receiver pushed him (no flag). Witherspoon is looking sticky in coverage, and capable of making the big knockaway on high leverage situations. God knows the Seahawks need all the help they can get stopping opponents on 3rd down.
Things could get really interesting when Woolen returns and Brown is healthy. I still see Witherspoon as a special playmaker in the nickel, who could add more blitzing and possibly more interception opportunities from that spot, while Brown plays outside.
Artie Burns deserves a shout for another solid game himself. He is a large upgrade over Coby Bryant.
The other two players who flashed in this game were Jarran Reed and Boye Mafe. Reed had 1.5 sacks, but like Witherspoon, impressed with his tackle total. You do not normally see a defensive tackle tally 8 tackles in the box score. Reed was everywhere Sunday.
Mafe got extra snaps when Taylor went out and was immediately effective as a pass rusher. Taylor may see fewer snaps even when he returns from injury.
This was not a great win. It was a win. Seattle has a chance to really point this season in the right direction by beating a flawed Giants team on their home field in prime time. They then get a bye week to get healthy. Let us hope it is anything but boring.