Perhaps a Home Loss Was Just What This Team Truly Needed ...

[Hawkscanner]

I've been thinking through this quite a bit since the game ended ... and I'm starting to think that perhaps this loss might have been the best thing that could have happened to Seattle. While some of the mystique and invulnerability of Century Link might have lost a bit of its luster yesterday ... this could turn out to be a good thing for several reasons:

1) It's a resounding signal to the players that Century Link Field itself will not win the game for you. Who cares if you haven't lost at home in 2 years. You've got to bring your A game and play Mach 3 with your hair on fire all night long. If you don't, you CAN lose -- even at home. Better to emphasize that lesson right now rather than the playoffs.

2) It's also a clear message to Darrell Bevell and the rest of the coaches that a highly conservative game plan (with an offensive line that's been struggling) just doesn't work well against a good defense like the Cardinals have. If you're going to be a Championship Team ... you've got to have championship play calling.

3) There had been a lot of talk about, "Can this team maintain focus if they clinch this weekend?" That is certainly out the window now. They are in a situation, in a sense, with their backs against the wall. If they lose next weekend, they can probably kiss the #1 Seed goodbye. This team needs to maintain that same sense of urgency -- If we don't bring our A Game today, we're finished -- from here on out.

4) I haven't checked out a lot of national post game commentary, but I'm guessing there is a whole lot of the national pundits who are pointing to the flaws in this Seahawks team and jumping off the bandwagon. The Seahawks are a team that NEEDS that chip on their shoulder -- that everyone out there is disrespecting us -- kind of thing.

Thoughts?

 

[Polaris]

Wasn't the San Fran loss supposed to be "what this team really needed too?"

Didn't buy it then, and I'm not buying it now. What I can't get over is we've had the chance to put this division away TWICE and we've played some of our worst offensive football each time. It's becoming a very troubling pattern and one that makes me question if this team really is different from the same-old-seahawks of yesteryear.

Frankly at this moment, I had far more confidence in the 2005 team to win than this team.

 

[AbsolutNET]

I think this team needed to wrap up the division and home field advantage, and prove that they are a force. Instead, we have even more questions and concerns than we did a week ago and have to deal with a tough Rams D that will be playing their hearts out to spoil the playoffs for us.

I understand your logic, but think it's just rationalizing something bad. A win would have been better. Hopefully we do have the kind of team that will respond in the manner you are suggesting though. We'll find out next week what they're really made of.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I don't understand when people blame Bevell for being "conservative."

The Hawks lead the league in explosive plays. The problems arise when we play very good defensive teams that have the personnel to contain Wilson, bottle up Lynch and press cover our midget receivers that can't get open. For all the love we give Baldwin, Tate and now Kearse.........the TRUTH is they're all three undersized with average speed. Tate is a notch better because of what he can do after the catch. But that requires him to GET OPEN first.

Yesterday had nothing to do with Bevell being conservative, it had to do with Arizona's defense sticking their foots up our asses and our offense's inability to make plays.

 

[Mtjhoyas]

Part of me completely agrees with you and the other part thinks you are sugar coating some major flaws with this team.

I agree that these guys play better with a chip and that everybody hopping off the wagon (nationally) could be a great thing.

The other part is that I think our offense is getting exposed as a below average unit. It's hard to name a player who is playing well on that side. They have to figure it out because this offense (right now) can't win a playoff game IMO. There's way too much stress on the Defense to expect them to carry the burden for 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[TwistedHusky]

At this point, it is probably that a few fundamental weaknesses and tendencies of this team are being exploited.

It is also likely that some of our players have lost focus a bit (I am seeing a lot of interviews of some of our players and wondering just how the distractions are impacting them, under it all they are not robots they are human beings).

Finally, just like everything that has peaks and valleys, we are witnessing some of our people have a few dips in productivity just as some of our other people are getting hurt or worn down. And guys like Harvin that should be coming in a spelling them, aren't.

We didn't "need" the loss. We were due the loss because some of the slump has been masked by some of the play of the rest of the team. The defense has saved the offense a few times this year (Carolina, Houston, etc) but yesterday was one of their best games that they just could not save.

Plenty of teams have "bad" losses and go on to win the Superbowl. Most Superbowl team, however, do have momentum going into the playoffs and it is an ill omen that we do not. Based on that, you almost have to pick the 49ers or Carolina to go all the way because those are the two teams have have been playing the best going into the playoffs for the NFC.

It doesn't look good for us, hence the teeth gnashing. It isn't impossible but it doesn't look good.

 

[NFSeahawks]

I've been thinking through this quite a bit since the game ended ... and I'm starting to think that perhaps this loss might have been the best thing that could have happened to Seattle. While some of the mystique and invulnerability of Century Link might have lost a bit of its luster yesterday ... this could turn out to be a good thing for several reasons:

1) It's a resounding signal to the players that Century Link Field itself will not win the game for you. Who cares if you haven't lost at home in 2 years. You've got to bring your A game and play Mach 3 with your hair on fire all night long. If you don't, you CAN lose -- even at home. Better to emphasize that lesson right now rather than the playoffs.

2) It's also a clear message to Darrell Bevell and the rest of the coaches that a highly conservative game plan (with an offensive line that's been struggling) just doesn't work well against a good defense like the Cardinals have. If you're going to be a Championship Team ... you've got to have championship play calling.

3) There had been a lot of talk about, "Can this team maintain focus if they clinch this weekend?" That is certainly out the window now. They are in a situation, in a sense, with their backs against the wall. If they lose next weekend, they can probably kiss the #1 Seed goodbye. This team needs to maintain that same sense of urgency -- If we don't bring our A Game today, we're finished -- from here on out.

4) I haven't checked out a lot of national post game commentary, but I'm guessing there is a whole lot of the national pundits who are pointing to the flaws in this Seahawks team and jumping off the bandwagon. The Seahawks are a team that NEEDS that chip on their shoulder -- that everyone out there is disrespecting us -- kind of thing.

Thoughts?

Good points scanner, I really kinda hope the experts do jump off the bandwagon never liked them to begin with.

Also it's not weird to think that the Cardinals will beat the 49ers at home is it? I'm not convinced the 49ers are going to win out, I'm convinced they'll beat the Falcons though.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Most Superbowl team, however, do have momentum going into the playoffs and it is an ill omen that we do not. Based on that, you almost have to pick the 49ers or Carolina to go all the way because those are the two teams have have been playing the best going into the playoffs for the NFC.

It doesn't look good for us, hence the teeth gnashing. It isn't impossible but it doesn't look good.

Really? Ravens just last year? Sorry, but no.

 

[Polaris]

Most Superbowl team, however, do have momentum going into the playoffs and it is an ill omen that we do not. Based on that, you almost have to pick the 49ers or Carolina to go all the way because those are the two teams have have been playing the best going into the playoffs for the NFC.

It doesn't look good for us, hence the teeth gnashing. It isn't impossible but it doesn't look good.

Really? Ravens just last year? Sorry, but no.

Agreed. The meme of momentum into the playoffs is a myth. It turns out that how well you do in december is a suprisingly poor indicator (either way) of how well you do in January in the Playoffs.

 

[Hawkpower]

At this point, it is probably that a few fundamental weaknesses and tendencies of this teantum going into the playoffs and it is an ill omen that we do not. Based on that, you almost have to pick the 49ers or Carolina to go all the way because those are the two teams have have been playing the best going into the playoffs for the NFC.

It doesn't look good for us, hence the teeth gnashing. It isn't impossible but it doesn't look good.

The momentum/bad loss/etc stuff has been proven wrong with so many examples on this board I dont know why it keeps getting brought up.

we are a win/49er loss away from having the #1 seed, and we are tied for the best record in the league and it "doesn't look good" ???

Please.

Your old Dawgman posts werent nearly so depressing lol.

 

[Hawkpower]

I've been thinking through this quite a bit since the game ended ... and I'm starting to think that perhaps this loss might have been the best thing that could have happened to Seattle. While some of the mystique and invulnerability of Century Link might have lost a bit of its luster yesterday ... this could turn out to be a good thing for several reasons:

1) It's a resounding signal to the players that Century Link Field itself will not win the game for you. Who cares if you haven't lost at home in 2 years. You've got to bring your A game and play Mach 3 with your hair on fire all night long. If you don't, you CAN lose -- even at home. Better to emphasize that lesson right now rather than the playoffs.

2) It's also a clear message to Darrell Bevell and the rest of the coaches that a highly conservative game plan (with an offensive line that's been struggling) just doesn't work well against a good defense like the Cardinals have. If you're going to be a Championship Team ... you've got to have championship play calling.

3) There had been a lot of talk about, "Can this team maintain focus if they clinch this weekend?" That is certainly out the window now. They are in a situation, in a sense, with their backs against the wall. If they lose next weekend, they can probably kiss the #1 Seed goodbye. This team needs to maintain that same sense of urgency -- If we don't bring our A Game today, we're finished -- from here on out.

4) I haven't checked out a lot of national post game commentary, but I'm guessing there is a whole lot of the national pundits who are pointing to the flaws in this Seahawks team and jumping off the bandwagon. The Seahawks are a team that NEEDS that chip on their shoulder -- that everyone out there is disrespecting us -- kind of thing.

Thoughts?

Good points scanner, I really kinda hope the experts do jump off the bandwagon never liked them to begin with.

Also it's not weird to think that the Cardinals will beat the 49ers at home is it? I'm not convinced the 49ers are going to win out, I'm convinced they'll beat the Falcons though.

According to some here, the Niners ALWAYS win games they are supposed to....and the 10-5 Cards are garbage 8)

 

[Kixkahn]

Yesterday and the 49ers game I was watching the game and asking who in the heck is on the field. It was like an entirely different offense than what we had gotten used to. I don't know who or why they just seemed different. I hope they go and watch the games like Texans and Bucs, those I think would make a great example of the determined offense we have had most of the season. I don't really see the same determination of the offense I saw before. Lets hope for a week of reviewing and reminding themselves of why we are 12 and 3 when some games we were behind quite a bit.