The Seattle Seahawks’ early season shine has faded fast. After an undefeated run through the first three weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the team has now dropped three consecutive games, the latest being a 36-24 defeat at the hands of division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, on Thursday Night Football.
Head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t hold back when addressing the team’s struggles post-game. The first-year coach, visibly frustrated, made it clear that the current level of play isn’t acceptable for a team aiming to contend.
“Message to the team is we have the people in the building with our players, our coaches, to become a really good football team,” Macdonald stated, per Curtis Crabtree of FOX 13 Seattle. “And right now we’re coming up short.”
He didn’t sugarcoat the situation either. “We’re just not doing the things that good football teams do to win football games, and so we’re going to attack it,” Macdonald said, as reported by The Associated Press. “We’re going to take a breather here and really go back and dissect the heck out of this thing.”
The Seahawks’ recent struggles come as no surprise given the tough slate of opponents they’ve faced, including the Lions, Giants, and now the 49ers. However, as a rookie head coach, Macdonald is experiencing the inevitable growing pains, and the team’s rapid decline has only amplified the pressure.
A Game of Two Halves
Thursday night’s contest against the 49ers highlighted Seattle’s inconsistency. The 49ers controlled the first half, marching into halftime with a commanding 16-3 lead. San Francisco extended their dominance immediately after the break, quickly pushing the score to 23-3. However, the Seahawks showed a spark of resilience with Laviska Shenault Jr. igniting the team by returning a 97-yard kickoff for a touchdown. This electrifying play seemed to breathe new life into Seattle, who scored 21 of their 24 points in the second half.
Despite the comeback attempt, the Seahawks’ offense struggled mightily on the ground. They rushed 20 times for a mere 52 yards, with Kenneth Walker III contributing just 32 yards on 14 carries—a woeful output against one of the NFC’s elite teams.
Players Remain Optimistic Amid Adversity
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins remains hopeful despite the team’s rough patch. “We have the right guys in the room to get the job done. We just really have to be real and accountable,” Jenkins expressed. “And as long as we do that, we should be OK. But it has to happen sooner than later.”
At 3-3, Seattle is still in the mix in the NFC West, but the team’s recent form leaves little room for error moving forward. With a long weekend to regroup, the Seahawks must now focus on their Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, a game that could determine whether they rise above mediocrity or continue their slide down the standings.
