Reporter Bob Condotta grades the Seahawks’ loss to the Bucs in Munich

MUNICH — With a season of simply 17 video games, each single Sunday can really feel like a referendum on your complete workforce.

But Seattle coach Pete Carroll spoke a common reality of the NFL following Sunday’s 21-16 loss right here to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I would just say that it’s really hard to win them all, to win every game,” Carroll stated. “We got up against a team that played really well against us. We weren’t able to overcome it.”

So, is the bloom off the rose of a Seattle protection that during the last month had astonishingly remodeled itself from one of many worst within the NFL to among the finest?

Is there immediately one thing unsuitable with a Seattle operating sport that was additionally a key to the four-game successful streak snapped by Tampa Bay?

The recommendation right here is to not panic. It was a novel week, setting and scenario, and Tom Brady is Tom Brady. And Seattle, not less than, will get the struggling Raiders at residence after a bye.

But Sunday undoubtedly had some ugly moments which can be mirrored within the grades.

Quarterback

This wasn’t Geno Smith’s finest day as a Seahawk, and for some time, it appeared prefer it could be amongst his worst. But he acquired zero assist from his operating sport. In his 13^th begin as a Seahawk, he actually mirrored the long-held character of this workforce by overcoming a tough begin to nearly pull it out in the long run, making a pair throws few others within the NFL can and ending 23-of-33 for 275 yards, two TDs and one other stellar score of 115.1. The fumble is unforgivable.

Grade: C.

Running again

Only one operating again touched the ball all sport — rookie Kenneth Walker III, who was held to 17 yards on 10 carries. He’d averaged 91 in his earlier 4 begins. The subject was slick for everyone, nevertheless it felt prefer it impacted Walker greater than most. The grade shall be higher than the stats as a result of Walker had little area to run and since he confirmed quite a bit within the passing sport with six receptions for 55 yards, together with a 23-yarder that sparked Seattle’s first TD drive within the fourth quarter.

Grade: C.

Wide receiver

As with Smith, the stats for his receivers turned out quite a bit higher than the sport appeared for thus lengthy. Marquise Goodwin’s late TD exhibits why he may be so worthwhile to this workforce as a No. 3 WR, Tyler Lockett was clutch within the fourth quarter, and DK Metcalf ended up with a decent trying sport — 6-71. But Metcalf has to keep away from performs like his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that would have value Seattle three factors at a time when it was clinging to something for hope.

Grade: C.

Tight finish

Like every little thing else, the tight ends got here on within the second half and made you marvel the place they’d been the primary half. After only one catch from this group within the first half (Noah Fant for 15), the primary two performs of the second half went to Will Dissly for 28, and Fant and Colby Parkinson every had catches within the TD drives.

Grade: C-plus.

Offensive line

This appeared like one of many harder days for a gaggle that has been steadily enhancing of late. Seattle won’t ever win a lot speeding for simply 39 yards and principally giving up on the run within the second half. Smith was sacked thrice. Damien Lewis additionally drew a private foul on Seattle’s second possession that moved the Seahawks again into Tampa Bay territory on a collection that resulted in a punt.

Grade: D.

Defensive line

So what the heck occurred right here? The Seahawks had been chewed up alive by what got here into the sport because the worst operating assault within the NFL. Plus, Brady was by no means sacked and hit simply as soon as. True, Brady will get the ball out quick. And run protection is a workforce effort and never simply primarily based on the trouble of the fellows up entrance. But giving up 161 yards speeding to a workforce that hadn’t had greater than 75 because the first sport of the season (when the Bucs rushed for 152) all signifies an enormous step again for this group. It’s price noting the Seahawks made 345-pound nostril sort out Bryan Mone inactive in issue of the lighter and faster Myles Adams and questioning if Mone might need helped on the 4 third downs of 1 or 2 yards that Tampa Bay picked up on the bottom.

Grade: D.

Linebacker

Nobody on protection is prone to grade out too effectively, and the linebackers are prone to be no completely different. That Seattle had only one tackle-for-loss speaks approach too loudly. There had been vibrant spots. Jordyn Brooks dropped a possible interception early within the second quarter however had made a great play to get into place for the go protection within the first place. Cody Barton made nearly the very same play within the fourth quarter on a play when he was at Brooks’ MLB spot with Brooks coping with cramps, selecting off Brady to present Seattle life when the sport appeared over.

Grade: C-minus.

Secondary

A tough day right here, too, save for the spotlight of Tariq Woolen’s interception on Tampa Bay’s ill-advised choice to ship Brady out for a go. There was blatant miscommunication of some type on the primary TD, the 31-yarder to Julio Jones, and Seattle acquired only one different go protection from anybody within the secondary. There additionally gave the impression to be just a few dangerous angles in run protection.

Grade: C-minus.

Special groups

The kicking not less than was good as Jason Myers hit a 55-yarder on a troublesome subject. Michael Dickson downed 4 of his 5 punts contained in the 20 and had a web of fifty.6. The dangerous news was that Tampa Bay took two of these downed punts to then go 88 and 86 yards for touchdowns.

Grade: B.