Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots turned seasons around after losses to Chiefs
Nov 16, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws while being pressured by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) and outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier in the season, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks seemed to be on the road to irrelevance, according to many experts. ESPN’s Trent Dilfer blatantly stated that the Patriots “are not good anymore” (he later admitted he was wrong, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that almost everyone counted the Patriots out early).
After the first month of the season, the Patriots were 2-2 and had two unconvincing victories over Minnesota and Oakland. Seattle, meanwhile, ended September with a 2-1 record — the defense hadn’t played very well, giving up 30 points to San Diego.
For New England, the loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 4 seemed to be the game that would signal decline of the Tom Brady era. Brady missed easy throws all night and, although most experts wouldn’t say because Brady is Brady, made poor reads and horrific decisions which resulted in interceptions. The Patriots gave up 41 points, but a lot of those were because of turnovers that set Kansas City up with excellent field position. The Chiefs’ defense also scored.
Seattle started the season 3-3 until they won three straight before they went to Kansas City with a 6-3 record. The Seahawks didn’t get blown out like New England did. Although it was an interconference game, it was still a big game for both teams. Kansas City, with a win, improved to 7-3 and looked primed to make a run in the AFC for the playoffs (that, of course, didn’t happen), and people started to count the Seahawks out of contention, as Arizona had a 9-1 record.
Despite what seemed to be crushing losses for both teams, the Patriots and Seahawks turned it around after those losses at Kansas City.
New England is 12-2 since that game, with a loss at Green Bay with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, and a meaningless loss (the team had already clinched the first seed) to Buffalo in Week 17. The team bounced back the following week with an impressive 43-17 victory over Cincinnati.
The Patriots’ offense averaged 20 points per game in its first four games, culminating in the Kansas City game, but has averaged 33 points per game since then.
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Seattle hasn’t lost a game since losing at Kansas City. The team is a perfect 8-0, with impressive victories against the Cardinals (twice), Eagles, and the comeback win over Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game — although it took some fortunate bounces.
The Seahawks’ defense has made a monumental improvement after the Chiefs game. In Seattle’s first ten games, including the contest at Kansas City, the team was giving up 21.5 points per game, a full seven points more than what it was giving up last season.
Since the loss at Kansas City, Seattle has been giving up just 9.8 points per game (including playoffs), and from weeks 12 to 17, after the Week 11 Kansas City game, just 6.5 points per game. Seattle has also held five opponents to seven or less points since that point. Those numbers easily lead the league.
The Seahawks’ defense has stepped up and so has the Patriots’ offense. I’m not sure what it was about losing to the Chiefs that ignited both teams, but they have been playing exceptional football since they lost to the Kansas City team. The Super Bowl matchup between Seattle’s defense and New England’s offense — the two units that have caught fire — should be fun to watch.