Seattle Seahawks: Studs and duds vs. Buccaneers in Week 9
By Samuel Teets
Stud: Tyler Lockett, WR
At this rate, Lockett will make his first Pro Bowl this season. Even without Doug Baldwin flanking him, Lockett has thrived as Russell Wilson’s top target. Lockett has transformed from a speedy return specialist and a deep ball threat to a true No. 1 receiver. There is no situation in which Wilson cannot rely on Lockett.
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Against the Buccaneers, Lockett took over the game. He recorded 13 receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns. D.K. Metcalf also had a career day, catching six passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. The duo of Lockett and Metcalf have worked well together this season and the top of Seattle’s receiving depth chart looks set for the near future.
Dud: Pass coverage
In the previous two weeks, Winston threw three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He entered Week 9 with 14 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Either the competent version of Winston showed up on Sunday, which is possible considering he’s had other good games this season, or Seattle’s secondary dropped the ball. It’s likely a mixture of the two.
Winston torched the Seahawks for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 65.91 percent of his pass attempts and finished the game with a 103.9 passer rating. Those are all above average totals for Winston this season.
Seattle didn’t just struggle against the passing game in general though. They especially struggled against Mike Evans, Tampa Bay’s top wide receiver, who went off for 12 receptions, 180 yards, and a touchdown. A late-game miscommunication even left Evans wide open. Evans caught the pass and got Tampa Bay down to Seattle’s goal line and the drive ended in a game-tying score.
By this point in the season, it’s obvious that Seattle’s pass defense is the team’s greatest weakness. Unless the Seahawks can find some solution to this problem, they will struggle in the postseason against the NFL’s best quarterbacks.