Seattle Seahawks: Studs and duds vs. 49ers in Week 17
By Samuel Teets
With a top three seed on the line, the Seattle Seahawks came up less than a yard short against the San Francisco 49ers.
On fourth and goal, the Seattle Seahawks came up less than a yard short of scoring the game-winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers. If the Seahawks defeated their divisional rivals on Sunday Night Football, then Seattle would hold the third seed in the NFC. Instead, the 49ers hold the first seed, and Seattle sits in fifth place.
While the rematch was just as entertaining as when the teams clashed on Monday Night Football in Week 10, the result was different. The Seahawks escaped with a 27-24 overtime victory in the first meeting. However, San Francisco held onto a 26-21 lead in Week 17.
The playoff picture for the NFC came down to the final week, but all seeds are locked in now. San Francisco and the Green Bay Packers enjoy bye weeks during the first round of the playoffs. The third seed New Orleans Saints face the sixth seed Minnesota Vikings, and the Seahawks face the fourth seed Philadelphia Eagles during the Wild Card Round.
While there is plenty to look forward to next week, let’s take some time and reflect on the best and worst performances from Sunday night’s game.
Stud: Travis Homer, RB
The Seahawks drafted Homer in the sixth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. At Miami, Homer ran for 966 yards as a sophomore and 985 yards and a junior. His production made him draftable, but not a highly sought after player.
Rashaad Penny tore his ACL in Week 14. The 2018 first-round pick played a crucial role in Seattle’s games in Week 12 and 13. However, his season ended just as things began to fall into place.
In Week 16, Chris Carson suffered a hip injury that landed him on injured reserve. As Seattle’s starting running back, Carson carried the ball a career-high 278 times in 2019. His 1,230 rushing yards and 1,496 yards from scrimmage also set new marks. Despite not playing in Week 17, Carson finished the year with the fifth-most rushing yards in the NFL.
Seattle’s third-string running back, C.J. Prosise, also landed on IR after Week 16. The fourth-year running back suffered a broken arm. The string of injuries prompted Seattle to sign Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin, who both spent multiple years in Seattle.
Homer carried the ball only eight times before to Sunday Night’s game. Against San Francisco’s tough defense, Homer carried the ball ten times for 62 yards and caught five passes on five targets for 30 more yards. While he didn’t score or break any big plays, Homer’s outplayed his draft position on Sunday night.
Dud: Tyler Lockett, WR
Lockett didn’t have a terrible game. Putting him as a dud is a slight stretch, but the Seahawks were hoping for more out of their top receiver. Lockett did make six catches on seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown, but, with their regular running backs hurt, Seattle needed more from their receivers and the passing game as a whole in Week 17.
Lockett did finish the 2019 season with career-highs in receptions and receiving yards, but he struggled down the stretch for Seattle. During his final seven appearances of the season, Lockett made just 23 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns. In comparison, during his first nine games, Lockett made 59 receptions for 767 yards and six touchdowns.
However you look at the numbers, Lockett practically disappeared during the second half of Seattle’s season, and he only posted average numbers in Week 17.