- The offensive started quickly, stalled, but then finished in style.
Things looked good for Seattle’s offense at the start, with an efficient five-play attack that resulted in a touchdown in the first quarter, followed by a one-play scoring attack, a 71-yard touchdown by DK Metcalf
But while it looked like the Seahawks might be able to build a big lead, the offense went into a slump after those two points, failing to score in the second or third quarters and well into the fourth. A big problem for Seattle’s offense was a 3-for-11 conversion rate on third downs, a number that reflected both what happened on the first and second attempts and was a sign of how the Seahawks operated on third downs. Of the eight third downs the Seahawks missed, seven of them were third-and-15 or longer, the result of penalties, sacks and other bad plays that put the offense in nearly impossible situations.
However, the offense was able to pull itself together late in the game and put the win out of reach, driving 98 yards in 11 plays and scoring a touchdown. That drive followed a fourth-down stop by the defense and was the first.
And on a day when the defense was so dominant, a mixed day was enough for the offense to get the job done.
- DK Metcalf just keeps making great plays.
With the offense struggling to sustain offense beyond the first quarter, DK Metcalf didn’t have as productive a day as he did in Week 2, when he caught 10 passes for 129 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. But Metcalf was able to show once again that he can make game-winning plays even when given limited opportunities.
Metcalf’s biggest play came as time expired in the first quarter, scoring a 71-yard touchdown that gave the Seahawks a two-point lead they would never relinquish. He also caught a 22-yard pass over cornerback Kendall Fuller, who was in great position to make a play. That catch helped set up an eventual touchdown run by Zach Charbonnet.
Thanks to these plays, Metcalf reached 104 yards on four catches, his second consecutive 100-yard game.
