If we could catch the ball, it would have been a closer game.
Matt Hasselbeck threw as accurately as he had against the Saints, putting ball after ball exactly where it needed to be.
But our receivers kept dropping the pigskin.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates called the right plays. He knew we needed to throw to set up the run.
Our scheme was sound.
Our pass protection generally held up and gave Matt enough time to throw.
Our receivers generally got open.
But they could not catch the ball.
Our defensive backs had the same problem. Early in the game, Chicago led, 7-0. On first and goal, Jay Cutler zipped the ball to nickel back Jordan Babineaux.
Standing at Seattle's goal line, with no Bears between him and the opposite end zone, the player once known as Big Play Babs had a chance to make a 100-yard pick six, to reverse the momentum decisively and get his team back in the game.
Instead, he dropped the ball.
Late in the game, the Seahawks seemed to be mounting a comeback, having closed within 11 points. Rookie free safety Earl Thomas made a good read on a Jay Cutler pass, dashing across the field to cut in front of the intended receiver and attempt a leaping interception.
Unfortunately, Thomas mistimed his leap. He missed the ball. The pass sailed into the hands of Bears tight end Kellen Davis. Since the free safety had gambled and lost, there were no defenders to prevent Davis from scoring.
Even our "hands unit" failed. Olindo Mare's first onside kick rebounded off the knee of a Chicago player and bounced back toward Seattle's side. Three Seahawks had a chance to recover, and all three choked.
It was that kind of game.
Our defense did not play well.
We couldn't cover their receivers, and when we tried to pressure their quarterback, Cutler ran for first downs and scores, or burned us with screen passes.
Strong safety Lawyer Milloy set the tone early by letting tight end Greg Olsen run past him and catch a 58-yard touchdown bomb.
It is hard to imagine a more blatant violation of one's position responsibilities.
Milloy has been a vocal inspirational leader for the team this year, but he needs to lead by example on the field as well. Aging veterans who have lost a step are supposed to make up for it with smart play.
Several times this year, our coaches and athletes have identified Matt Hasselbeck as the team's best offensive player. Certainly, he rose to the occasion yesterday, throwing almost every pass precisely on-target. He did everything he could to help the Seahawks win.
If the rest of the team ever learns to match his level of focus and execution, we will go deeper into the playoffs.
While I have to feel our season ended more successfully than, say, New England or Atlanta fans probably feel about their team, I still find myself in a melancholy frame of mind, especially after hearing snippets of Hasslebeck's post-game interview. HE understood that the whole game represented a missed opportunity...a chance to do something very special (i.e. be a true under dog riding a wave of emotion all the way to the Super Bowl).
ReplyDeleteInstead, we fell short and end the season allowing pundits to say, "the Seahawks are who we thought they were."
Even though I am pleased that a team as shallow as ours (down to half a tight end!) made it as far as it did, we STILL had the ability to beat a fairly mediocre Bears team. But receivers that failed time and again to attack the ball (Mike Williams should be absolutely ashamed of his performance, TD receptions or not), defensive backs that failed to hustle and rise to the momentous occasion (NOT just Banineaux's drop)...this poor execution prevented us from achieving something special.
Even though we won the turnover battle and didn't make any costly penalties, we still "beat ourselves:" by failing to do what needed to be done. By failing to play to our potential...to the potential of the season.
And there's nothing that can be done now. No "do-overs." No "re-rolls." It's just over...a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a 7-9 team that shows, "yes, on any given Sunday, anything is possible," is GONE, evaporated on the wind, lost in the snow flurries at Soldier Field. THAT's the disappointment.
At least the ridiculous calls for benching Hasselbeck seem to be over (for now). Once again, he showed his champion's heart. I don't know what else he could have done to help the team win...man, it must be frustrating for the guy.
I feel good about the season as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been awesome to beat the Bears and host the Pack in the conference championship game.
But I felt like we were living on borrowed time. I thought we were done when we won the division. Beating the Saints was a nice surprise.
We had a shot at a Cinderella story for the ages, and we came up short.
But, compared to 4-12 and 5-11, I'll take 7-9, a division title, and a wild card win anytime.