SEATTLE: Now that the chances of the postseason are gone, the debate has switched toward the future of the Seattle Seahawks.
Was this season a one-year aberration? Or was it several years of minor and major missteps finally catching up with the franchise and a more significant change is needed?
Whatever the answer ends up being, there is a strong chance Seattles home finale on Sunday against the Detroit Lions is the last time some of the Seahawks’ core pieces are together on their home field.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll believes this year is an outlier and a restart is needed rather than a rebuild. But theres no guarantee that if Seattles ownership decides for a wholesale change that Carroll will be the one engineering those changes.
The same goes for quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, which makes for a strange atmosphere surrounding Sundays game.
A lot of times when youre in this situation, you start to get reflective, Wagner said. You start thinking about what you couldve done right the previous weeks and you start thinking about what the future is going to hold.
For his part, Wilson at least acknowledged this week that any changes the Seahawks (5-10) make could include him, while stating his desire to stay.
For me personally, I hope its not my last game (in Seattle), but at the same time, I know wont be my last game in NFL, Wilson said.
While Seattles future seems to be in limbo, the Lions feel (2-12-1) somewhat optimistic about their direction, especially with how theyve played in recent weeks.
Two weeks ago was the thorough home pummeling of Arizona, at the time the leaders of the NFC West. Last week, Detroit had its chances against Atlanta despite playing without starting quarterback Jared Goff and leading rusher DAndre Swift. Tim Boyles pass for Kalif Raymond in the end zone was intercepted by Atlanta with 33 seconds left of a 20-16 loss.
Swift is expected to return this week after missing four games with a shoulder injury, but Goff is uncertain and Boyle could make his second straight start. Boyle was 24 of 34 for 187 yards, one touchdown and the late interception against the Falcons.
I felt like I saw the field really well. I felt like I was making quick, almost at times too quick decisions,” Boyle said. It didnt hurt me, but there were opportunities if I were a little bit more patient.
MORE THAN A PENNY
Rashaad Penny continues to make a strong case that he should be part of Seattles plans going into next season even though hes about to become a free agent.
Penny rushed for a career-best 137 yards three weeks ago against Houston, and followed up with 135 yards rushing last week against Chicago. What has been impressive is Pennys ability to break out big runs despite his limited carries. He has six runs of 15 or more yards this season, five coming in the past three games.
You have to be thrilled about what he looks like. He has been active, tough, creative, explosive, so we just want to go play football again, Carroll said.
CAMPBELL THE GAMBLER
The Lions have gone for it on fourth down more than any other team in the NFL, and theyre on the verge of setting an NFL record. This year alone, the Lions have attempted a league-high 36 fourth-down attempts, just three off the record set by the New England Patriots in 1995.
I want to send a message that were playing to win and were not playing to lose and there is a time to be conservative and there is a time to be aggressive, Lions coach Dan Campbell said. And so its just, I think, a little more in my nature to roll the dice, if you will. But I still feel like its calculated risk.
Last week, the Lions went 3 for 4 on fourth down, with their only failed conversion a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. For the season, the Lions are converting 50% of their fourth-down attempts, ranking 17th in the league.
WAGNER WATCH
Wagner is trying to set a mark for tackles in a season thatll be tough to match in the future.
He leads the league with 170 tackles and has already surpassed the franchise record he set in 167 in 2017. According to the Seahawks, Wagner needs six tackles to post the most by any player in the league since 2000.
Wagner would need two big games, but its not completely out of the question he could get to 200 by the end of the season.
WEST COAST BLUES
The Lions havent won a game on the West Coast in 10 years. Theyre 0-7 in their last seven games played in the Pacific time zone.
Campbell brushed off any travel concerns but acknowledged that Seattle where the Lions havent won since 1999 presents a unique challenge to the visiting team.
Thats a tough place to play. It has been for years, Campbell said. Its a tough environment. You cant hear yourself think, and theyve been a relentless group offensively and defensively.
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