Seahawks Report Card: Top Performers From 30-13 Loss to Rams

Picking up just one first down in the second half and giving up over 400 yards to the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Seahawks laid an egg to open the 2023 season in a 30-13 loss at Lumen Field. Reporter Corbin Smith dishes out his top five grades and other notable performances from a Week 1 to forget.

Enduring a historic drought on offense in the second half with just 12 total yards, the Seattle Seahawks squandered a halftime lead and allowed 23 unanswered points to the Los Angeles Rams in an ugly 30-13 season-opening loss on Sunday.

Though it was a brutal showing on both sides of the ball in the final two quarters, several players still played well for Seattle in defeat. Here are my five top grades and other notable performances from a disappointing Week 1 effort at Lumen Field:

RB/KR DeeJay Dallas

Overall Grade: 86.0 (Rushing 80, Receiving 90, Pass Blocking 70, Kick Return 90)

*Pass blocking weighted for two pass protection snaps

Though he only played 11 offensive snaps and most of that playing time came before halftime when the Seahawks actually ran a functional offense, Dallas made the most of every opportunity in Sunday's defeat when he had the ball in his hands. Shortly after Jarran Reed blocked a field goal and Seattle took over with great field position in Los Angeles territory, he caught a swing pass from Geno Smith and turned upfield for a 14-yard gain and a first down. On special teams, he made a nifty 18-yard punt return into opposing territory early in the second quarter, setting up Jason Myers' second field goal to give the team a 13-7 lead. He also had a 34-yard kick return late in the game, showing quality burst and vision though the outcome already had been decided.

EDGE Boye Mafe

Overall Grade: 85.0 (Run Defense 94, Pass Rush 76, Tackling 86)

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Despite spending time in the blue injury tent in the first quarter for evaluation of a knee issue, Mafe remained in the game and built off a strong preseason displaying his enhanced playmaking instincts, racking up three run stops netting two or fewer yards. This included a six-yard tackle for loss where he rocketed into the backfield from the backside to corral Cam Akers and stuffing him on an earlier run for no gain. Finishing with five tackles, he played a key role in limiting the Rams to under 2.5 yards per carry and set a firm edge all afternoon long. In the pass rushing department, like the rest of his edge rushing counterparts, Mafe wasn't able to get much done, but did generate a pressure on Matthew Stafford.

RB Ken Walker III

Overall Grade: 84.0 (Rushing 92, Receiving 76, Pass Blocking 82)

*Pass blocking weighted for two pass protection snaps

Similar to Dallas, Walker barely played after halftime with the Seahawks unable to pick up first downs and sustain drives, receiving three carries in the final two quarters. But the explosive second-year back was a catalyst for Seattle's final two scoring drives in the first half, including ripping off 38 yards on his final four carries. Running with speed and power, he produced a pair of 10-plus yard carries and also forced four missed tackles, including bowling over a linebacker moments before DK Metcalf scored the team's lone touchdown of the day. He average nearly 3.5 yards per carry after contact for the game, primarily doing his damage on off tackle outside zone runs. While a blown up screen impacted his receiving grade, he stepped up to successfully pick up a blitz on one of his pass protection reps, turning in an excellent opener.

LB Jordyn Brooks

Overall Grade: 83.0 (Run Defense 88, Tackling 86, Coverage 76)

Making a miraculous return from an ACL tear in less than eight and half months, Brooks earned the start alongside Bobby Wagner in the middle and turned in a steady 2023 debut. The fourth-year linebacker finished second on the team with 12 tackles, including five run stops netting one or fewer yards. On multiple occasions, he could be seen chasing down the ball in pursuit to the sideline, showing no ill effects from his injury mobility-wise. With the Rams attacking the middle of the field at the intermediate level as they always do, Brooks did give up a pair of receptions for 20 yards in his zone, but he also picked up crossers successfully on several occasions, particularly in the first half when the defense was able to get a few stops. While far from perfect, it was an encouraging performance coming off a severe injury.

TE Will Dissly

Overall Grade: 81.5 (Receiving 86, Run Blocking 80, Pass Blocking 75)

*Pass blocking weighted for one pass protection snap

Quietly turning in a strong effort in defeat, Dissly turned into a train with the ball in his hands after reeling in both of his catches, barreling through three defenders for broken tackles while creating 15 yards after the catch. Both receptions came on scoring drives in the second quarter, with one netting a new set of downs. Most importantly, Dissly was a major contributor in the run game as a blocker, helping spring Walker on his two longest runs off tackle. Unfortunately, he didn't get many opportunities to do the dirty work with just five run blocking plays, but he made the most of those chances and on a day where the Seahawks couldn't muster much offensively, he was one of the few bright spots albeit with a limited stat line and snap count.

Other Notable Performances

While Metcalf did make a nifty move off the line to come open for a 10-yard touchdown and recorded 47 receiving yards for the game, he also had a drop and wasn't able to get open in the second half, receiving a 77.5 grade. Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba also had disappointing debuts combining for 23 yards, with the veteran missing time in concussion evaluation and the rookie dropping one of his four targets on what would have been a first down, earning themselves 67.0 and 65.0 grades. Before exiting with injuries, Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas combined to give up one pressure in pass protection while being hit and miss in the run game, receiving solid 81.0 and 79.5 grades respectively. Subbing in for them, Stone Forysthe surrendered just one pressure on eight pass blocking chances, but Jake Curhan struggled badly allowing four pressures on nine pass sets.

Registering a pair of tackles for loss against the run and generating two quarterback pressures, Uchenna Nwosu narrowly missed out on a top-five grade with an 81.0 score on a good, if unspectacular outing. Bobby Wagner turned in several excellent tackles against the run, racking up nine tackles that netted two or fewer yards and a pair of tackles for loss, but he did allow four catches for 63 yards in coverage, lowering his overall grade to 78.5. Devin Bush was active rotating in with Brooks, producing a tackle and allowing one reception on three targets in coverage for a 78.0 score. In the secondary, Riq Woolen lucked out after getting beat downfield by Puka Nacua late in the fourth quarter, but he only allowed one catch for five yards to receive a 77.0 score. As for the rest of the secondary, Tre Brown endured a rough game allowing a 44-yard catch, missing two tackles, and committing a killer hands to the facemask penalty, receiving a 55.0 score. At safety, Quandre Diggs didn't allow a catch on two targets, but one of those plays was a dropped potential touchdown by Van Jefferson, leading to a 63.0 grade. Julian Love also had a challenging debut, surrendering a 31-yard catch to Tyler Higbee and missing a pair of tackles for 58.5 grade.