Seattle Seahawks Smothered by Baltimore Ravens in Blowout Loss
The Seattle Seahawks had a chance to prove their championship legitimacy in Sunday's Week 9 meeting with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium but instead were smacked silly in a 37-3 blowout loss to one of the league's best teams.
The Seahawks (5-3) mustered only 151 yards of offense against an elite Ravens (7-2) defense that forced a pair of key first-half turnovers. Seattle also only had 28 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was responsible for both of these giveaways. He went 13 of 28 passing for 157 yards, but had one interception and lost a fumble. He found rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba six times for a team-best 63 receiving yards.
The Ravens gashed Seattle's stout defense with 298 rushing yards. Running back Gus Edwards powered in a pair of first-half touchdowns while rookie running back Keaton Mitchell came out of nowhere with nine carries for 138 yards and a 40-yard touchdown.
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium.
© Jessica Rapfogel, USA TODAY
The Ravens were led again by quarterback Lamar Jackson, who finished 21 of 26 passing for 187 yards. The blowout allowed him to be replaced by backup Tyler Huntley, who threw a six-yard touchdown to receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the fourth quarter. OBJ finished with five catches for 56 yards and the score while tight end Mark Andrews had nine grabs for 80 yards.
Baltimore built momentum in the first half thanks to Edwards' scores and some suffocating defense. The Seahawks had a chance to make things interesting headed into halftime. After Seattle got its first points off a Jason Myers field goal with 59 seconds left, Beckham Jr. lost a fumble on Baltimore's first play on the ensuing possession.
Thanks to the turnover, Seattle had a shot at a potential field goal or touchdown right before the half. But Smith was stripped, and the tide turned. The Ravens used their own takeaway to put Justin Tucker in range for a 37-yard field goal with four seconds. Seattle could've cut it to a one-possession game but instead trailed 17-3 at the half.
From here, the Ravens never looked back and eliminated any hope of a comeback by keeping their foot on the pedal in the second half.
The Seahawks will look to take a hard look at the drawing board before taking on the Washington Commanders at Lumen Field in Week 10.
