NFL power rankings Week 7: Seattle Seahawks slide further following third-straight loss
The Seattle Seahawks are probably better than their 3-3 record suggests they are heading into Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season. They were certainly much tougher when their defense was healthy the first few games of the season. However, there are some issues that have nagged them since the start of September. They couldn't stop the run as early as Week 2 when their defense was still healthy. They also couldn't haven't been able to protect Geno Smith since the opening drive of Week 1.
So, even though they're better than 3-3, at a certain point, you are what your record says you are - and the Seahawks are rapidly approaching it. In the latest power rankings from Vinnie Iyer at The Sporting News, Seattle has slipped again. They're now slotted at number 17, down two more spots from last week.
TSN on Seahawks' Week 7 ranking
"The Seahawks' offense is coming down to earth, as the passing volume for Geno Smith doesn't always add up to efficient results. The real concern is a defense that's breaking down vs. the pass after already being gashed in the running game for Mike Macdonald."
Seahawks' biggest problem
Once they're healthy again we expect the pressure issues to resolve. However, the run defense is definitely the most-concerning long-term issue - especially since it's been going on for several seasons now. It's possible that we were too hard on Pete Carroll in this regard and the true problem is the defensive unit that general manager John Schneider has put together is simply too light to succeed against the run consistently.
We'd rather have an elite pressure/coverage kind of dynamic going on than even the league's best run defense. However, opponents are going to keep gashing the Seahawks on the ground until they prove they can stop it.
Next up are the Atlanta Falcons, who just rolled over the Carolina Panthers to the tune of 200 rushing yards between Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Seattle's defense is not quite as bad as Carolina's but it's not much better in this particular department. Look for more of the same come Sunday morning in Atlanta.
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