Seahawks lose matchup of futile offenses

October 23, 2011, 2:34 pm

The Seahawks never made it across midfield in a tough game for fans to watch. A game that was an eyesore ended with a whimper as Whitehurst's final pass — which was into double coverage on Mike Williams — fell incomplete on fourth-and-15 with 2:22 to go.

Officially, the Browns won 6-3 on two 53-yard field goals from kicker Phil Dawson. Truthfully, the Seahawks lost this game because of an utter and repeated inability to generate offense with starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson inactive because of a chest injury and running back Marshawn Lynch out with a back injury.

Whitehurst finished with 12 completions on 30 attempts for 97 yards. As a team, the Seahawks had just 137 yards of offense.

Seattle blocked two field goals, had a punt return nullified by a questionable block-in-the-back penalty and had Red Bryant ejected in the final 2 minutes for head-butting an opponent.


It was the lowest-scoring game in franchise history, the two teams combining for just nine points. The previous record was 14.  The Seahawks were missing more than just four starters on their offense.

Any momentum Seattle had mustered in its past two games evaporated entirely with Whitehurst at the helm for four quarters of offensive futility that left the Seahawks defense exhausted by the end of the game.

The officials didn't help, either. The Seahawks appeared to have a big play midway through the third quarter when Leon Washington returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown. The score was nullified by a penalty against Kennard Cox for a block in the back of Kevin Dockery. Instead of six points, Seattle had the ball at its own 45-yard line. Whitehurst was intercepted on the next play.

Jackson, center Max Unger and tight end Zach Miller were all inactive for the game. The real surprise, though, was Lynch, whose back tightened up during warmups.

Seattle had punt-return touchdown nullified by a penalty, a 15-yard penalty against Kam Chancellor for leading with his helmet on a sack in which he did not hit the quarterback with his helmet and for good measure an fairly blatant hold of Sidney Rice on a fourth-quarter third-down pass that was not penalized by the officials.

Even Seattle's first three points were disappointing. The Seahawks had first-and-goal at the 2 in the third quarter and couldn't score a touchdown.

Seattle tied the game on a 20-yard field goal with 2:33 left in the third quarter, which was made possible by Rice's 38-yard reception.

That resulted in the only red-zone possession for either team in the first three quarters.
Seattle retook the lead on a 53-yard field goal by Dawson with 11:18 left in the fourth quarter.

The first half was an eyesore that featured more penalties (seven) than points (three) and didn't have a single play from scrimmage gain more than 11 yards.

The Browns had a field-goal attempt blocked, a punt that traveled 9 yards and they were actually the team that was a cut above. The Seahawks gained 62 yards in the first half, 27 on the team's very first drive. Seattle crossed midfield only twice in the first half and never got inside the Cleveland 40.
 
Up next for the Seahawks, a home clash with the Cincinnati Bengals. Catch every call live on 750 AM The Game. Pre-game coverage starts at 11am and Kickoff at 1:15pm.