The Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both came into week 12 on a roll. The Buccaneers had just bested the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. While the Seahawks had beaten the Patriots and Eagles in the previous two weeks. With key defensive starters out for Seattle including, free safety Earl Thomas and cornerback DeShawn Shead, there was thoughts of a shootout. Instead we got a game controlled by the defenses for three quarters. In the fourth quarter, both teams turned the ball over a combined total of four times, with two fumbles and two interceptions. Here I break down the interceptions that gave the Seahawks a chance to win, and then dashed their hopes to end the game.
Fourth Quarter Interceptions
Third and eighteen, Seattle 20, 4:10 left in the fourth quarter
Formation: Shotgun in max protect
Personnel: three receivers, one tight end, one running back
Tampa Bay was ready to increase their lead by a touchdown. Their great field position was set up by a Jimmy Graham fumble and a Lavonte David return for 53 yards to put them in striking range. After having a Cameron Brate touchdown called back, quarterback Jameis Winston was looking for the home run ball. Wide receiver Mike Evans (red), who already had two touchdowns, lined up across from Richard Sherman (blue) on the play (wide) side of the field.
Seattle was in their nickel package (five defensive backs, two linebackers) with the corners playing ten yards off the line of scrimmage to avoid from getting beaten over the top. Strong safety Kam Chancellor lined up over the top of Sherman to essentially double Evans in coverage. Showing Cover 2, a rarity for Seattle, they needed to force a turnover quickly to have a shot to win the game.
The game included two great quarterbacks, both of whom made key mistakes in the red zone. After the snap, Evans and Cecil Shorts III run go routes while Adam Humphries (purple) runs a post route. Winston has both Brate and Doug Martin (blue) who are left uncovered coming out of the backfield. The offensive line creates a solid pocket to give their quarteback time to make a good read. Seattle plays a cover 2 with the outside cornerbacks following their receivers and the safeties playing over the top. Chancellor (yellow) watches Winston’s body language which allows him to zero in on Evans.
Decision making is key
Winston gets the ball off untouched. Chancellor knows it’s going to the back corner of the endzone. Evans realizes that the ball is underthrown and is going to be short of the back corner. Attempting to fight back for the ball, he is boxed out by Sherman to set up Chancellor. The all-pro strong safety moves into postion to make a play on the ball looking to create a much needed turnover.
Mistakes were made by each team on this play. When Seattle leaves the underneath routes wide open it allows one of them to set up a short field goal with the clock running. The reasoning is it essentially forces Tampa Bay into fourth down. On the offensive side, Winston should have taken the check down instead of throwing towards two All-Pro defensive players. A field goal puts the Bucs up by 12 which makes it a two touchdown game for Seattle. While a turnover means its still nine point deficit and all that is needed to win is a touchdown and field goal.
On top of the decision making error, Winston throws the ball short of Evans. The ball needs to be placed in a spot where only a Buccaneer can make a play on it. Instead, the placement allows Seahawks players to have a better shot at it. If the ball is placed to the back corner at the pylon at the proper elevation, then the 6’5″ Evans can go up and over 6’3″ Sherman. Because the ball is placed short of him he’s boxed out and has no ability to affect the play. Winston is provided a clean pocket and absolutely has the arm strength to make this throw.
Consequence
If the game ended differently this play is a highlight moment for a Seattle defense that loves momentum changing plays. As it stands, the defense bailed out a stalled Seattle offense who began to move the ball down the field only to turn it over. The ensuing Russell Wilson interception bears striking similarities to the one we just looked at.
Second and seven, Tampa Bay 31, 1:44 left in fourth quarter
Formation: Shotgun
Personnel: three receivers, one tight end, one running back
Seattle’s defense gave them one last shot to bring the game in reach for a desperation onside kick attempt. Wilson and the offense just had to get in position to score a touchdown, while a field goal also put them within a touchdown. Methodically moving down the field, it appeared the Seahawks were ready to make this game interesting.
The offense comes out in a modified shotgun look with an offset Jimmy Graham to the left of George Fant. Two wide receivers line up on on the play side of the field with Tyler Lockett (red) on the numbers of the boundary side. The Buccaneers, much like the Seahawks, show a cover 2 look in a nickel package, with the corners giving five yards of cushion. Lining up on Lockett is cornerback Brent Grimes (blue) with safety Bradley McDougald (yellow) providing coverage over the top.
Lockett runs a double move with a quick inside juke to a post route and then breaks outside for a flag route. Wilson has one of his best pockets of the night, with adequate time to read the field. He sees Lockett appear to come open between Grimes and McDougald with a clear shot to the endzone. Wilson gets the ball off clean and it appears to be a touchdown.
Much like Winston, Wilson has an underneath receiver wide open on the play. He decides instead to take a game changing shot to an “open” Lockett. However, Tampa is playing zone coverage with McDouglad breaking on the receiver that had been passed to him from Grimes. This is why Lockett appeared to come open on the play.
Bad throws, Bad decisions
Wilson throws to a double covered Lockett much the same as Winston threw his interception. The ball is in the air as both Grimes and McDouglad converge to make a play. Along with the questionable decision he makes a similar throw to Winston. The ball needs to be farther back in the endzone, McDougald is only able to undercut Lockett because the sophomore receiver is aiming to split the endzone and go over the top of Tampa Bay. Wilson puts the ball at the three yard line which leads to a game ending interception. Against New England, the quarterback made a similar throw to running back C.J. Prosise that was placed on the inside shoulder whereas if it was on the outside its a touchdown.
Consequence
Making a game clinching throw is usually a great thing, except when it’s to the other team. While this throw ruined Seattle’s hopes of winning last Sunday, it also turned hopes of catching a strong Dallas team into a distant wish. The Seahawks hold the second seed in the NFC by a half game over Detroit and Atlanta. With a surging Carolina team coming to CenturyLink next week after besting Seattle twice last year, there is a lot on the line for this veteran team. Hopefully, this experience should allow them to bounce back strong and make a run to secure the second seed in the NFC.
While the offensive line had their worst showing of the year and the defense provided two of their five points, Seattle has proved they cant put up big numbers and allowing few points to opposing teams, both which will be crucial down the stretch.
