The relentless blitzing of the Seahawks offense will continue until morale improves

The Seattle Seahawks' third-down offense continues to struggle excessively, making it difficult for the team to convert on essential downs. This lack of success has been an ongoing issue throughout Russell Wilson and Geno Smith's seasons, exacerbating the challenge for Seattle in 2026. Currently, the team ranks 31st in third-down conversion rate at 31.1%, significantly lower than their 39.8% rate from last season (16th in the NFL).

A few recurring issues have emerged with the Seahawks' current struggles. Firstly, they are in third-and-long situations far too often. Secondly, the team's average distance to go on third down (7.9 yards) is the fourth-longest in the NFL, even after excluding QB kneels. Additionally, Seattle's early-down rush attempts are ranked 25th, and they run the play at the fifth-highest rate in the league. Their pass rate on 2nd and 7+ is also the second-lowest in the league, indicating more downs are being wasted than necessary.

Moreover, the Seahawks' offensive woes are compounded by pre-snap penalties, which have impeded multiple drives. This season, the team has committed nine false starts, halfway to matching their 2025 total. The team's inability to control the game through the run and their over-reliance on passing on early downs, combined with a run-first mentality, may be contributing to their issues. Pre-snap penalties have further undermined their attempts, exacerbating the problem.

What's particularly alarming is that opposing defenses have been blitzing Seattle at an unusually high rate, especially on third downs. The statistics show that nearly 60% of the Seahawks' dropbacks have been blitzed on any down, making it a high-risk strategy. The situation intensifies when considering that the team is in 11 personnel 80% of the time on third down, which strips away extra protection, play-action opportunities, and leaves them vulnerable to blitzes.

Sam Darnold has faced significant challenges due to unfavorable blitz situations. With 3/8 passing attempts for 29 yards and 2 sacks, only one successful conversion on third down. These plays are predominantly 3rd and long, making it difficult to execute and control the game. The majority of Seattle's 11 personnel pass plays are on third and long, further highlighting the challenges they face.

For the Seahawks to turn their season around, solving the constant third-and-long predicaments and finding a way to effectively counteract the blitzes would be crucial. So far, neither of these issues has been addressed effectively, which explains why their offense has not met the expectations of a 30+ point game, despite their offensive potential in earlier downs.