How the Pass-Heavy 3-3 Seahawks Stack Up Against the NFL As the Seahawks hit the halfway point of the season at 3-3, the story is clear: they are putting the ball in the air a lot. Geno Smith leads the NFL with 251 pass at tempts, averaging 41.8 passes per game. Despite the heavy passing volume, he has been accurate, completing 68% of his throws. Compare this to Jayden Daniels, who leads the league in completion percentage at 74.6% but has 82 fewer pass attempts. Smith’s work load is a sign of Seattle’s offensive strategy, but it is not without consequences. Meanwhile, the ground game has been notably absent for the Seahawks, who rank 30th in the league with just 125 rushing attempts through six games. That puts them among the bottom three teams in rushing volume. It’s a stark contrast to the top rushing teams like Baltimore Ravens (209 attempts), Pittsburgh Steelers (199), and San Francisco 49ers (188). These teams have embraced balanced offensive strategies, which reflect in their divisional success. Baltimore, with 209 rushing attempts, leads the AFC North at 4-2 and leads the league in rushing yards with 1,232 yards. Washington Commanders, who have 186 rushing attempts, sit atop the NFC East with a 4-2 record. Even San Francisco, tied with Seattle in the NFC West at 3-3, is 4th in rush ing attempts, helping them hold the top spot thanks to the tiebreaker over the Seahawks. Yet, Seattle finds itself at second place in the NFC West, despite its one-dimensional approach. It’s a remarkable position, given their overreliance on Geno’s arm. And it's not for lack of effort from Smith—he's keeping the offense competitive, even as the run game has been virtually nonexistent. For perspective, Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams has attempted 175 passes with a 2-4 record, and Daniel Jones of the New York Giants has 219 pass attempts but sits at 2-4 as well. Seattle’s pass-heavy approach has at least kept them in the playoff picture, but is it sustainable? The answer lies in balance. Of the top five NFL teams in rushing attempts, four are either leading or second in their divisions. This suggests that a balanced offense is more than just a nice-to-have—it's a key to success. For Seattle, the challenge will be to increase their ground game to complement Smith's efforts through the air. The heavy reliance on passing makes the offense predictable, and with teams like San Francisco focusing on a more balanced approach, Seattle must adapt. Here is the bottom line, Seattle fans: to stay competitive and make a serious run at the NFC West crown, the Seahawks need to diversify their playbook. Relying too much on Geno Smith’s arm, no matter how accurate, risks burnout and missed opportunities. Three takeaways for the prudent observer: 1) The Seahawks need to prioritize running the ball; 2) Seattle’s current standing at 3-3 is fortunate, given the unbalanced offensive approach; and 3) Geno Smith has been doing his part— it's time for the rest of the offense to catch up. It will be up to Ryan Grubb to shift from relying on sheer volume in the passing game to a more balanced attack, making them a tougher challenge for division rivals and playoff contenders alike.
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