Seattle Seahawks fans, you’ve been here before. October 5th against the Giants, we witnessed another frustrating offensive display, and it’s hard not to wonder—where has Seattle’s run game gone?
Let's take a quick walk down memory lane: Curt Warner, "Ground Chuck," Shawn Alexander, and Marshawn Lynch. These names stir up nostalgia for dominant ground attacks that defined the Seahawks’ success in various eras. When the run game thrived, the Seahawks thrived. But in the last two games, Seattle’s offense seems to have lost that identity, opting instead for a pass-heavy approach that hasn’t delivered the desired results.
Against the Giants, Seattle’s run game was missing early and often. This is exactly what was hinted at in last week’s analysis of the Detroit game: “Ryan Grubb’s pass-heavy strategy in the first half allowed Goff to control the tempo, leading to Seattle’s defense being worn down... Without a balanced offensive approach, Seattle’s high-powered attack becomes less effective, especially in games where controlling the clock and protecting the defense is paramount.” Unfortunately, that forecast became a reality once again.
Here’s the most glaring stat from the Giants game: the Seahawks ran the ball only twice in the first half. Kenneth Walker, who had a promising 80-yard performance on 12 carries against the Lions, saw minimal touches. Zack Charbonnet, who rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries against the Dolphins, was similarly underused. Both backs are healthy—so why wasn’t the run game a focal point?
It’s easy to argue that against Detroit, the Seahawks had to play catch-up, forcing them into a passing strategy. But in Week 5, that wasn’t the case. Seattle scored first with a 102-yard fumble recovery from Rayshawn Jenkins, the longest in team history. Yet, by halftime, the game was tied 10-10. The score may have suggested a balanced contest, but the numbers told a different story: the Giants dominated possession with 21:55 to Seattle’s 8:05. New York rushed 20 times in the first half, while Seattle attempted 14 passes, completing just 9 for 97 yards. Meanwhile, the Giants completed 14 of 18 for 145 yards. The Giants’ balanced attack kept Seattle’s defense on the field and wore them down.
Surely, you’d expect halftime adjustments, a renewed effort to run the ball in the second half. But Seattle doubled down on its lopsided passing strategy. By the end of the game, Geno Smith was the team’s leading rusher with 72 yards—32 of which came on a single scramble. Walker finished with just 19 yards on 5 carries, while Charbonnet managed only 11 yards on 2 carries. In total, Seattle ran the ball 9 times in the second half—four of those by the quarterback.
This one-dimensional approach didn’t just stall the offense, it left the defense vulnerable. When asked about the lack of carries, head coach Mike McDonald admitted, “That’s a fair question… We were thinking about getting Geno going early... You’re right. We need to get the run game going.”
"Outplayed" and "outexecuted" are hollow explanations when the real issue is being outschemed. The lack of balance in the Seahawks’ offensive strategy is placing unnecessary pressure on both sides of the ball. McDonald’s admission is a step in the right direction, but words need to translate into action. If Seattle is going to get back on track, it starts with running the football, setting up the passing game, and getting back to the formula that made the Seahawks successful in the past.
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