After winning an incredible 12 consecutive games stretching from the 2025 regular season through the playoffs and into the start of 2026, our Seahawks have absolutely hit a wall, now sitting at a frustrating 3-3 after that crushing 17-14 overtime loss to the Broncos in Denver. All three of those losses have come in the last four weeks, a wild turn for a squad that seemed invincible not long ago. You can’t blame Mike Macdonald’s defense, though. They came into Week 6 allowing an NFL-low 251.2 yards per game and held the Broncos to just 17 points on Thursday. No, this one’s on the offense, which just can’t seem to find its rhythm and repeat last year’s Super Bowl success.
Where Did Kubiak Go, And What Is Fleury Doing?
Losing a play caller as respected as Klint Kubiak was always going to be tough, but nobody expected this kind of offensive regression. If you needed proof of his impact, just look at the Raiders. They went from the NFL’s worst total offense in 2025, averaging a dismal 245.2 yards per game, to a respectable No. 14 this season, hitting 335.6 yards per game. That’s a massive jump! Our transition to Brian Fleury’s system from Kubiak’s hasn’t been smooth, showing definite bumps along the way. While we’ve managed to score at least 30 points in three of our six games, when we face off against top-tier defenses like the Broncos and Patriots, our scoring shrinks, putting up a combined 27 points against them between Week 1 and Week 6. The one bright spot? Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who truly came alive in the fourth quarter against Denver, pulling in 12 catches for 134 yards and leading a comeback effort. When JSN gets the ball consistently, things don’t look so bad.
Our Backfield Is Banged Up, And Darnold’s Turnovers Are Back
Fleury deserves some slack when you consider the state of our running back room. It’s been a rough start for the run game, plain and simple. We managed only 44 yards on 18 carries against the Commanders in Week 3, a measly 2.4 YPC. Then against the 49ers in Week 5, it was 89 yards on 24 carries for 3.4 YPC. Things improved slightly against Denver with 113 team rushing yards, but that’s still not enough. Kenneth Walker III’s departure created a huge hole, and replacing one of the best tackle-breaking backs in the league isn’t easy. What’s worse, health has been a nightmare. Zach Charbonnet, our most proven option after scoring 12 touchdowns in 2025, is still out after suffering a torn ACL last season. And then rookie Jadarian Price landed on IR in early October with a chest injury. So our two most talented backfield options are sidelined. Emanuel Wilson has been serviceable, and George Holani has chipped in a few solid plays, but Fleury and Macdonald desperately need a dynamic weapon back there. To make matters worse, Sam Darnold’s old turnover issues are starting to rear their ugly head again, putting even more pressure on an already struggling unit.
The defense is holding its own, but the offense simply isn’t carrying its weight. This 3-3 record has put us in a tough spot early on, and with the rest of the league watching, we need to find some answers fast. We need to see more consistency from the offense, and we need our playmakers healthy and on the field. The Emerald City is waiting to see how this team responds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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