Alright, Seattle, that one stung. The Seahawks just got absolutely rocked, falling 34-17 to the Chicago Bears. It was a brutal gut punch, and if that wasn’t tough enough to swallow, our division rivals down south, the Los Angeles Rams, are proving just how much of a circus special teams can be. It’s a stark reminder that *every* unit needs to be locked in, especially when games get tight.
The Rams’ Special Teams Circus Continues
The Rams are still trying to figure out their special teams, and honestly, it’s getting embarrassing. They just released wide receiver and return man Alex Bachman. This isn’t their first rodeo with this role, either; they cut Xavier Smith from the same spot earlier this season. It’s a clear sign their “improvements” aren’t sticking. Bachman was… well, he was there. He fielded punts without issue, sure, but his return game was straight up not good enough. We’re talking 5.2 yards per punt return, which somehow ranked 31st among players with at least five returns. And on kickoffs? A measly 22.9 yards per return, putting him 62nd out of 75 qualifying returners. Yikes.
Right now, Brandon McManus is their guy for field goals and he’s been perfect, which is good for them I guess. Joshua Karty handles kickoffs. But the big question in L.A. is who’s next for returns? Will they go with someone who just catches it, or actually tries to make something happen? When a unit is in this much flux, it spells trouble, and it makes you think about how crucial consistency is for *our* Hawks.
A Glimmer of Pride Amidst Rams’ Defensive Woes
It’s not just special teams where the Rams are having issues. They’re also dealing with a major hit on their defensive line, losing defensive tackle Puna Ford for the rest of the season. Ouch. Because of that, there’s chatter that New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore could be a target for them at the trade deadline. He’s a big boy, 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, and disruptive up front. They’ve got Aaron Donald, Braden Fiske, and Kobie Turner (who’s on injured reserve), but Barmore brings a different kind of twitch.
And here’s where we get to puff out our chests a little, even in a rough week: the source article *itself* highlights “Seattle’s deep playoff run last year” as an example of the kind of impact a disruptive defensive interior group can have. That’s right, even when talking about a division rival’s problems, our boys from the Emerald City set the standard for what a dominant D-line looks like. That kind of disruptive play is what we need to get back to across the board.
What’s Next For Our Hawks?
That loss to the Bears is a tough pill to swallow. It shows that in this league, you cannot afford to have any weaknesses, and every single unit has to be firing on all cylinders. Watching the Rams try (and fail) to sort out their special teams is a painful reminder that consistency and high performance are non-negotiable.
We know what this team is capable of, especially when we think back to that deep playoff run last year, fueled by a ferocious defense. After getting outplayed like that, our Hawks need to buckle down. There’s no time to hang our heads. Every unit, every player, has to come out with fire next week and prove that this loss was just a stumble, not a sign of things to come. Let’s get it done, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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