The Seahawks kicked off their preseason against the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen Field on August 15, 2026, and what started as a promising roar of Emerald City energy quickly faded into a 17-7 defeat. Our squad *marched* down the field to open the game, a beautiful drive that chewed up over seven minutes off the clock, even getting a little assist from two big penalties on Dallas. Seeing that first touchdown of the preseason hit the board for a swift 7-0 lead? Man, it felt like the perfect start to August football. But that early momentum? It vanished quicker than a sunny day in November.
Where Did Our Early Fire Go?
It felt like two completely different teams were out there, fam. After taking that glorious 7-0 lead, the defense just couldn’t maintain the pressure, couldn’t hold that early advantage we fought so hard for. Dallas started to find their footing, scoring ten unanswered points, and suddenly, we were staring at a 10-7 deficit right before the end of the first half. It’s one thing to give up a lead, it’s another entirely to go into the break trailing after such a hot start. Then, to make matters worse, Dallas extended their lead with another touchdown after halftime. The 12s in Lumen Field felt the energy drain, and honestly, so did I watching every snap. That’s not the kind of fight we expect.
The Big Questions for Coach Macdonald and OC Brian Fleury
What’s really grinding my gears is that even after Dallas pushed their lead, the Seahawks had some great field position to try and claw back into the game. But we just couldn’t capitalize on those opportunities. You get handed good field position, you absolutely *have* to convert, especially when you’re trying to prove yourselves in these early tests. We ended up losing 17-7, a score that screams of an offense struggling to finish drives. Offensive Coordinator Brian Fleury has got to be looking at the film of what we saw out there, asking himself why those chances went nowhere. Post-game chatter, like what the Sea Hawkers Podcast is diving into tonight, is already buzzing about the biggest concerns at depth on both offense and defense. This is precisely what’s on my mind too. They’re even discussing a “QB2 battle,” which just adds to the uncertainty, especially with Sam Darnold holding down the fort for us.
This loss against Dallas, even if it’s preseason, is a glaring wake-up call for the Emerald City. Coach Macdonald and the staff need to make some serious adjustments. We need to shore up those depth issues and ensure every player knows their assignment, knows how to execute under pressure. The next time the Hawks step onto that field, we need to see a team that learns from its mistakes and shows us that this 17-7 loss is not a preview of the season to come. We’re ready to bleed green and blue, but we need to see some serious progress, 12s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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