Seahawks know they played poorly enough that loss to Giants was decided before blocked kick

SEATTLE (AP) — Two straight sloppy, sluggish starts. Two straight losses.

Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks are already growing tired of a couple bad starts and not being able to complete comeback attempts in the fourth quarter.

“When the game is on the line, it seems like we find ways to get things done, right? But that’s got to be the mentality throughout the entire game,” Smith said. “We can’t wait until the end of the game to try and save it. We got to go out and execute for 60 minutes or however long the game is. Today, we didn’t get that done.”

Smith and the Seahawks lost their second straight Sunday, 29-20 to the New York Giants in a game that was filled with concerning moments for a team that less than a week ago was undefeated and in the driver’s seat in the NFC West.

Seattle (3-2) started poorly for the second straight week, and the run game was mostly a suggestion. Seattle’s defense was gashed at times and couldn’t get off the field for most of the first half as the Giants controlled possession.

And there was one big special teams breakdown in the closing seconds when Jason Myers’ 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked after Isaiah Simmons cleanly jumped over the offensive line and Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned the blocked kick 60 yards for a clinching touchdown.

“Talk about not doing things in all three phases to win a football game,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. “Got to give the Giants credit. They outplayed us today.”

The special teams gaffe will get plenty of attention because the magnitude of the moment where it happened. Guard Laken Tomlinson was pushed down by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, creating a lane for Simmons to jump through and cleanly make the block.

It was a legal play and a highlight moment. It wasn’t the reason Seattle lost.

Daniel Jones threw for two touchdowns and while he was sacked three times, Seattle’s pressure on the QB was inconsistent. Rookie backup running back Tyrone Tracy rushed for 129 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry.

The Giants rolled up 420 total yards and had more than 37 minutes of possession.

“It’s fundamental football and we’re coming up short. That’s what’s disappointing right now,” Macdonald said.

Seattle’s offense must also find some more balance after two straight weeks where it’s been heavily tilted toward the pass. Smith threw 40 times on Sunday after attempting 56 passes in last Monday’s loss at Detroit. The Seahawks have a combined 30 rushing attempts in the past two games, with nine of those coming from Smith.

“All credit to them, they did a great job of holding on to the ball and keeping us off the field. We couldn’t get into a good rhythm,” Tomlinson said.

And there’s little time to make the corrections. Instead of fully being in control of the NFC West, the two straight losses have amplified the importance of Thursday’s divisional matchup against San Francisco.

“We got to spend extra time whether you’re there early, staying late, as a group just to correct it and honestly be accountable,” Seattle safety Julian Love said. “Every one of us has to look inward and figure out what they can do better. That’s across the defense (and) I’m sure the offense and special teams as well. It takes commitment right now.”

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