In a game that resembled a track meet more than a football contest, the Seattle Seahawks lost a heartbreaker on a last-second walkoff field goal by Chase McLaughlin to the Baker Mayfield-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-35. Despite a dazzling performance by quarterback Sam Darnold, a late interception by the former Trojan undid the Hawks, leaving the home crowd at Lumen Field stunned and the team looking up at the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West standings.
A Tale of Two Halves
The opening two periods were sluggish for Seattle, marred by missed opportunities and costly mistakes—namely, a missed 44-yard field goal by the normally reliable Jason Myers (last week’s hero) in the first frame and a botched pitch-turned-fumble by third-string signal caller Jalen Milroe early in the second. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, capitalized on Seattle’s miscues, building a 13-0 lead behind efficient drives and Mayfield’s excellent play. His stat line against the 12th-ranked scoring defense was what we’ve come to expect of him this season: 29 for 33 for 379 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 134.7, showing his impressive and total command of new offensive coordinator Josh Gizzard’s system. It was the first game featuring opposing quarterbacks, each with over 325 passing yards and a completion percentage over 80 percent. The former 2018 first and third pick and Carolina Panthers castoffs matched each other blow-for-blow in a literally historic matchup, featuring 889 yards of offense, 720 combined passing yards, and only 10 incompletions—eventually.
Just when it seemed like the game might be too far gone, Darnold found his new number one Jaxon Smith-Njigba (8 catches for 132 yards) in the end zone for a six-yard score with six seconds left in the first half, injecting life into the crowd and the offense. That momentum carried into the second half, where Seattle scored on four consecutive drives, matching the Bucs’ explosive offense’s pace and quickly flipping the script from defensive rock fight to certifiable shootout.
Kenneth Walker III delivered a quietly impactful performance in Week 5, showcasing his trademark burst and vision despite limited touches. He finished with 74 rushing yards on just 13 carries, averaging an impressive 5.7 yards per attempt. The film highlights his ability to find daylight even when the blocking wasn’t perfect—most notably on a 31-yard scamper in the third quarter where he bounced outside and accelerated past two defenders. Walker also contributed to pass protection, picking up a key blitz that allowed Darnold to connect deep with Smith-Njigba. While he wasn’t heavily involved in the passing game, his presence kept Tampa Bay’s linebackers honest and helped open up play-action opportunities, a staple of Kubiak’s offense.
Darnold Dazzles, Then Stumbles
Seattle’s newest field general arguably had his best game in a Seahawks uniform, finishing 28 for 34 for 341 yards and four touchdowns, including a clutch fourth-down strike to the rookie receiver Tory Horton with 3:18 left. He was poised, accurate, and decisive—until it mattered most. With just under a minute left and the game tied at 35, Darnold had a chance to lead a game-winning drive, just as he had done the week before in Arizona. Instead, under immense pressure from the ferocious Tampa Bay pass rush and targeting Cooper Kupp in the middle of the field, he threw a costly interception to veteran linebacker Lavonte David, completely missing Walker in the flat, which ultimately set up McLaughlin’s game-winner as time expired.
Defensive Collapse and Injury Woes
Seattle’s defense, which had been stout through the first month of the season, unraveled in Week 5. They allowed 426 yards of total offense, gave up two rushing touchdowns, and only forced two punts the entire game. The absence of key starters—shutdown corner Devon Witherspoon, standout safety Julian Love, and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence—was glaring, and things got worse as the game progressed. Edge Derick Hall exited early with an oblique injury, and cornerback Riq Woolen was ruled out with a concussion in the third quarter. The defensive front lacked penetration, totaling just one sack of Mayfield. Meanwhile, the secondary was left scrambling, and Tampa Bay took full advantage. Particularly, first-year wideout and Washington native Emeka Egbuka. The ex-Buckeye torched Seattle’s depleted secondary to the tune of seven catches for 163 yards and a visit to the endzone, and is quickly establishing himself as not just the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year, but a major contributor to Tampa Bay’s receiving corps when they return to full strength and one of the better young receivers in the league.
Seattle’s special teams didn’t help matters either. Besides Myers missing that 44-yard attempt early, the coverage unit allowed multiple long returns, giving Tampa Bay favorable field position throughout the game. In a contest decided by inches and seconds, those hidden yards loomed large.
After the high of last week’s win, the Seahawks now sit at 3-2, tied with the Los Angeles Rams for second place in the ultra-competitive NFC West. While Klint Kubiak’s offense continues to show that they can hang with the league’s best, the defense and special teams have been inconsistent in the past few games. Injuries are piling up on that side of the ball, and the margin of error is shrinking.
Still, there’s reason for optimism. Darnold has shown the flashes of talent that made him a highly touted prospect. Smith-Njigba, Horton, and tight end A.J. Barner are continuing to emerge as reliable in the passing game, and the much-maligned offensive line didn’t give up a sack, imposing their will on the blitz-happy Todd Bowles front. If the defense can get healthy and tighten up, Seattle remains a playoff contender. But for now, the sting of a buzzer-beater loss at home will linger. Week 5 was a painful reminder—one missed tackle, one bad read, and one blown coverage can undo 59 minutes of brilliance.
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