In Thursday night’s clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, there was a controversial call that went in favor of the Seahawks, allowing them to avoid a crucial turnover. However, this incident became a mere footnote in the grand scheme of things as the Seahawks ended up committing three other turnovers in their 36-24 defeat.
Quarterback Geno Smith had a rough outing, throwing two interceptions, while Laviska Shenault’s fumble on a kickoff return added to the Seahawks’ turnover total. This brought their turnover count to a staggering 10 for the season. Over the course of their current three-game losing streak, the Seahawks have coughed up the ball six times, with another costly turnover coming in the form of a blocked field goal in their loss to the Giants.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was quick to point out the impact of turnovers on his team’s performance, lamenting, “It’s probably the single-handedly, biggest thing that hurt our football team. We have to take care of the ball better. Practice it better. You get what you emphasize and apparently we’re not emphasizing that enough. Shoot, that’s my responsibility.”
Despite a second-half rally by the Seahawks, the turnovers proved to be too much to overcome, as the 49ers capitalized on the mistakes, converting them into 13 points. Macdonald emphasized the need for his team to be more precise and acknowledged that failing to do so will put them in a precarious position moving forward.
The Seahawks’ struggles with turnovers have put them in a tough spot, and if they don’t address this issue soon, it could haunt them for the remainder of the season. As the losses pile up, it’s clear that ball security will be a key focus for the Seahawks in the weeks to come.
