2023 Seattle Seahawks Season

The 2023 season was the Seattle Seahawks' 48th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 14th and final season under the head coach/general manager tandem of Pete Carroll and John Schneider. The Seahawks matched their 9–8 record from the previous year, but unlike 2022, it was not enough to qualify for the playoffs as the Los Angeles Rams managed to steal the 2nd place spot in the division. They finished in a three-way tie with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints for the last Wild Card spot, which the Packers claimed via tiebreaker. Despite a 6–3 start, key injuries to Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III, DK Metcalf, and Devon Witherspoon, sent the Seahawks into a four-game skid, with every loss coming against NFC playoff teams. In total, Seattle played 11 games and went 3–8 against teams that finished with a winning record (Cincinnati being the only one that missed the postseason), culminating in a collapse that cost them an appearance in the postseason. This was the second time in three seasons that Seattle missed the playoffs.

On March 26, 2023, the Seahawks re-signed longtime linebacker Bobby Wagner, who played for the Los Angeles Rams during the previous season, for a second stint with the team.

On January 10, 2024, head coach Pete Carroll agreed to step down from his position after fourteen seasons to assume an advisory role with the team after the season's conclusion.

Draft

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

Game summaries

Preseason Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Preseason Week 2: vs Dallas Cowboys

Preseason Week 3: at Green Bay Packers

Regular season

Schedule

Divisional matchups: the NFC West played the NFC East and the AFC North.

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Seahawks were favored to win the matchup against the division rival Los Angeles Rams, as they were looking to return to competition following an injury-plagued season the year prior. Seattle had managed an improbable season in 2022 as quarterback Geno Smith managed to play a major factor in the team returning to the postseason, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year in the process, in addition to sweeping the Rams. The Rams' roster had also shown notable signs of decline with such offseason departures of players including Jalen Ramsey and Taylor Rapp. Seattle started the first half strong as the Rams' offense found minor difficulties in converting on first downs despite managing a touchdown from rookie running back Kyren Williams to finish the first quarter leading at 7-3. Seattle quickly responded with a touchdown catch from DK Metcalf, and a field goal to lead the game 13-7 by the half. During the first quarter, Metcalf began trading insults with the Rams' sidelines, leading him to land an illegal hit on Los Angeles' cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon after the play, infuriating Sean McVay after no flag was thrown. The Rams' secondary responded strongly in the second half, shutting out the Seahawks for the remainder of the game. Rams' rookie receiver Puka Nacua managed an impressive performance for his rookie debut, making 10 catches for 119 yards. The Rams' running backs had also managed an impressive showing as Kyren Williams and Cam Akers combined for 81 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams' defense managed to lock Seattle's passing game as they failed to convert a first down within Rams' territory for the remainder of the game. Two fourth-quarter field goals from Rams' kicker Brett Maher would secure the victory 30-13 for the Rams, and the Seahawks fell to 0-1 on the season.

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 4: at New York Giants

The win ensured the Seahawks of remaining perfect at MetLife Stadium, having never lost to the Giants and Jets, their NFL co-tenants.

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

The Seahawks traveled to Cincinnati to face the reigning AFC North Champions on the road. Despite their defense holding Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense to three points from the end of the second quarter onwards, the Seahawks offense failed to find the end zone on all but their first red zone trips. As a result, the Seahawks were narrowly defeated 13-17 and fell to 3-2 on the season, while also failing to capture their first win in Cincinnati since 1993.

Week 7: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 9: at Baltimore Ravens

Week 10: vs. Washington Commanders

Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams

Seattle entered their second matchup against the rival-Rams who played very poorly. Both sides continued to grow increasingly hostile with each other after rookie Cornerback Devon Witherspoon dealt a violent Suplex tackle on Rams' wide receiver Austin Trammell. The Rams' steadily cut the lead down to 2 points headed into the end of the fourth quarter, even managing a critical interception thrown by Lock. The Rams later took the lead by 1 point following a field goal, prompting Smith to return to the game for a possible drive despite his injured elbow. Desperate to regain the lead, Smith managed two desperate first down conversions to set up Jason Myers for a 55-yard field goal; as they attempted to retake the lead. A timeout was later called by Rams' head coach Sean McVay in an effort to ice Myers' kick; proving to be successful when he missed the field goal as it sailed wide-right; ending the game in a crushing fashion as the Seahawks fell to the Rams in a sweep.

Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Thanksgiving Day games

Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

With the Seahawks down 13–17 with just 1:52 left in the game, Drew Lock, who was starting place for the injured Geno Smith led a 92-yard touchdown drive concluding with a 29-yard touchdown throw to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with just 0:28 left. The Seahawks picked off Jalen Hurts on the next drive to seal the win and improve to 7–7. With the win, the Seahawks increased their winning streak over the Eagles to eight—including the teams' 2019 postseason meeting.

Week 16: at Tennessee Titans

Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 18: at Arizona Cardinals

Standings

Division

Conference

References

External links

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* ''The Sound of the Seahawks'' (Seattle Seahawks 2023 Season Documentary) via YouTube.com Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Episode 10

Episode 11
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{{2023 NFL season by team

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