A Throwback Thriller Ends in Heartbreak
Sunday at Lumen Field felt like a flashback to the 1990s. The Seahawks took the field in royal blue throwbacks, the Buccaneers wore the iconic creamsicles, and the game had playoff intensity from the opening whistle.
Both teams traded scores in a high-flying duel between Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, but a tipped pass that landed in Lavonte David’s hands ended Seattle’s final drive. The 38-35 loss drops the Seahawks to 3-2 and leaves fans wondering how much healthier this team must get before it can close out tight games.
Darnold Keeps Seattle in the Fight
This loss was not about the quarterback. Sam Darnold finished with 341 yards, four touchdowns and an 82 percent completion rate.
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba continues to look like the weapon fans have been waiting for, catching 8 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.
- Rookie tight end AJ Barner added 7 receptions for 53 yards and two scores, quickly becoming a red-zone favorite.
- Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined for 122 rushing yards on just 19 carries, setting up balance that kept Tampa Bay’s front guessing.
Darnold’s season completion rate has climbed to 73.1 percent, up from 66.2 in Minnesota last year. That suggests real progress in Klint Kubiak’s new offense despite missing former top receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Injuries Ravage the Secondary
The Seahawks entered the game already thin at the back end with Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love sidelined. Things got worse when Riq Woolen left early under concussion protocol.
That left Baker Mayfield facing a patchwork group and he picked them apart, going 29 of 33 for 379 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka torched Seattle with 7 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, while JSN responded in kind on the other side to give fans a glimpse of an Ohio-State-driven future for both franchises.
The lack of a pass rush made matters worse. The Seahawks managed only one combined sack from Uchenna Nwosu and De’Anthony Bell. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams had just four total tackles and was quiet most of the afternoon. The zone coverage repeatedly broke down, often leaving two open receivers beyond five yards.
Costly Penalties Shift Momentum
Seattle finished with seven penalties for 56 yards compared to Tampa Bay’s four for 37. A holding call on Jake Bobo wiped out a key first-down run that even the game’s play-by-play announcer predicted before the flag hit the turf.
Several of the calls felt ticky-tack, but combined with the injuries and lack of pressure they became too much to overcome in a game decided by three points.
Fans Get a Jersey Classic but Not the Win
For nostalgia lovers it was as good as it gets. Seattle’s clean royal blue and silver throwbacks against Tampa’s orange creamsicles looked sharp enough to headline a rivalry week. Many fans and even players were asking for these throwbacks to stay in the rotation.
Unfortunately the jerseys will be remembered as the backdrop to a gut-punch defeat that could have been one of the best early-season wins in recent memory.
A Game That Felt Like January Football
The game carried the intensity of a playoff clash from start to finish. Even with Tampa Bay missing star receiver Mike Evans and lead running back Bucky Irving, the matchup stayed tight until the final snap. A future rematch with both rosters at full strength could play out much differently, likely tilting toward a lower-scoring 27-24 type of contest where the defenses hold firm.
Turning the Page: Jaguars Await
Seattle now heads to Jacksonville for what feels like a statement game. The offense has shown it can go toe-to-toe with top NFC opponents, but the defense needs to regroup whether or not reinforcements return.
The Jaguars, fresh off testing the defending AFC champions, will force Seattle to fix its coverage busts and shore up a front that struggled to generate pressure.
Bottom Line
Seattle’s narrow loss should not overshadow the progress on offense or the encouraging play of Sam Darnold. Yet it also served as a clear warning that depth in the secondary and consistency in the pass rush remain the team’s Achilles’ heel.
If the Seahawks can get healthy and clean up the basics, they remain a legitimate playoff threat. The season is still young, but the window to tighten up before the NFC race heats up is closing fast.
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