The 2017 NFL season has finally come to a close, and the Seattle Seahawks could not be in a more fragile state. They have finished the year with a 9-7 record, failing to make the playoffs. My sister and I attended their final game against the Arizona Cardinals in Seattle on New Year’s Eve, and we departed utterly devastated by the Seahawks’ showing, particularly with the final play. The loss did not matter due to the Atlanta Falcons defeating the Carolina Panthers, but it was disappointing to see the Seahawks end the year the way they did.

The game was a metaphor for the 2017 season. Seattle fell behind, picked up the pace and showed signs of life late, only to collapse at the end. Once again, they could not get anything going offensively in the first half. This has been the story all season long, and it has been frustrating to witness as a fan.

The lone Seahawks touchdown in the first half came on a kickoff return from Tyler Lockett that went for 99 yards. It was the first time all year that Lockett looked like his explosive self from his 2015 rookie season. For seemingly the millionth time, the Seahawks were held scoreless offensively at the half, I had little hope for the team to make a comeback. However, they looked rejuvenated in the second half, particularly the offense. Throughout the year, this team has had a tendency to start out slow in the first half and somehow turn on after halftime. After being down 20-7 at the half, they led 24-23 in the fourth quarter following two touchdown passes to Doug Baldwin and a field goal by Blair Walsh, along with an Arizona field goal.

Unfortunately, Seattle repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with mistakes, chiefly penalties. There were two roughing the passer penalties late in the game, one of which was committed by superstar linebacker Bobby Wagner. His penalty was especially egregious because it was on third down and extended Arizona’s drive that set up their final field goal to make the score 26-24. The Seahawks needed one more successful drive to win the game. They got into field goal range and on fourth down, Blair Walsh missed a long potential game-winning field goal for the umpteenth time. This resulted in Seattle losing the game, and it seemed like a fitting end to their season. The game ended the same way as the game against Atlanta, which is heartbreaking because my sister and I also went to that game.

I left CenturyLink Field knowing that the Seahawks need to bring about some changes for next year. They had no running game whatsoever, a lackluster offensive line and an injured defense that has the future of several key players in doubt. Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril may never play again, while Richard Sherman is getting another surgery and Earl Thomas may want to leave. I have to say that for the first time, I am not very optimistic about the Seattle Seahawks’ future.