Defensive Disaster for Seahawks, Panthers, Bengals and Saints

Seattle Seahawks

You couldn’t do much more than this defensive unit did a season ago, help paving the way for the franchise’s first NFL title.

Pete Carroll’s club gave up the fewest yards and points in the league and forced an NFL-high 39 turnovers. The Seahawks allowed just 40 points in their three-game postseason sweep of the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.

It looked like business as usual on opening week this season against the Green Bay Packers. A 36-16 win had some people convinced that a second straight trip the Super Bowl was inevitable and that the defense could be on the verge of legendary status.

A week later, the team fell to the San Diego Chargers, 30-21. A Super Bowl rematch with the Broncos resulted in a 26-20 victory but not before Carroll’s club blew a 17-3 lead at home. This past Sunday, Seattle jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead and totaled a pair of takeaways against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. But the ‘Hawks would be outscored 30-13 the rest of the way and suffered just their second home loss in three seasons.

Against Dallas, the Seahawks allowed 401 total yards, including 162 on the ground, and sacked Tony Romo just once. It also marked the second time in their last four games that the team allowed 30 points. In 19 overall contests in 2013, Seattle allowed 30 or more points just once.

Cracks in armor of the defending champions? Their defensive unit bears watching these days for a different reason.