With the drubbing of the Seattle Seahawks by the hands of the Chicago Bears on Monday night, 34-17, the defense had a hard time of stopping the opposing offense in the red zone. After the Seahawks' loss to the Bears, defensive star DeMarcus Lawrence would take accountability for the team's woes on that side of the ball.
Seattle reporter Brady Henderson of ESPN would note that the defense for the Seahawks has largely been effective, “allowing the fifth-fewest points in the NFL,” but the red zone numbers say a completely different story. Henderson notes that Seattle is actually “last in red zone efficiency,” solidified by the team allowing the Bears to score touchdowns on every single time Chicago had the ball inside the 20-yard line.
“The Seahawks' defense is allowing the fifth-fewest points in the NFL, but they're last in red zone efficiency after allowing the Bears to score touchdowns on all four of their trips inside the 20. When asked about that issue today, DeMarcus Lawrence put it on his shoulders,” Henderson wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
As Henderson said, Lawrence took blame for the performance, saying that it is his “responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
“I see they’re attacking my C gap. I have to heighten my awareness and play better football down there in the red zone. I’m man enough to sit up here and tell the world that I understand what’s going on … It’s my responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Lawrence said, via Henderson.
At any rate, it remains to be seen how the Seahawks will improve as the team looks to bounce back, as the team has lost three of its last four games. Seattle looks to change momentum as they take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.