3 Fatal Flaws That Could End Seahawks' Playoff Run

The Seattle Seahawks have made the playoffs for the seventh time in the past eight seasons and could potentially win the NFC West with a huge matchup against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday night.

Yesterday's loss against the Cardinals was a classic defeat to Arizona at home in December from Pete Carroll. The away team in this rivalry has won the last nine of 11 games. That being said, what the Seahawks put out on the field and what they walked away with does not give many confidence for the future. So, here are three flaws with the Seattle Seahawks that could prove fatal in the playoffs.

3. Offensive Line Problems

Center Joey Hunt snaps the ball to Russell Wilson / Rob Leiter/Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks have almost always had offensive line issues and this year is no different. After getting absolutely battered up front by a bad Cardinals front, things look bleak. With All-Pro left tackle Duane Brown likely out for the playoffs, things go from bad to worse. Getting slaughtered in the trenches is not the best way to protect your franchise quarterback and let him do what he does best: throw the deep ball.

2. Injury Woes

Safety Quandre Diggs celebrating a pick six against the Rams. / Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Seattle went into their game against Arizona very injured and left it even worse off. Jadeveon Clowney, Quandre Diggs, Shaquill Griffin and Duane Brown all missed Sunday's clash with injuries. Running backs Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise are done for the season too. While Clowney, Diggs, and Griffin should be back for the Sunday night game against the Niners, they'll be playing hurt. No team can sustain injuries to three of its four best defensive players and the Seahawks need to get healthy as soon as possible if they want to make a run in January.

1. Pete Carroll's Conservatism

Pete Carroll pregame for the Seahawks / Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Pete Carroll is one of the best coaches in the NFL, but he has one major flaw. His refusal to be aggressive seriously restricts a team that has arguably the best quarterback in the league. Yesterday, Seattle was 4th and 1 on the opponent's 45 yard line and instead of going for it with his future Hall of Fame quarterback, or even kicking the ball, he chose to take a delay of game and punt the ball. This conservative strategy may have worked back in the Legion of Boom days with one of the greatest defenses of all time, but this certainly does not work now. Pete's archaic decision making needs to change, but its not going to.