Seahawks Need to Use Week 3 Loss to Saints as Lesson or Else They'll Hurt Their Super Bowl Chances

The Seattle Seahawks had to be feeling good coming into Week 3's matchup in front of the CenturyLink Field faithful against a Drew Brees-less New Orleans Saints squad.

Not only was New Orleans severely hobbled, but Seattle was 2-0 and fresh off an impressive road victory in Pittsburgh.

Most pundits expected Pete Carroll's men to walk away with a dub, and rightfully so. However, they looked past New Orleans and found themselves staring down the barrel of an insurmountable 27-7 deficit entering the fourth quarter.

The final scored ended up being 33-27, but Russell Wilson tallied two garbage time touchdowns in the final three minutes of the contest, long after the game's outcome was sealed. The Saints clearly took their foot off the gas pedal with such an imposing lead and weren't defending with much drive (if any) in the closing minutes.

If the Seahawks don't use this L as a wake-up call, well, then their Super Bowl hopes will fade as quickly as they emerged. As great as Wilson is, asking him to drop back 50 times does not equate to a winning blueprint.

Seattle's running game and defensive efficiency need to vastly improve. They could (and should) get right next Sunday versus an 0-2-1 Cardinals team, because their following four-game stretch is brutal.

They face the Rams, Browns (away), Ravens, and Falcons (away). We don't have to tell you that none of those tilts are gimmes, especially after their let down performance at home this weekend.

Given the Rams and 49ers scorching hot starts to 2019, adjustments need to be made or the Hawks could quickly lose ground in the NFC West.