The Seahawks started the season with real promise, winning the first three games of the Mike Macdonald era. Some of that success could be attributed to a light schedule, but it was enough to push Seattle firmly into NFC West contention. Through nine weeks, the Seahawks find themselves in last place in the division.
While they only trail the Cardinals by a game due to extreme parity in the NFC West, five losses in six games has turned Seattle's season into a mess. Geno Smith bears some responsibility for the Seahawks' loss to the Rams on Sunday, as he threw two red-zone interceptions in the fourth quarter that flipped the game in Los Angeles' favor. He regained momentum with a strong final drive in regulation, hitting Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a beautiful fourth-down conversion and later the game-tying touchdown, but was it enough for the Seahawks to keep putting up with his turnover troubles? Here's a look at where the Seahawks' quarterback situation stands entering their bye week.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule Will the Seahawks bench Geno Smith? There is no indication the Seahawks plan to bench Smith after Sunday's loss, but if it's under consideration, the timing could be seen as ideal. Macdonald doesn't have any ties to Smith; as he inherited him from Pete Carroll, who also had the final say in football operations before his exit in January. The Seahawks clearly hold backup Sam Howell in high regard, as they went out and traded for him in.