Even a 4-5 start and wave after wave of criticism can’t sway Russell Wilson, the always optimistic quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks.
“I think that we’re so close,” Wilson said, via ESPN. “The biggest thing is that’s where I kind of look at it all and review everything, and not stretch for answers. A lot of people want to stretch for answers and try to figure out what’s wrong or whatever. At the end of the day it comes down to us just scoring more touchdowns and finding a way to do that.”
Wilson is currently in the midst of the worst statistical season of his career. He has 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and zero rushing scores, and his passer rating of 91.6 and QBR of 56.7 would both be new career lows for the fourth-year quarterback.
The back-to-back NFC champions haven’t been able to overcome the dip in production at both quarterback and on defense.
Through 10 weeks, the Seahawks have wins over the Chicago Bears (minus Jay Cutler), the Detroit Lions (currently 2-7), the San Francisco 49ers (currently 3-6) and Dallas Cowboys (minus Tony Romo). Seattle has given up a fourth quarter lead in all five losses.
Last week, Wilson completed just 14 of 32 passes and finished with a passer rating of 67.1. The Cardinals jumped out to a 19-0 lead before scoring 14 straight points in the fourth quarter to lock down the win in Seattle.
Despite being three games back in the NFC West with seven games to play, Wilson and the Seahawks believe the turnaround is coming.
“There’s no sense of loss of faith in us at all,” Wilson said. “We believe in one another. We believe in our system and our coaches and the guys that we have, and we believe that we’re going to turn it around.”
The Seahawks host the 49ers on Sunday. It’s close to a must-win for Seattle, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings up next on the schedule.
Wilson’s optimism may never waver. But unless his team starts winning games down the stretch, realism might take over the 2015 season of the Seattle Seahawks.