The Seahawks went out on a high note, beating the playoff-bound Cardinals in Arizona to cap their season, but overall, their 2021 campaign didn't live up to expectations, both inside the building and with fans. With the season now in the rearview mirror, here are 18 numbers that helped tell the story of the Seahawks' 2021 season:
10
Losses, the most for the Seahawks since the 2009 season. It was also the Seahawks' first losing season since 2011, and just their second time missing the playoffs in the past 10 years.
5
Games decided by 3 or fewer points, all of which the Seahawks lost, a reminder of how small the margin can be between a playoff season and a losing record.
+29
Seattle's point differential, making the Seahawks one of only two teams, along with Denver, to have a losing record with a positive point differential. The NFC West, which sent three teams to the playoffs, is the only division to have all four teams finish with a positive point differential. For contrast, two teams, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh, made the playoffs with negative point differentials.
4
NFC West teams that finished in the top 10 of FootballOutsiders.com DVOA rankings. Seattle finished as the No. 8 team in the NFL by DVOA rankings, Football Outsider’s signature statistic for ranking teams, with the rest of the top 10 all making the playoffs.
3
Games missed by Russell Wilson, the first missed games of his 10 year career, and a huge factor in the Seahawks offense's inconsistencies.
37.3
Seattle's third-down conversion rate, which ranked 23rd in the NFL. Prior to two big games to close the season, the Seahawks ranked last in the NFL when it came to third down, which led to their offense running the fewest offensive plays and having the worst time of possession in the league.
2
Consecutive games with more than 200 rushing yards to close out the season for Seattle's offense, which had 170 or more in four of the final five games, a big reason behind the offensive improvements that showed up late in the season.
9
Games without a turnover this season, the most in team history for one season. Unfortunately, that ball security didn't equate to wins, with the Seahawks going just 4-5 in those turnover-free games.
3.8
Rushing yards per carry allowed by Seattle's defense, the second lowest average in the NFL this season, and the second straight year the Seahawks have held opponents under 4.0 yards per carry.
113
Career wins for Russell Wilson, postseason included. Sunday's win over Arizona moved Wilson past Peyton Manning for the most wins by a quarterback in NFL history in his first 10 seasons.
3,113 & 25
Passing yards and touchdowns for Wilson, who despite missing time due to injury joined Manning as one of only two quarterbacks to have 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of his first 10 seasons.
1,175
Receiving yards gained by Tyler Lockett, a new career high. Lockett became just the second player in franchise history, along with Steve Largent, to post three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
3,170
Receiving yards through three seasons for DK Metcalf, the most in franchise history in a player's first three years.
12
Touchdown catches for DK Metcalf, a career-best mark.
671
Rushing yards gained by Rashaad Penny over the final five games of the season, the most in the NFL during that stretch.
8
Runs of 25 or more yards for Penny—all in his final five games of the season—tied for the most such runs in the NFL this season with Jonathan Taylor, who had 332 carries this season to Penny's 119. Penny averaged 6.3 yards per carry this season, the best in the NFL for players with at least 100 carries.
13
Interceptions by Quandre Diggs in two-plus season with Seattle after he led the team with 5 interceptions for the second year in a row.
183
Tackles made by second-year linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the second most in the NFL this season and a new single-season franchise record. Bobby Wagner, who missed the final game and all but one play of Seattle's Week 17 game, broke his own single-season record earlier in the year with 170, but was passed by Brooks on Sunday.
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seattle Seahawks' 38-30 win vs. the Arizona Cardinals on January 9, 2022 at State Farm Field. Eye On The Hawks is presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson huddles the team around him on the field before the game.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson walks towards the field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ to prepare for the game against the Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive tackle Bryan Mone works with assistant coach Damione Lewis before the game.
Seattle wide receiver Tyler Lockett smiles during early warmups.
Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton flashes a smile.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers takes warmup kicks on the field before the game.
Seahawks quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends huddle at the end of their early warmup session.
Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown gets loose before the game.
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny during early warmups.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett takes a selfie with a fan's phone (fan seen through the railing above).
Two young fans peek through a railing hoping for a photo or autograph as the Seahawks go back and forth in the tunnel leading to the locker room.
As usual, 12s turned out in big numbers to watch the Seahawks face the Cardinals in the desert.
Seahawks quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Geno Smith leave the locker room.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson huddles with his position coaches and teammate Geno Smith before taking the field.
Head coach Pete Carroll hugs receiver Tyler Lockett before the game.
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny breaks into the secondary on a long run in the first quarter.
Receiver Tyler Lockett gets the ball across the pylon for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Tyler Lockett takea s bow after scoring to tie the game in the first quarter.
Seahawks cornerback Sidney Jones upends Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett catches the ball in the near corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton send Cardinals running back James Conner flying.
Seahawks defensive end Carlos Dunlap gets his fingertips on the shoe of Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for one of Dunlap's two sacks.
Russell Wilson waits outside the locker room at halftime to greet teammates including Aaron Fuller.
Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf battles for a deep ball in the third quarter.
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny takes off on another long run.
Seahawks receiver Freddie Swain scores on a pass from Russell Wilson in the third quarter.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is fired up in the third quarter.
Seattle's Kerry Hyder, Jr. sacks Arizona's Kyler Murray.
Seahawks Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas hit Cardinals punter Andy Lee, resulting in a fumble recovered by Seattle.
Seahawks special teamers Aaron Fuller, Cody Thompson and Nick Bellore celebrate after Thompson recovered a fumble by Cardinals punter Andy Lee.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is fired up as he celebrates with head coach Pete Carroll after Wilson scored on a four-yard run in the fourth quater.
Seahawks defensive end Carlos Dunlap registers his second sack of Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny heads for the end zone with a 62-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Pete Carroll gets a hug at the end of the game from running backs coach Chad Morton.
Running back Rashaad Penny thanks 12s who lined up near the team's tunnel after the game.
Robert Nkemdiche fires up the 12s as the Seahawks head to the locker room after defeating the Cardinals.
Seahawks quarterback and captain Russell Wilson takes a victory lap and acknowledges 12s as he heads to the locker room after winning the season finale.
