Seahawks Fans’ Playoff Hopes Were Blair Walsh-ed Sunday

Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh walks off the field after missing the final field goal as the Seattle Seahawks lose 26-24. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh walks off the field after missing the final field goal as the Seattle Seahawks lose 26-24. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)



We are nearing the two-year anniversary of former Vikings kicker, Blair Walsh’s missed playoff FG against the Seattle Seahawks. January 10, 2016. People don’t forget.

On Sunday, the 27 year-old, who now plays for the Seahawks (funny right?), had an opportunity to send he and his teammates to the postseason…. That sentence made my palms sweat. With 32 seconds left in the game, and Seattle trailing by 2, Walsh lined up for a 48 yard game-winning attempt.

If he makes it, they clinch a Wild Card birth, pending a Falcons loss. If he misses, season over. Just as it was 700+ days ago, an entire fan base’s hopes and dreams rode on the right foot of Blair Walsh. Knowing how the Seahawks feel as Walsh lines up for this kick ALMOST makes me feel bad for them. Well, without any further ado, let’s go to the tape:

Na, na, na, na – hey, hey, hey, GOODBYEEEE…. He ends the year for the same team he helped advance two seasons prior. Irony at its finest. Karma in action. Whatever, it’s beautiful.

The “season-killer” had a different approach to close out 2017. In opposite fashion to the previous calendar year, he went wide right. As for 2018, call/text your bookie. Walsh is going to be leaving the next one short (if he’s on a roster).

Entering Sunday, Seahawk Nation probably thought the worst Blair Walsh had to offer was behind them. During their Week 11 MNF loss to Atlanta, he missed a 52 yard game-winning attempt. Now, with all due respect, 52 yards is deep. Missing that one is no big deal, right?

Well, it’s no big deal if you’re a solidified kicker in the NFL. It becomes a big deal if you shanked three attempts in a loss, two weeks prior. Yep. That is correct.

The 2012 draft pick missed attempts from 44, 39, and 49 yards in Week 9 vs. Washington. Week 9, 11, and 17; that’s three blown games right there. I’m not going to dive any further into Blair’s season. Doctor’s orders. This topic is terrible for my blood pressure levels.

Given the season of the NFL’s “Black Monday“, for coaches, I found myself wondering about Walsh’s future. He enters this off-season as an unrestricted free agent. Assuming his days in Seattle are done (I’d bet the house I don’t own that they are), will another team run the risk of potentially having the Georgia Bulldog alum decide their fate? We shall see.

Blair Walsh’s Career Stats:

Just like the intensity of this current MN cold streak, he’s on the decline. The 92.1% from 2012 season seems like an eternity ago.

I have plenty of built up animosity for franchises/programs, (what’s up, Badgers?) but not so much for individual athletes. However, there are a few exceptions to that rule. Blair Walsh is one of them.

The missed kick was the missed kick. Shit happens, I suppose. I’m onto the 2017-18 Vikings, you know what I’m saying? It was this damn finger point and head shake he gave our sideline earlier this season that put me over the edge:

What a joke! That garbage was during a pre-season game, nonetheless. PRE-SEASON! Blair Walsh blew a playoff game by missing a 27 yarder! And he gloats over a make in a meaningless game? Screw him. The man’s priorities are ass-backwards.

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

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