The 2008 Seattle Seahawks season was the franchise's 33rd season in the National Football League (NFL), the seventh season in Qwest Field, and the tenth and final under head coach Mike Holmgren. The Seahawks' streak of four consecutive NFC West divisional championships was broken, as they fell to a 4–12 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
2008 NFL draft 2008 Seattle Seahawks draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 28Lawrence JacksonDEUSC 2 38John CarlsonTENotre Dame 4 121Red BryantDTTexas A&M 5 163Owen SchmittFBWest Virginia 6 189Tyler SchmittLSSan Diego State 7 233Justin ForsettRBCal 7 235Brandon CoutuPKGeorgia
Personnel Front Office / Coaches 2008 Seattle Seahawks staff Front office Owner/chairman – Paul Allen President/CEO – Tod Leiweke President of football operations/general manager – Tim Ruskell Vice president of player personnel – Ruston Webster Vice president of football administration – John Idzik, Jr. Director of pro personnel – Will Lewis Director of pro scouting - Chris Culmer Western region director of college scouting – Scott Fitterer Eastern region director of college scouting – Mike Yowarsky
Head coaches Head Coach – Mike Holmgren Assistant head coach / Defensive Backs Coach – Jim L. Mora Assistant head coach / Offensive Coordinator - Gil Haskell
Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Bill Lazor Running backs – Kasey Dunn Wide receivers – Keith Gilbertson Tight ends – Jim Lind Offensive line – Mike Solari Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – John Marshall Defensive Line – Dwaine Board Linebackers – Zerick Rollins Assistant defensive backs – Larry Marmie
Special teams coaches Special Teams Coordinator – Bruce DeHaven Special Teams Assistant Coach - John Jamison Quality Control - Chris Beake
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Mike Clark Assistant strength and conditioning – Darren Krein
Final roster
Seattle Seahawks 2008 Roster accessed November 29, 2018. Seattle Seahawks transactions (December 2008) accessed November 29, 2018.
Starters in bold. (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 2009 Pro Bowl.
Notable roster additions G Mike Wahle- Signed as a free agent from the Carolina Panthers RB Julius Jones- Signed as a free agent from the Dallas Cowboys RB TJ Duckett- Signed as a free agent from the Detroit Lions K Olindo Mare- Signed as a free agent from the New Orleans Saints DT Larry Tripplett- Signed as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills (released before the start of the regular season) TE Jeb Putzier- Signed as a free agent from the Houston Texans (released during regular season) P Reggie Hodges- Signed as a free agent (released before the start of the regular season)
Notable roster losses K Josh Brown- Left as a free agent to sign with the St. Louis Rams WR D.J. Hackett- Left as a free agent to sign with the Carolina Panthers DT Chuck Darby- Left as a free agent to sign with the Detroit Lions T Tom Ashworth- Released RB Shaun Alexander- Released G Chris Gray – Retired
Team captains Matt Hasselbeck Walter Jones Deon Grant Lofa Tatupu Lance Laury D. D. Lewis
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 at Minnesota Vikings W 34–17 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 2 Chicago Bears W 29–26 2–0 Qwest Field Recap 3 at San Diego Chargers L 17–18 2–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 4 Oakland Raiders W 23–16 3–1 Qwest Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 September 7 at Buffalo Bills L 10–34 0–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 September 14 San Francisco 49ers L 30–33 0–2 Qwest Field Recap 3 September 21 St. Louis Rams W 37–13 1–2 Qwest Field Recap 4Bye 5 October 5 at New York Giants L 6–44 1–3 Giants Stadium Recap 6 October 12 Green Bay Packers L 17–27 1–4 Qwest Field Recap 7 October 19 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 10–20 1–5 Raymond James Stadium Recap 8 October 26 at San Francisco 49ers W 34–13 2–5 Candlestick Park Recap 9 November 2 Philadelphia Eagles L 7–26 2–6 Qwest Field Recap10 November 9 at Miami Dolphins L 19–21 2–7 Dolphin Stadium Recap 11 November 16 Arizona Cardinals L 20–26 2–8 Qwest Field Recap 12 November 23 Washington Redskins L 17–20 2–9 Qwest Field Recap 13 at Dallas Cowboys L 9–34 2–10 Texas Stadium Recap 14 December 7 New England Patriots L 21–24 2–11 Qwest Field Recap 15 December 14 at St. Louis Rams W 23–20 3–11 Edward Jones Dome Recap 16 December 21 New York Jets W 13–3 4–11 Qwest Field Recap 17 December 28 at Arizona Cardinals L 21–34 4–12 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
Bold indicates division opponents. Source: 2008 NFL season results2008 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 1, 2015.
Standings
Game summaries
Preseason
Week P1: at Minnesota Vikings
Week P2: vs. Chicago Bears
Week P3: at San Diego Chargers
Week P4: vs. Oakland Raiders
Regular season
Week 1: at Buffalo Bills
The Seahawks began their 2008 campaign on the road against the Buffalo Bills. In the first quarter, Seattle trailed early as Bills running back Marshawn Lynch got a 21-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Seahawks continued to struggle as wide receiver/punt returner Roscoe Parrish returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown. Seattle responded with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completing a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Burleson. Buffalo closed out the half with kicker Rian Lindell getting a 35-yard and a 38-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Seahawks replied with kicker Olindo Mare nailing a 45-yard field goal. However, the Bills pulled a trick play on Seattle. Appearing to go for a 32-yard field goal, Buffalo's holder (punter Brian Moorman) instead threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to defensive end Ryan Denney. The Bills pulled away with quarterback Trent Edwards completing a 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Robert Royal.
With the loss, the Seahawks began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Bills, the Seahawks played their Week 2 home opener their NFC West foe, the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, the Seahawks running back Julius Jones got a 27-yard touchdown run, along with defensive tackle Craig Terrill returning a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown. The 49ers would reply with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 26-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Nedney gave San Francisco a 28-yard field goal. Seattle responded with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 51-yard field goal. The 49ers would hack away at the lead as quarterback J. T. O'Sullivan completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bryant Johnson, yet the Seahawks closed out the half with Mare's 38-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, San Francisco took the lead with linebacker Patrick Willis returning an interception 86 yards for a touchdown, along with running back Frank Gore's 2-yard touchdown run. Seattle regained the lead as running back T. J. Duckett made a 1-yard touchdown run, along with Mare kicking a 32-yard field goal. However, the 49ers tied the game with Nedney's 28-yard field goal. In overtime, San Francisco's Nedney nailed the game-winning 40-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Seahawks fell to 0–2.
Julius Jones (26 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown) got his first 100-yard game since Week 14 of 2006.
Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams
The Seahawks stayed at home for a Week 3 NFC West duel with the St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, Seattle's kicker Olindo Mare made a 28-yard field goal. The Seahawks continued their assault as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Michael Bumpus and running back Julius Jones getting a 29-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Rams got on the board with former Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare getting a 43-yard field goal. Seattle would reply with running back T. J. Duckett getting a 4-yard touchdown run. St. Louis tried to rally as Brown kicked a 29-yard field goal, yet the Seahawks continued to increase their lead with Mare's 38-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Rams tried to come back as quarterback Marc Bulger completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dane Looker. In the fourth quarter, Seattle flew away as Duckett got a 1-yard touchdown run and Mare nailed a 38-yard field goal.
With the win, the Seahawks entered their bye week at 1–2.
Week 5: at New York Giants
Coming off their bye week, the Seahawks flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 5 duel with the defending Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants. In the first quarter, Seattle trailed early as quarterback Eli Manning completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Domenik Hixon. The Seahawks responded with kicker Olindo Mare completing a 30-yard field goal, yet New York answered with running back Brandon Jacobs getting a 3-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Giants increased their lead with kicker John Carney getting a 29-yard field goal, Jacobs getting a 1-yard touchdown run, and Carney making a 33-yard field goal. Seattle closed out the half with Mare kicking a 29-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New York pulled away as Manning completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sinorice Moss, along with Carney nailing a 35-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Giants sealed the win as quarterback David Carr completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Moss.
With the loss, the Seahawks fell to 1–3.
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Hoping to rebound from their blowout road loss to the Giants, the Seahawks returned home for a Week 6 duel with the Green Bay Packers, as head coach Mike Holmgren faced his former team for the last time. Also, quarterback Seneca Wallace was unable to play due to a knee injury he suffered from last week. Quarterback Charlie Frye was given the start.
In the first quarter, Seattle trailed early as Packers kicker Mason Crosby got a 29-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Seahawks took the lead as kicker Olindo Mare got a 50-yard field goal, while Frye completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end John Carlson. Green Bay tied the game as quarterback Aaron Rodgers got a 1-yard touchdown run.
In the third quarter, the Packers regained the lead as Rodgers completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings. In the fourth quarter, Green Bay pulled away as Rodgers completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback John Kuhn, along with Crosby nailing a 51-yard field goal. Seattle tried to come back as Frye completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keary Colbert, but the Packers' defense was too much.
With the loss, the Seahawks fell to 1–4.
Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hoping to snap a two-game losing streak, the Seahawks flew to Raymond James Stadium for a Week 7 Sunday night duel with their 1976 expansion rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck recovering from an injured knee, back-up Seneca Wallace was given the start.
In the first quarter, Seattle trailed early as Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia completed a 47-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Bryant. In the second quarter, Tampa Bay increased their lead as running back Earnest Graham got a 1-yard touchdown run, along with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 27-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Seahawks got on the board as kicker Olindo Mare got a 26-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers sailed away as Bryant nailed a 27-yard field goal. Seattle ended the game's scoring as Wallace completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end John Carlson.
With the loss, not only did the Seahawks fall to 1–5, but they also suffered their first-ever loss at Tampa Bay.
Week 8: at San Francisco 49ers