Seattle Seahawks Rewind: It Wasn't All Olindo Mare's Fault

The temptation is to blame Seattle’s 25-19 loss to Chicago on kicker Olindo Mare, but let’s be very clear: There was plenty of blame to go around. Yes, Olindo Mare missed two makeable field goals. But should he really have had to kick six field goals? The way it worked out, he would have needed to hit all six just for a chance to hit a seventh to win it or at least have the game go to overtime. That’s a lot to ask of any kicker. Mare made kicks from 46, 37, 39, and 46 yards. He missed from 43 and 34. Yes, those were both makeable kicks, but for coach Jim Mora to blame this loss on his kicker is ridiculous. “If you’re a kicker in the National Football League, you should make those kicks – bottom line,” Mora told reporters after the game. “You’ve gotta make those kicks, especially in a game like this, where you’re kicking and fighting and scratching your tail off. And [if] you miss those kicks, it’s not acceptable. Not ...