To the average viewer, Seattle's heartbreaking loss to San Francisco could have been pinned on one player: Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.
At least, if they reviewed the key moments, Woolen was to blame. The 2022 Pro Bowler gave up a 45-yard completion to 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall only after he stopped running with the receiver, giving the second-year wideout room to make a significant grab in a huge moment in the game. And on the most decisive play (save for Sam Darnold's game-ending red-zone fumble), Woolen appeared to be in great position to make a play on a Brock Purdy pass intended for tight end Jake Tonges in the end zone.
As the ball floated toward Tonges, Woolen leapt, reaching out for what was almost surely going to be a game-saving interception.
Tonges ended up reaching over Woolen to pluck the ball out of the air for only his third career reception -- and the game-deciding touchdown.
"It's like I did 98% on a quiz, and I just didn't put my name on it, and I got 2% taken off because I didn't finish the test," Woolen said Wednesday, via The News Tribune, "or didn't pay attention to detail. Like, something small about putting my name on the test."
In the NFL, the details can make all the difference between wins and losses -- and between maintaining a job and sitting on the bench. Woolen now appears to be facing the latter, especially after Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald reviewed the tape and glowed over the performance of another corner, Joshua Jobe.
"I thought he played a tremendous football game. He played physical, played smart, played disciplined and finished his plays right," Macdonald said of Jobe on Monday. "I thought he played a great game."
Finished his plays right. That's something Woolen clearly didn't do on Sunday. Might Macdonald insert Jobe in Woolen's place?
"You go out and you produce, why would we not play you?" Macdonald said.
Asked directly if he'd bench Woolen for Jobe, Macdonald said simply, "We'll see."
Woolen didn't have an entirely terrible game. He finished with four tackles, one pass defensed (which prevented a touchdown), and forced a tight window percentage of 25 percent when targeted as the nearest defender.
But he also allowed a near-perfect passer rating of 156.3 when targeted and a catch rate over expected of +36.5 percent. Those numbers simply aren't sustainable.
Woolen could start by focusing on the details that separate good plays from bad, such as the completion to Pearsall that moved the 49ers into scoring position late in the game.
"Yeah, I could have played the ball better," Woolen reflected. "I ran the route for him. I knew what type of route it was, and I've just got to execute and attack the ball and not lose track of the ball."
Ultimately, Woolen's fate rests in the hands of Macdonald. It wouldn't be the first time Woolen has been benched in his career, but in a contract year, it might be damning.
"I mean, he's the head man," Woolen said of whether Macdonald might replace him. "So whatever he says goes. I ain't gonna go against it.
"But other than that, I could just continue to be Riq, and just continue to be a great player that I have been doing."
We'll see if being himself is enough to convince Macdonald to give Woolen another shot when the Seahawks head to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
