Sherman: Blowout loss to Packers 'a wake-up call' for Seahawks

Sometimes a blowout loss can help a team assess - and correct - flaws that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

That's the mentality the Seattle Seahawks are adopting after being taken apart by the Green Bay Packers 38-10 on Sunday - the Seahawks' first double-digit loss of the season.

"Sometimes you need stuff like this," cornerback Richard Sherman said, according to Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Times. "Everybody needs to get a wake-up call. It's cool. They played a good game, and you have to give them credit. But we appreciate the wake up."

Last season, Sherman explained the team's approach to losses similarly: "When you’ve been to the top and you’ve been to the bottom, you understand that neither one of them is fatal. Neither one of them is the final decision."

The 8-5 Seahawks are still all but certain to make the playoffs despite the defeat, as they have a three-game lead in the NFC West over the Arizona Cardinals.

The result did, however, hurt their chances of securing a first-round bye, and highlighted their vulnerability without All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 13.

"We just took an 'L' on the chin," defensive end Cliff Avril said. "There's no other way to put it. We just got our behinds kicked, all around. Gave up points, turnovers, didn't play well, special teams - just all around we got our butts kicked. But, the good thing is we know how good we can be. We just have to be more consistent."