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ATLANTA -- As is often the case, quarterback Russell Wilson was one of the last Seattle Seahawks players to finish getting dressed in the locker room Saturday evening. Defensive end Frank Clark was packing his belongings up when he spotted Wilson. "Appreciate you, bro," Clark said. "I appreciate you," Wilson responded. The Seahawks held out hope until the end that they could somehow find magic in a season filled with obstacles and inconsistencies. But during the 36-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in a divisional playoff game, they looked just as they have for the better part of two months. A defense that has appeared vulnerable without safety Earl Thomas allowed the Falcons to score on six of their first eight possessions. Matt Ryan did whatever he wanted all game long, completing 26 of 37 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. And a Seahawks offense that has made too many mistakes to be labeled as anything but mediocre found the end zone with its opening drive but not again until late in the fourth quarter when the game was out of hand. "I guess it's the story of our season," Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. "We just haven't been able to be consistent drive in and drive out." After the game, Seattle coach Pete Carroll was already looking ahead to next season. "We're still in the process," he said. "That's what it feels like, and we're in the middle of it. Not at the end of anything." Carroll offered a similar message after last season's playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers. And there are a couple of legitimate reasons why his words should be taken seriously. The first is his quarterback. Wilson is only 28. He battled through three different injuries this season but still has never missed a start in his NFL career. The Seahawks have gotten to at least the divisional round of the postseason every year since he was drafted. "It seems very, very similar to five years ago," Wilson said, referencing Seattle's divisional loss to the Falcons in the 2012 playoffs. "And that's a good thing. Coming off the field, I was like, 'Man, we've still got the same great guys. We still have the same great coaches. We still believe in everything that we're doing, and there's no doubt.'"  In the months ahead, teams will make desperate attempts to fill their voids at quarterback. The Seahawks don't have to worry about that, and it's the No. 1 reason why they'll continue to stay competitive.
And then there's the continuity of the roster. Only one of the Seahawks' 22 regular starters (linebacker Mike Morgan) will be an unrestricted free agent. The core of the team that has won 10 games or more in five consecutive seasons is in place. But there are concerns that need to be addressed. Simply counting on young members of the offensive line to improve would be a mistake. At a minimum, the Seahawks need to add competition. And Seattle needs to strongly consider investing in a tackle. This organization can't go into next season with so many question marks up front, given that Wilson is in his prime. The Seahawks need to give themselves better options. They have to decide what to do with tight end Jimmy Graham. They can have him play out the final year of his deal, extend him or release him and pick up $10 million in cap space. Graham had 923 receiving yards this season but was not a difference-maker in the red zone. Would that money be better spent on another part of the roster? Seattle already extended Michael Bennett at the end of the regular season. It has to decide whether Kam Chancellor, who is going into the final year of his deal, should be next. And the Seahawks are counting on several players -- Thomas, wide receiver Tyler Lockett and cornerback DeShawn Shead (Carroll said the fear is an injured ACL felled Shead during Saturday's defeat) -- to return from serious injuries. But the Seahawks need to address their depth. It's problematic that the loss of one player (Thomas) derailed their entire operation. Carroll and general manager John Schneider have done a tremendous job of putting a roster in place for a prolonged run. But given where this organization is, success is determined by Super Bowls. And the Seahawks need to make some tweaks to put themselves in the best position to make a run next season. "There's such a connection that these guys have that it would be a shame to think that this was the end and this is over," Carroll said. "To me, this feels more like the beginning than anything else. As we look down the road, we have such the right mentality that I can't wait to see what happens. I can't wait to see these guys come back and ready to go again -- and young guys get a little bit older, and old guys get a little bit better -- and see where we are. There's nothing to stop us from continuing to think that way. And these guys feel the same way."
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