Thomas’ loss hurts Seattle

Defense has zero interceptions since safety broke his leg.

RENTON, WASH. — Until a month ago, the Seattle Seahawks never knew what it was like without Earl Thomas on the fifield.

Now they’re fifinding out how much Thomas means to everything they try and accomplish defensively.

“Earl’s a unique player. He’s an extraordinary player, he’s proven that,” coach Pete Carroll said. “No matter what position a guy plays, you miss that unique quality.”

Since Thomas broke his leg early in Seattle’s Week 13 win over Carolina, the Seahawks have become vulnerable against the pass.

In the fifinal four games of the regular season, the opponent passer rating against the Seahawks was 105.0. In the first 12 games, it was 77.9. And while that final fourgame stretch included stellar games by Aaron Rodgers and Carson Palmer in a pair of Seattle losses, it also included performances by Jared Goff, Case Keenum and Colin Kaepernick that didn’t lead to wins against Seattle but were probably better than most expected.

Now come the pass-happy Detroit Lions in the NFC wildcard round Saturday.

“I wouldn’t say vulnerable, you know, they’re a heck of a defense,” Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “They do a great job. Obviously, Earl brings a mentality to them. Trusts his eyes probably more than any safety I’ve ever seen and you know, the young guy they’ve got fifilling in for him doesn’t as much, but I mean they’ve got a great defense.”

Steven Terrell has been the one asked to step in for Thomas, even if there is no way to properly replace one of the best free safeties in the NFL. It’s the most Terrell has played in his brief NFL career. Before this season, Terrell had one career defensive tackle in his two seasons with the Seahawks.

“Just the experience, learning through the good, the bad, the indifffffffffffferent, whatever. It’s just getting better and seeing where I’m at,” Terrell said. “You kind of see where you’re at in the preseason but playing this year in the regular season it’s been a good opportunity.”

The experience Terrell is getting appears to be coming at a cost to Seattle’s defense.

In the first 11 games of the season, the Seahawks allowed 10 passing touchd own s . I n t h e f i n a l f i v e games, including the Carolina game when Thomas was injured early in the second quarter, they allowed six.

Perhaps more telling is the lack of interceptions. Seattle’s last interception came on the fifirst play of its 40-7 win over Carolina. Since Thomas was hurt, the Seahawks have zero picks.