One day after calling out PK Olindo Mare, Seahawks head coach Jim Mora took a more subtle approach when discussing Mare's struggles. Said Mora: "Games are emotional, you know? Boy, you just kick and you scratch and you fight to win them. And you have to do a good job of gathering yourself before you say something you regret. And that's something I'm certainly getting better at. I think I let the emotions of the game get to me. We're all paid. It's our jobs, as professionals, to make plays and make correct decisions as coaches. There are times maybe you set the bar a little too high sometimes."

Mare connected on 4-of-6 FG attempts, but it was the two misses that people were talking about the day after Seattle's record dropped to 1-2. With 14 seconds remaining in the first half, Mare's 46-yard attempt sailed wide left, failing to secure a two-possession lead for Seattle heading into the half. Then on Seattle's second possession of the third quarter following a Bears go-ahead score, Mare missed another attempt wide left from 34 yards. Seattle was unable to recover, as QB Seneca Wallace was intercepted on the team's next offensive possession, leaving Seattle and its head coach wondering what might have been had Mare capitalized on his opportunities.

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Mora was furious with his kicker following Sunday's 25-19 defeat against the Bears, and understandably so. But Mare was hardly the only Seahawk at fault. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a high-profile free-agent acquisition, had a fumble in the third quarter. Wallace, despite playing well for the most part while filling in for the injured Matt Hasselbeck, threw a costly interception deep in his own end that led to a Bears field goal. He also missed several throws to open receivers. Even sure-handed TE John Carlson had several drops.

Mora admitted he let his emotions get the best of him. He also probably realized that throwing his kicker under the bus in Week Three wasn't the best decision considering what other options are out there and as he tries to develop a rapport with his new team.

Mare has been less than spectacular this season, but this was the first time in almost six years that he had missed two field goals within 45 yards in the same game, and he has been a weapon on kickoffs — he's tied for the NFC lead in touchbacks with seven.

Ultimately, if Seattle is going to be successful this year, they are going to need Mare. Mora made the right decision in changing his tune and letting Mare know his job isn't in jeopardy. Yet.