Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman melts down after Julio Jones touchdown

RENTON, Wash. -- Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was irate after Seattle's defense allowed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones on Atlanta's opening possession of the third quarter Sunday.

Sherman threw his helmet to the ground and was screaming at seemingly everybody on the Seahawks' sideline after the play. Defensive coordinator Kris Richard appeared to be a focus of the anger. Several teammates, including Michael Bennett, Kam Chancellor, Bobby Wagner and more, tried to settle Sherman down with little success. Even head coach Pete Carroll had to try to calm Sherman down.

"He got really upset that we didn't play something correctly," Carroll said.

"We had prepared for some things to happen that happened just like we thought and we didn't play it the way we thought we would and it didn't come out right. It was a great job by them of the two big mistakes we made they took advantage and got touchdowns."

Sherman said they had two breakdowns in coverage that led to touchdowns. It was the first one to Jones that sent him into his rage. However, a later touchdown pass to tight end Levine Toilolo was also on a defensive breakdown.

"It was a blown coverage and we should never give them points when we could've stopped them and held them to nothing," Sherman said.

Many members of the Seattle defense encircled Sherman and began jumping up and down on the sideline to try and get him back energized and focused.

"You tell me one family that never gets in an argument," defensive end Cliff Avril said. "I don't necessarily know what the issue was but we all got past it and won the game. That's all that matters."

Sherman said both plays happened when they attempted to call defensive audibles to shifts made by the Falcons' offense. The touchdowns came on very similar route combinations, from two different formations, with a receiver running uncovered up the Seahawks' sideline.

Sherman's anger stemmed from the fact it was something that they had planned for and failed to execute properly. Carroll said the absence of Chancellor also played into the errors.

"What was clear, to me, was that Kam is a big factor," Carroll said. "We don't see that stuff. ... He has such a connection and the skill in communicating and all that. (Kelcie McCray) couldn't have that. He hasn't played enough with our guys. He's been there, but it's not the same. So we have to adapt to that."

"(McCray) played really well. He did a nice job in the game but still, the communication is not as good. Otherwise it wouldn't matter if you played together for five years. It matters. There's something to that. I thought it was evident that that happened."

After allowing 21 points to Atlanta in the third quarter, Seattle shut out the Falcons in the fourth quarter and came up with an interception of Matt Ryan that allowed Seattle to drive for the go-ahead score. The defense then forced the Falcons to go four-and-out -- while benefitting from a missed pass-interference call -- to seal the 26-24 victory.

"I thought it was a marvelous job of our guys showing who they are and their resolve to make sure they do what is right for our team. It was impressive," Carroll said.