Defense leads the way as Seahawks sack the Colts, 46-18
Published 1:30 am Sunday, October 1, 2017
SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks’ rise to prominence under head coach Pete Carroll has been predicated on defense.
And despite its primary focus on point prevention, the defense nonetheless likes to dabble in point production every now and then.
That was the case Sunday as the Seahawks scored two defensive touchdowns and the offense got untracked in the second half as Seattle pulled away for a 46-18 win before 68,872 fans and a national television audience at CenturyLink Field.
“I think everybody was clicking,” said Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown in the second half.
“The offense was clicking, special teams was clicking, we were clicking,” Wagner continued. “And we started feeding off each other’s energy. The offense would make a play and give us some juice. We’d make a play and give them some juice. That’s when we’re at our best is when everybody is feeding off each other.”
Seattle (2-2) moved into a tie with Arizona for second place in the NFC West standings. The Seahawks have a showdown with the first-place Los Angeles Rams next week at the L.A. Coliseum.
Indianapolis fell to 1-3.
J.D. McKissic rushed for a 30-yard touchdown on his first carry of the season to break an 18-18 tie with 2:12 to go in the third quarter.
“At first I lost it,” McKissic said of his touchdown run. “I forgot to celebrate with the team. I wanted to run into the crowd and be with those guys. It was crazy. It’s something you dream of. I’m a lucky guy to have that happen to me tonight.”
McKissic later added a 27-yard touchdown reception. In between came Wagner’s fumble recovery and a Russell Wilson 6-yard scoring toss to tight end Luke Willson.
All told the Seahawks scored 28 straight points after Adam Vinatieri’s 40-yard field goal tied the game at 18-18 at the 4:57 mark of the third quarter.
It was an offensive onslaught few would have predicted as Seattle trailed 15-10 at the half.
“The second half is what we’re capable of and the first half was not,” Willson said. “But it certainly felt good. That second half felt good tonight.”
It began when Wilson capped a third-quarter opening drive by scrambling up the gut for 23 yards and the go-ahead touchdown at 9:23.
The officials initially marked Wilson down at the 1, but reversed themselves after a Seahawks challenge to give Seattle its first offensive touchdown of the night.
It wouldn’t be the last.
“We have lot of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball and we needed to start performing,” Willson said. “And when we get rolling, I mean, it’s tough to stop.”
Starting running back Chris Carson left the field on the cart with his left leg in an air cast in the fourth quarter, so the emergence of McKissic could loom large as the season progresses.
“Me and (Richard) Sherman have been preaching to Pete for a number of weeks now about J.D. getting in there because he’s a ballplayer,” veteran wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. “That’s what he does — he plays football and is phenomenal at it so we were excited for his success.
“We had no doubt. It wasn’t a surprise at all.”
The Colts kept it close in part by using a booth review, two successful challenges and an unsuccessful Seattle challenge.
The booth review kept alive Indianapolis’s final drive of the first half, and Jacoby Brissett’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief gave Indianapolis a 15-10 lead.
The Seahawks responded to Moncrief’s touchdown by driving deep into Colts territory, but Blair Walsh’s 37-yard field-goal attempt as time expired was wide right as Indianapolis maintained the halftime lead.
Seattle’s defense also scored the first touchdown. Leading 3-2 after the opening quarter, cornerback Justin Coleman returned his first career interception 28 yards to push Seattle’s lead to 10-2 at 12:25 in the second.
The only reason Coleman was in the game was because Jeremy Lane left with a hip injury following Seattle’s first defensive series.
“(Coleman) was as ready as he could be today when Lane unfortunately had to go out early with the injury,” fellow cornerback Sherman said. “Justin Coleman since the Green Bay game had to step up. He’s been playing well in practice and doing great things, so it’s awesome to see him get his opportunity.”
The Colts answered when former Seahawk running back Robert Turbin forced his way into the end zone at 5:25, but Seattle maintained a 10-8 lead after a failed two-point conversion.
The Seahawks couldn’t capitalize. Colts safety Matthias Farley batted a Wilson pass to himself just before stepping out of bounds to set up Brissett’s go-ahead touchdown pass to Moncrief.
Seattle opened the scoring on its first possession. Wilson connected with Baldwin for a 27-yard third-down pickup and a 44-yard Walsh field goal gave Seattle a 3-0 lead at 8:59 in the first quarter.
The Colts pinned the Seahawks at their own 1-yard line on their next possession. On third down, Wilson dropped back into the end zone to pass and appeared to release the ball before being dragged down by a Colts defender. The call was overturned on a challenge, awarding the Colts a safety and cutting Seattle’s lead to 3-2 at 4:18 in the opening quarter.
Extra points
Nine Seahawks — the defensive line two-deeps and linebacker Michael Wilhoite — sat during the national anthem. Last week the Seahawks remained in the locker room during the anthem. … In addition to Lane and Carson, defensive end Cliff Avril left the game with a neck injury in the first half and did not return. … Running back Thomas Rawls was a healthy scratch as Carson, McKissic and Eddie Lacy split carries. … Left tackle Rees Odhiambo received medical attention in the locker room postgame after taking a hit to the chest. … Baldwin played the entire game after he was questionable during the week with a groin injury. … Kenny Easley, the former Seattle Seahawks safety, 2017 NFL Hall of Fame inductee and Seahawks Ring of Honor honoree, had his No. 45 jersey retired at halftime.
