SEATTLE — Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch ran for 124 yards on Sunday, giving him a season total of 1,005 yards. It is Lynch’s second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with the Seahawks and the fourth of his six-year NFL career.
It was also Lynch’s fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, and with six games to play he is easily on track to top his career single-season rushing high of 1,204 yards, which he achieved a year ago.
“I think for the whole football team, to see him get to 1,000 yards today, that’s something everybody takes pride in,” said head coach Pete Carroll, following Seattle’s 28-7 victory over the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field. “When you’re a team that’s committed to the running game … that’s something we’re proud of.
“(Lynch) busted his tail today. He had a lot of plays where he got hit right on the line of scrimmage, but he just kept battling and he turned it into a productive gain,” Carroll said.
Lynch, like the rest of Seattle’s offense, started slowly. He had just 39 yards on 14 carries in the first half with a long gain of 7 yards.
But in the second half the Seahawks’ offense began to punish the Jets, and no one more than Lynch. With his legs still churning, he was often dragging tacklers for extra yards.
“His ability to make people miss, to run over people and to continue when everybody is on him, to get 4 more yards on a 2-yard run, it’s just unbelievable,” said Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Lynch was not available for comment after the game, but his teammates were quick to speak up on his behalf.
“He just runs so hard,” said offensive guard John Moffitt. “The effort that he gives and the way he runs is really phenomenal.
“Not to say that he’s not a highlight film runner because he does have runs that are amazing, but he’s also a guy that’s going to get 4 yards every time. He gets 5 yards, 4 yards, 5 yards. He’s always going forward and always driving his legs. It’s really awesome the way he plays.”
Lynch was on the bench late in the fourth quarter, but returned for one final carry. Against a wilting Jets defense, Lynch went through the right side for 18 yards, which put him over 1,000. The milestone in hand, he trotted off the field a final time.
“It’s hard to get 1,000 yards in this league,” said Seattle fullback Michael Robinson. “So I congratulated Marshawn, but then he congratulated me. And that just shows the kind of guy he is.”
“He’s vital to our football team,” Wilson said. “I think the biggest thing about Marshawn is his ability to make plays that are really exceptional. That’s what makes him the best running back in the National Football League.”
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