TALKING POINTS
Just another routine victory for the Seahawks. Seattle scored 30-plus points for the fourth straight game, a feat the Seahawks hadn’t accomplished since 1986. The defense, after allowing Cleveland to march down the field on the game’s first drive, dug in and kept the Browns out of the end zone the rest of the way. Add in the New York Giants’ loss to the Carolina Panthers and Seattle clinched a berth in the postseason for the fourth straight year. Who could have predicted the Seahawks would assure their spot in the playoffs with two weeks to spare when they were 2-4?
And it was another amazing game for quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver Doug Baldwin.
Wilson was 21-for-30 for 249 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Wilson’s five-game totals are 110-for-148 (74.3 percent), 1,420 yards (9.6 yards per attempt), 19 touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s a 143.6 passer rating. He’s also the first quarterback in NFL history with five consecutive games throwing three-or-more TDs with no interceptions. Incredible.
As for Baldwin, he caught two more touchdown passes, giving him 10 over the past four games. Only one other receiver in NFL history has caught 10 TDs in a four-game span, that being Jerry Rice in 1987. Baldwin also became just the third receiver since 1960 to catch two-plus TDs in four straight games, the other two being Calvin Johnson and Cris Carter. Those are elite names Baldwin is keeping company with. Baldwin also has 13 TDs this season, tying Daryl Turner (1985) for the franchise’s single-season record with two games still to play.
Seattle also received surprising production from its running-back committee. Top two running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls are out injured, and the burden of carrying the ball fell to a fullback in Derrick Coleman and a pair of emergency free-agent signings in Bryce Brown and Christine Michael. Yet the Seahawks remained committed to the run and wound up with 182 yards on 36 carries. Michael was the third back to carry the ball, but ended up doing the most damage, rushing 16 times for 84 yards. Brown finished with 43 yards on nine carries, while Coleman had 10 yards on five carries. It’s quite the redemptive moment for Michael, who was given up on by the Seahawks before the season started.
Other notes:
– Baldwin wasn’t the only Seattle receiver doing good things Sunday. Jermaine Kearse had seven catches for 110 yards. It was his first career 100-yard game. Tyler Lockett had five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown as he continues to be one of the top rookie receivers in the league.
– The Seahawks nullified the threat of Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel. Manziel was 19-for-32 for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was able to complete passes underneath, but got nothing going down the field. Seattle also limited Cleveland’s top receiving threat, tight end Gary Barnidge, holding him to three catches for 29 yards, though he did score the Browns’ lone touchdown.
– Jeremy Lane received a start at cornerback ahead of DeShawn Shead. Shead was listed as questionable because of an ankle injury, but was declared ready to go Friday. However, Shead only appeared in the game’s opening series in Seattle’s nickel package, then sat out the rest of the way. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Shead was just being saved and should be ready to go next week.
– Seattle lost tackle Russell Okung to a calf strain in the second half. He was replaced by Alvin Bailey. Carroll said Okung will need to be re-evaluated to determine the severity of the injury.
TURNING POINT
I don’t necessarily think the game turned on this play, but I thought it was worth mentioning. The score was all set to be 17-10 in favor of Seattle heading into halftime. On what should have been the final play of the half, Wilson completed a short pass to Kearse. But Kearse powered his way through defenders and eventually drew a face mask penalty on Cleveland’s Tramon Williams. The pass and penalty went for 48 yards, and the defensive penalty gave the Seahawks a bonus play on which Steven Hauschka made a 27-yard field goal, gifting Seattle a 10-point halftime lead.
QUOTABLE
“That’s the definition of ballin’ right there. He’s going to have to take the wideouts to eat or something.”
– Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse on Doug Baldwin’s 10 touchdowns in the past four games.
BOX SCORE
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