Seahawks hang on for 30-24 victory
Well, it wasn’t pretty, but the Seahawks escaped with a 30-24 victory over the winless Oakland Raiders.
The finish was not without drama thanks to a long Raiders touchdown drive, which ended on a 1-yard touchdown pass with 1:52 left. Jermaine Kearse recovered the ensuing onside kick after it went through Cooper Helfet’s hands, allowing Seattle to run out the clock.
I’ll have news and reaction from the locker room later.
Field goal gives Seahawks 10-point lead
The struggling Seahawks offense put a decent drive together, the big play being a 39-yard reception by Marshawn Lynch. The drive stalled out in the red zone, but a Hauschka field goal made it 27-17.
Guard James Carpenter hurt his ankle on the drive, and is questionable to return. He was replaced by Garry Gilliam, so Seattle’s line is now 3/5 backups.
More special teams miscues cost the Seahawks
Seattle’s offense still isn’t clicking, and their usually reliable special teams play is hurting them for the second time in three weeks. After Seattle went three and out again, Jon Ryan hit just a 39-yard punt, which was returned 27 yards, giving Oakland the ball at Seattle’s 30-yard line.
Darren McFadden gained 23 yards on a short pass thanks to some poor tackling, then facing fourth-and-goal from the 1, the Raiders converted to make it 24-17. Looks like we’re headed for a tense finish in what started out looking like a blowout.
Blocked punt give Raiders life
The Seahawks have had so many chances to bury the Raiders, and keep failing to do so. After scoring to close the half, the Seahawks got the ball to start the third quarter, but rather than pad their lead, they went three-and-out, and were lucky to not have Oakland score a defensive touchdown when D.J. Hayden jumped in front of a pass intended for Paul Richardson, but dropped a sure pick-six.
But just when it looked like the Seahawks dodged a bullet, Denico Autry went unblocked up the middle on Seattle’s punt attempt and blocked it, and after a lot of bouncing around, the ball ended up in the end zone, where Brice Butler recovered to give the Raiders their first touchdown of the game.
Seahawks lead 24-3 at halftime
The Seahawks offense that was struggling for most of the first half kicked it into gear on its last possession of the half, driving 78 yards despite a hold to open the drive. Russell Wilson, who had a few uncharacteristic misses earlier in the game, went six for six on the drive, then Marshawn Lynch punched it in from 5-yards out to give the Seahawks a three-touchdown lead.
The Raiders did manage to get into field goal range, but Sebastian Janikowski missed from 51 yards.
A few halftime stats:
The Seahawks outgained Oakland 148-105, and 13 first downs to Oakland’s 8. Marshawn Lynch carried 10 times for 42 yards and a pair of scores, while Russell Wilson was 10 for 18 for 85 yards. Doug Baldwin and Lynch each led Seattle with three catches for 27 yards.
Raiders QB Derek Carr was 11 for 22 for 95 yards with two interceptions, while Darren McFadden gained just 13 yards on 9 carries. Mychal Rivera was Oakland’s leading receiver with 24 yards on three catches.
Seahawks fail to capitalize on another Oakland turnover
The Raiders really want to give this game away, but the Seahawks aren’t taking full advantage of Oakland’s mistakes. After Hauschka’s field goal gave Seattle a 17-3 lead, Jermaine Kearse forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return, which Hauschka recovered. Another short field and more points for Seattle, right? Instead the Seahawks went three and out, and Hauschka missed from 46 yards.
Other than that first touchdown drive, the Seahawks haven’t done much at all on offense. The Seahawks have just 40 yards of offense midway through the second quarter, and Russell Wilson is just 2 for 8.
Richard Sherman gets his first interception of 2014
More pressure meant another rushed throw, and this one was picked by Richard Sherman, who then went on a long, meandering 22-yard return that went from one sideline to the other. The Seahawks only got a field goal out of it, but it looks like the defense is getting going, and this one could get out of hand, which is exactly the type of game the Seahawks need.
Bruce Irvin makes it 14-3 with freakishly athletic pick-6
After the Raiders and Seahawks traded punts, Bruce Irvin gave the Seahawks a 14-3 lead with an incredible individual effort. The linebacker dropped into coverage, jumped up to tip the ball, located it, caught it, then raced 35 yards for the score.
Early on, it looks like the Seahawks are bringing some extra pressure for the second week in a row, and while they haven’t sacked Carr, they’re forcing him to get rid of the ball in a hurry.
Lynch powers Seattle to an early lead
Well, if you’re among those who think the Seahawks haven’t been running the ball enough, that first Seattle possession had to put a smile on your face.
The Seahawks handed the ball to Marshawn Lynch six times on the drive (one was wiped out by a facemask on Oakland), and he also had one catch for seven yards. Lynch’s final carry was a very-impressive 3-yard touchdown that saw him, with the help of some teammates, power his way in after initially being stopped two yards out. It was an impressive opening drive for an offense starting Patrick Lewis at center and Alvin Bailey at left tackle.
Raiders kick field goal opening drive
The Seahawks opened the game on defense minus a handful of starters, and at times there appeared to be a bit of confusion as a result. Brock Coyle is starting at middle linebacker, but it looks like K.J. Wright is making the calls for the defense.
And as expected, Coyle came out when Seattle was in its nickel defense, with Kevin Pierre-Louis coming in to play linebacker along with Wright.
The Raiders couldn’t run the ball at all, but Derek Carr did enough with his arm to get the Raiders into field goal range, and Sebastian Janikowski was good from 48 yards. Credit Wright with a very nice pass breakup on third down to kill Oakland’s drive.
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