Seahawks catch a break before the game starts
We’re not quite underway here at Qwest Field, but already the Seahawks have had something go in their favor. Mike Sims-Walker, the Jaguars’ leading receiver, is not going to play today for violating a team rule. He’ll be replaced in the lineup by rookie Mike Thomas. Some football fans around here may remember Thomas from his days at Arizona, including a 66-yard touchdown catch in Husky Stadium two years ago.
Seahawks, Jags trade punts to start the game
The Seahawks had a nice drive going, but elected to punt on fourth-and-one at the Jacksonville 43. Let’s just say the 12th-man didn’t approve of that decision. Seattle did get the ball back, however they gave up a lot of field position in the exchange of punts, and will start their second possession with the ball at the 17-yard line.
Meet Kyle Williams, your new left tackle
Brandon Frye, who started at left tackle in place of the injured Sean Locklear, who was starting in place of the injured Walter Jones, is now out of the game with a shoulder stinger. His return is questionable, we’re being told. That means Kyle Williams, who was signed off the practice squad yesterday, is now in the game protecting the blindside of a quarterback with fractured rib. Good times.
Speaking of that injured quarterback, Hasselbeck no doubt gave the entire stadium a scare when he scrambled for a nine-yard run, but he did get out of bounds without taking a shot.
Seahawks lead 3-0
And perhaps more important that the 47-yard Olindo Mare field goal is the fact that Hasselbeck took his first hit of the game and popped right back up, seemingly no worse for it.
Defense preserves 3-0 lead
The first quarter just ended, and the Seahawks are up 3-0 thanks in large part to a goal-line stand by the defense. Facing fourth-and-one from the 2-yard line, Jacksonville went for it instead of kicking a field goal, and pressure by Lofa Tatupu and Aaron Curry forced David Garrard to throw the ball away.
More punting. So exciting
Since I last checked in, reporting on Seattle’s big stop, we’ve seen… let’s see here… a Seahawks punt, a Jacksonville punt, another Seahawks punt, and would you look at that, here comes Jacksonville’s punting unit. That three-point lead is looking better and better as the game goes on. Even with Hasselbeck in the game, the Seahawks offense is a bit limited. It lookes like they’re doing everything they can to keep him from getting hit both in terms of protection and calling quick throws.
Seahawks extend lead, end zone still safe from football-carrying invaders
Perhaps we’ll see a touchdown at some point today, but for now the Seahawks have a 6-0 lead thanks to another Olindo Mare field goal, this one from 27 yards out. Hasselbeck scrambled again on the drive, this time for 12 yards, again scaring 67,000 people until he slid to safety after getting to the first-down marker.
Hasselbeck to Housh makes it 13-0
T.J. Houshmandzadeh has made no secret of the fact that he wants the ball more, and he’s getting his wish so far today. He has four catches for 64 yards, including his first touchdown, a 34-yarder that gave the Seahawks a 13-0 lead.
Another long touchdown pass makes it 20-0
Following that last touchdown, the Seahawks defense forced its fourth three-and-out of the half, giving Hasselbeck and the offense a short field. Three plays later, Hasselbeck found Nate Burleson over the middle, and Burleson shed a tackler and raced to the end zone for a 44-yard score.
Hasselbeck is now 14 for 23 for 192 yards in his return from injury.
Some halftime stats
After a slow start offensively, the Seahawks picked things up in a big way in the first half. They finished with 256 yards, including 192 yards from Hasselbeck. Nate Burleson had five catches for 93 yards, including a 44-yard scored, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh had 64 yards on four catches, including a 34-yard touchdown.
Jacksonville has just 92 yards and four first downs.
Turnover leads to another Seahawks touchdown
Jacksonville was moving the ball on its first possession of the first half, but that drive ended when Aaron Curry hit Jags quarterback David Garrard, forcing a fumble that Cory Redding returned from midfield to the 32.
Four plays later, Hasselbeck hit Houshmandzadeh for a 13-yard touchdown, the second time today those two have connected for a score. It’s now 27-0 Seahawks.
Seahawks now lead 34-0
Hasselbeck now has four touchdown passes, the most recent one coming on a 5-yard pass to Nate Burleson. Hasselbeck is now 18 of 30 for 241 yards. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get the rest of the day off, because as good as he has looked today, he’s still one bad shot to the ribs away from missing a few more games.
Barring injury or a spectacular comeback, this will do it for the game thread today.
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