Seahawks vs. Packers game thread
Published 9:12 pm Saturday, August 21, 2010
It’s almost time for the Seahawks second preseason game—or as I like to call it, fake game No. 2—to kick off. Looks like almost everyone will be available for Seattle, including RB Leon Washington, who is expected to make his Seattle debut today, and LB Lofa Tatupu, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury. The only players not suiting up for Seattle are the two players on the PUP list, CB Josh Pinkard and G Chester Pitts, as well as LB Leroy Hill (knee) and T Ray Willis (knee).
We’ll see more of the starters tonight than we did last week, with most probably playing all or most of the first half.
Be back with more once the game gets going.
Tied at 7, Okung injured
Seattle stumbled out of the game once again, going three-and-out on offense, then allowing a way-too-easy touchdown drive.
The Good news for Seattle, however, was that a Josh Wilson returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to give Matt Hasselbeck a short field, and he completed four straight passes, including an 11-yard touchdown to Deion Branch.
And the Seahawks were without LT Russell Okung on the drive because of an ankle injury. Okung’s return is doubtful according tot he team. With Ray Willis out with a knee injury, that left Mansfield Wrotto as the backup.
Packers regain lead, plus another Seattle injury
Aaron Rogers led the Packers to another score, and on the 12-yard touchdown to Jermichael Findley, rookie S Earl Thomas was badly fooled, allowing Findley to get wide open. It hasn’t been the best day for Thomas, who was beaten deep by Greg Jennings on the first play of the game.
After the touchdown, veteran S Lawyer Milloy was quickly getting on Thomas about the mistake.
Also on that drive, CB Kelly Jennings went down with an elbow injury. His return is questionable. Adding insult to injury, Jennings was also called for illegal contact on the play.
Welcome back, Leon
Leon Washington scored on an 11-yard run to tie the game, and by the looks of that run, his surgically repaired league. On his second touch since breaking his leg last season, Washington exploded through the hole and past the Green Bay defense.
That score was set up by a nice diving catch from Mike Williams.
Oh, and for those who were ready to hand the starting QB job over to Charlie Whitehurst after last week’s game, I offer Matt Hasselbeck’s numbers so far: 9 for 11, 100 yards, 1 TD.
Packers lead 17-14 at halftime
The best things in the first half for Seattle? The play of Matt Hasselbeck, who went 11 for 15 for 127 yards and a TD, and the sight of Leon Washington exploding through the hole on an 11-yard run. It also had to be encouraging for the Seahawks to see T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was quiet in the first preseason game.
On the flip side, two starters are out with injuries, and the defense allowed 264 yards and 17 points to Green Bay, a good chunk of which came after Aaron Rogers and the starters had left the game. Also not good? Seattle carried nine times for 32 yards, an average of 3.6 yards.
Also worth noting, Julius Jones didn’t play at all in the first half. That can’t be a good sign for last year’s starting RB.
Obomanu TD gives Seahawks the lead
Charlie Whitehurst connected with Ben Obomanu for a 3-yard score to give Seattle a 21-17 lead. Obomanu, who like last year is battling to make the team, also had a 17-yard run on a reverse.
And Julius Jones did get in the game on that series. He didn’t have a lot of room to run, but did make a defender miss for a nice run after catch on third down that kept the drive alive.
