Seahawks win 35-30 thriller over Patriots on goal-line stop

It came down to the final play again. And at the 1-yard line again.

The Seattle Seahawks (2-0) had an unfortunate start with an interception for a touchdown, but the offense was otherwise sparkling thanks to Russell Wilson’s five TD tosses to five different receivers. As for the New England Patriots (1-1), Cam Newton was brilliant but he was unable to get a hat trick of rushing touchdowns on the game’s final play. He was stuffed by Lano Hill and LJ Collier to end the game and give Seattle a nailbiting 35-30 win on Sunday Night Football.

There were a lot of key injuries to the Seahawks defense that looked serious, I’m afraid. Marquise Blair, Bruce Irvin, and Tre Flowers all left with injuries and Blair’s was by far the worst. On offense, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Chris Carson were all magnificent, and rookie Freddie Swain got his first NFL touchdown.

Seattle nearly squandered a 12-point 4th quarter lead but they hung on defensively on a day when they struggled mightily.

1st Half

The Seahawks started on offense first with the Patriots winning the coin toss. Duane Brown injured himself on the second play of the game after Mike Iupati rolled up on him. The next play saw Devin McCourty catch a dropped Greg Olsen pass and return it all the way for a touchdown. 7-0 Patriots.

Seattle responded brilliantly with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took off 8 minutes of game clock. Even after a Tyler Lockett blindside block penalty put Seattle in a 1st and 25 hole, Russell Wilson used his arms and legs to extend plays, including on the tying TD to Lockett. 7-7.

The Patriots finally went on offense after two straight Seahawks offensive possessions. Cam Newton converted a 4th and 3 in Seattle territory to N’Keal Harry, but the hit by Quandre Diggs was an illegal one as he whacked Harry in the head. Newton scored two plays later on a keeper. 14-7 Patriots.

Seattle got a big kick return from Travis Homer near midfield but the offense failed to capitalize — twice false starting before Wilson took a 3rd down sack that led to a punt. Even worse was an injury to Marquise Blair occurred on a run stop of Sony Michel on the next play. The Pats did go three-and-out but it was costly on defense.

Here’s DK Metcalf burning reigning DPOY cornerback Stephon Gilmore. 54 yards to the house. 14-14.

The Patriots got two big plays from Rex Burkhead to get into field goal range, but an end around play was sniffed out by Ugo Amadi to force 4th down. Nick Folk’s field goal from about 51 yards out went wide left.

Seattle’s two-minute drill was an abomination. Too many penalties, a sack, incomplete passes, and a punt to take us into the locker room.

2nd Half

The Patriots’ third down success continued on their opening possession, much to the annoyance of Seahawks fans. A deep shot to Julian Edelman set up the Pats near the Seahawks’ red zone, and eventually they were in goal to go situation. Jamal Adams, who whiffed on a sack that could’ve forced a punt earlier in the drive, did get a sack on Newton to make it a field goal. 17-14 Patriots.

Back came the Seahawks with this deep shot to David Moore from Russell Wilson. A beautiful 38-yard strike in which Moore was able to keep both feet in bounds to give Seattle the lead again. 21-17 Seahawks.

The uptempo offense really hampered the Seahawks defense, and they need a big play to slow things down. Quinton Dunbar, who nearly picked Newton in the 1st half jumping a route, once again jumped a route and this time he picked it near midfield.

That turnover turned into points, as Wilson found Freddie Swain on an underneath route for the rookie’s first NFL touchdown. 28-17 Seahawks.

Back came Cam with a long ball to Julian Edelman, who got far behind Jamal Adams and made a diving catch. The Pats carved up Seattle’s defense and Newton found Jakob Johnson the fullback for a touchdown to close the deficit to 28-23 Seahawks to start the 4th quarter.

Seattle could’ve killed some clock and gotten a crucial touchdown. They opted for two penalties and a three-and-out. Michael Dickson did boom a 64-yard punt that, coupled with a penalty on the Pats, put New England at their own 7.

After Newton converted a 3rd and 10 on a three-man rush, the drive stalled thanks to a great tackle by Jamal Adams off a poor pitch back to Rex Burkhead on 3rd and 4. A curious call too given New England’s ground game struggles with their backs, but it led to a punt and a good return by David Moore.

Russell Wilson led a brilliant 9-play, 65-yard drive to kill valuable time and increase the Seahawks’ lead to 12. Faced with a cover 0 blitz, he made the Pats defense pay by lofting a gorgeous pass to Chris Carson for another touchdown. FIVE. 35-23 Seahawks with 4:32 to go.

Back came Cam Newton with a brilliant 7-play, 75-yard drive that ended in his second rushing touchdown from a yard out. Only 2:16 was taken off the clock so the Pats still had the two-minute warning and all three timeouts. 35-30 Seahawks with 2:09 left.

Chris Carson rushed for six yards but left yards on the field by sliding down early and staying in bounds. The Pats let the clock run to the two-minute warning instead of call timeout. Next carry gained three yards and the Pats called timeout. 3rd and 1 deep shot to Lockett is incomplete. Fair catch at the 19 with 1:42 to go.

First down throw to Harry is caught for a gain of 13. A three-yard out to Ryan Izzo stopped the clock with 1:13. Down the middle throw to Harry gets the Patriots into Seattle territory just past midfield. First down throw to Harry is incomplete with :49 to go. Cam scrambles for 12 and a first down and a timeout by New England with :41 left. Deep shot by Newton results in an illegal contact on Ugo Amadi. Catch by Edelman to the 13 with :22 and counting. He stayed inbounds. Newton to Edelman for the win and it’s incomplete with :09 left. Timeout Seahawks. Throw to Harry at the 1 or 2-yard line and another timeout with :03 to go.

For all the marbles... AND NEWTON IS STOPPED! AND THE SEAHAWKS WIN THE GAME! 35-30 Seahawks!

Seahawks injury report

Marquise Blair hurt his knee in a tangle with KJ Wright in the 2nd quarter and did not return. Chances are he’s out for a long time.

Duane Brown was rolled up on by Mike Iupati in the 1st quarter and did return.

Tre Flowers went off the field in the 3rd quarter with an arm injury.

Bruce Irvin injured himself in the 4th quarter with an apparent right leg injury. He was helped off the field and did not return.

Next week’s opponent

The Seahawks remain at home for a Sunday. September 27th meeting with the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at 1:25 PM PT on FOX.