Seahawks shutout Chargers 27-0 in preseason finale

Now that’s how you end a preseason!

The Seattle Seahawks looked pretty uninspired and kinda dull even by preseason standards through the first two games, but in the finale against the Los Angeles Chargers there was plenty to like on offense, defense, and special teams. Marquise Blair returned to the field for the first time since a Week 2 ACL tear last year and got the game’s opening touchdown, while Darrell Taylor and Dee Eskridge made impactful plays as part of Seattle’s 27-0 win at Lumen Field to get their first and only preseason victory.

First-team players were sparse and 23 players sat this one out. Russell Wilson, Jamal Adams, Chris Carson, Bobby Wagner, etc. were all on the sidelines but we did see Damien Lewis, Gabe Jackson, Gerald Everett, and Akhello Witherspoon get some run in the 1st half. Witherspoon and Kerry Hyder Jr played into the 3rd quarter.

The Seahawks got off to a great start through their defense. Cody Barton strip sacked quarterback Chase Daniel, and Blair caught the loose ball in mid-air for the score. What a welcome sight to see!.

That hit knocked Daniel out of the game with a hand injury and Easton Stick had to sub in for a series. Meanwhile the Seahawks had Geno Smith returning to the starting lineup after missing last week’s game, and he led Seattle’s first 1st half touchdown drive of the preseason with throws to Penny Hart, Cody Thompson, and rookie Dee Eskridge. On the ground you had a first down run from Rashaad Penny and Alex Collins making things happen in the screen game and between the tackles, capping the opening quarter off with a 5-yard rush.

Eskridge also had a 9-yard rush with his first NFL touch on a jet sweep.

Los Angeles failed to get on the board with their next offensive possession. That’s partly due to their kicker missing from 47 yards out, but they don’t end up back there if not for Darrell Taylor’s first sack of the preseason.

Seattle tacked on a field goal to extend the lead to 17-0 after a 14-play, 51-yard drive that included a 4th and 4 conversion in Charger territory from Geno to Aaron Fuller.

The defense continued to hold down the Chargers offense off the scoreboard while the offense added to the lead. Sean Mannion was gifted a short field after a turnover on downs and the Seahawks got a field goal to go up 20-0, then threw a touchdown to Darece Roberson in the 4th quarter to make it 27-0.

Smith went 11/15 for 90 yards and a couple of scrambles for 20 yards. Mannion was 13/15 for 79 yards and a touchdown pass. Alex Collins got a ton of work with 37 yards on 10 carries and a rush TD, as well as 7 catches for 52 yards. Rashaad Penny chipped in 24 yards on 7 carries and a five-yard reception.

Defensively, Nick Bellore led the team with six solo tackles while Darrell Taylor had 1.5 sacks. There was just the one turnover for the Seahawks’ opening touchdown and other than Daniel’s hand getting dinged up there were no noticeable injuries on either side, which you love to see.

The Seahawks will have to get their roster down to 53 players by August 31st, at which point we can really get to the nitty gritty and focus on the regular season opener at the Indianapolis Colts on September 12th.