Given one more chance inside the final two minutes, Russell Wilson might have been able to finish off one of the more remarkable comebacks in franchise history and cap, statistically at least, the premier performance of his NFL career. But Wilson didn’t get that opportunity in a game in which Seattle’s hole was ultimately too deep, its misdeeds too many, St. Louis’s chicanery too well-executed.
The Seahawks lost to the last-place Rams 28-26 at the Edward Jones Dome Sunday and fell to 3-3, including 0-1 in the NFC West. History tells us that with that record after six games, their chances of a Super Bowl repeat are virtually nil. The Seahawks have also dropped back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 7-8 of 2012.
The Seahawks dominated statistically — 463 yards of offense to 272 — and Wilson became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards (313) and rush for more than 100 (106) in the same game. He ran 19 yards for a touchdown and threw touchdown passes of 19 yards to TE Cooper Helfet and nine yards to WR Doug Baldwin. Wilson also orchestrated scoring drives of 82, 91 and 80 yards in the last 19 minutes.
But . . .
Wilson couldn’t overcome an early 18-point deficit, or three huge St. Louis special teams plays, two involving trickery. Nor could he overcome 10 penalties or a missed two-point conversion. Then there was the matter of the efficiency of Rams QB Austin Davis, who began training camp as St. Louis’ fourth-string quarterback, and the replay crew that refused to review a last-minute St. Louis fumble, seemingly recovered by Seattle.
As the Seahawks sputtered offensively, the Rams built a 21-6 halftime lead constructed on the strength of two plays, a 75-yard kickoff return by Bennie Cunningham that set up Tre Mason’s six-yard TD run, and a 90-yard punt return TD by Stedman Bailey, set up by the smoke and mirrors applied by regular returner Tavon Austin.
Austin, faking, moved under the punt toward one sideline while Jon Ryan’s punt actually went left to the opposite sideline awaiting Bailey. No Seahawk checked on the flight of the ball, and Austin didn’t signal for a fair catch. So Bailey caught the ball alone, and practically had solo sailing to the end zone.
After falling behind 21-6, the Seahawks dithered for the first eight minutes of the third quarter before emerging from their fog. Wilson took the Seahawks 82 yards in 12 plays, keeping the march alive by teaming with Baldwin on a 19-yard hook-up on third-and-17, before scoring himself on a 19-yard run to make it 21-13.
Wilson then put together a 91-yard drive. The centerpiece was his own 52-yard scramble, a franchise record for a QB. The drive ended with a 19-yard TD to Helfet. Trailing 21-19, the Seahawks tried for two, but couldn’t convert. Nor could Seattle’s defense, hamstrung by injuries, prevent Davis from making his key play of the game, a 30-yard completion to WR Chris Givens that set up a four-yard TD pass from Davis to TE Lance Kendricks.
Trailing 28-19 with 5:36 left, Wilson took the Seahawks 80 yards, a drive aided by Wilson’s 29-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse, and ending with his nine-yard TD to Baldwin that pulled Seattle within two at 28-26.
The defense forced a punt situation with punter Johnny Hekker nearly in the end zone. The Seahawks presumably would have good field position, and Wilson would have had two minutes to work his magic. But the Rams didn’t punt. Hekker, a former quarterback at Bothell High School, bamboozled thre Seahawks with an 18-yard completion to Cunningham.
Three plays later, with 1:14 to go, RB Tre Mason coughed up the ball on a run for a first down. It appeared that Richard Sherman recovered, but at the discretion of the replay booth there was no replay, officials having determined there was no “clear recovery.”
That leaves Seattle in the poor position of trying to snap a two-game losing streak on the road at Carolina Sunday.
The Rams entered having allowed 30 or more points in four of five games. But the Seahawks couldn’t do anything against them for the half when the game was effectively lost. St. Louis had only one sack after five games (an NFL record). But the Rams sacked Wilson three times in a five-play sequence and hit him 10 times overall. St. Louis has sacked Wilson 22 games in five games.
Marshawn Lynch, who carried only 10 times last week, got 18 touches Sunday for 53 yards, but he had a 27-yard run nixed by a penalty and a TD called back in the fourth quarter.
Notes
Wilson’s 52-yard run broke the franchise record by a quarterback held by Jim Zorn, who had a 41-yard run in 1979 . . . Wilson’s 106 rushing yards are the second-highest total of his career, trailing the 122 he had at Washington two weeks ago . . . Wilson’s 300-yard passing game was the fourth of his career and his first since throwing for 310 against New Orleans Dec. 2, 2013 . . . Baldwin caught seven passes for 123 and a touchdown, his first 100-yard receiving game in the regular season since he had 136 against the Giants Oct. 9, 2011 . . . CB Tharold Simon made his NFL debut, drawing the start at left cornerback. He was flagged for pass interference and for a facemask before departing with an undisclosed injury . . . With Percy Harvin traded to the Jets, WR Kevin Norwood also made his NFL debut . . . The punt return TD was the first against Seattle since Brandon Tate of Cincinnati (56 yards) Oct. 30, 2011.
Next
The Seahawks travel to Charlotte Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers at 10 a.m PT Sunday (CBS). The Panthers lost 38-17 at Green Bay Sunday to fall to 3-3-1. The Seahawks launched their run to the Super Bowl in 2013 with a 12-7 win at Carolina.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Qtr. (Seahawks, 3-0): Steven Hauschka 24 FG, 9:01. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards in 4:06. Key Play: Doug Baldwin 49 pass from Wilson on 3rd and 10 to St. Louis 11.
1st Qtr. (Rams 7-3): Tre Mason 6 run (Greg Zuerlein kick), 5:19. Drive: 6 plays, 31 yards in 3:42. Key Play: 75-yard kickoff return by Bennie Cunningham to Seattle 31.
2nd Qtr. (Rams 14-3): Cunningham 5 pass from Austin Davis (Zuerlein kick), 13:12. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards in 5:09.Key Plays: Mason 28 run to the Seattle 10; pass interference and facemask penalties on CB Tharold Simon.
2nd Qtr (Rams 21-3): Stedman Bailey 90 punt return (Zuerlein kick), 7:05.
2nd Qtr. (Seahawks 21-6): Hauschka 35 FG, 0:10. Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards in 1:40. Key Plays: Wilson passes of 20 and 21 yards to Cooper Helfet.
3rd Qtr. (Seahawks 21-13): Russell Wilson 19 run (Hauschka kick), 4:29. Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards in 6:06. Key Plays: Wilson 12 run to Seattle 42; Doug Baldwin 19 pass from Wilson on 3rd and 17 to St. Louis 36.
4th Qtr. (Seahawks 21-19): Helfet 19 pass from Wilson (2-point conversion failed), 9:51. Drive: 9 plays, 91 yards in 5:10; Key Play: Wilson 52-yard run to St. Louis 25.
4th Qtr. (Rams 28-19): Lance Kendricks 4 pass from Davis (Zeurlein kick), 5:44. Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards in 4:00. Key Play: Chris Givens 30 pass from Davis to Seattle 10.
4th Qtr. (Seahawks 28-26): Baldwin 9 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick), 3:18. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 2:18. Key Play: Jermaine Kearse 29 pass from Wilson to St. Louis 10.
6 Comments
It could be the lingering effects of a wide receiver jettisoned to NY but the whole next man up mantra?Not really in sync today. Simon for instance drew that facemask penalty in which he tore an opposing players helmet off thereby giving the Rams a fresh set of downs in which they scored. Simon sez just brilliant? Hardly.Force them to kick a field goal after that play? That completely changes the game. Of course alot of other junk could have changed this fiasco like the special teams being a strength(not in this one)… Pete who gushes about J.Ryan being superhuman even had a 34yard punt.Given great field position the rams scored on that one too.
Baltimore had a heck of a time righting their ship until after the 1st half of the season in their SB winning season just two years ago. If Seattle is to position the team to release the same magic?Its going to have to start against a susceptible Panther team having issues themsleves. Or we can discard ourselves onto the scrap pile of SB champs who couldnt cut it the following season that inexplicably miss the play offs… Lets hope the former happens rather than the latter.
I’m thinking that even though it worked the fake punt was still a bad call by Fisher, he told his defense I have so little confidence in you that I will basically bet the entire game on a fake punt
Thats why Steve called it chicanery…its just that. We can call it a cheap way to win and it certainly falls into that conversation. Coaches get fired often for 1~4 starts and he didnt want to be 1~5 esp. to a team they seem to love to hate worse than any other division rival. The sad thing about it is the better team didnt win today. Almost assuredly they will come up here at seasons end and be manhandled. It was a worthless win as you say hinging on an immensely lucky play catching Seattle who chose to play the part of buffoon today off guard. If the hawks are looking for adversity to motivate them they now have a city block full.
Who cares about feelings, you’re trying to win a game. Belichick did the same thing in 2009.
The offense used to be tailored around Harvin. With him gone there’s going to be and adjustment period. Too bad the Hawks don’t have a bye week coming up.
To me it seemed like the team overall didn’t come ready to play except for Wilson. Might still be processing the Harvin issue. But despite their team defense ranking they play well against the run and in pressuring the QB. Not too worried about a 3-3 record though. The Patriots 2001 Super Bowl run started the season at 3-3 and won it all. The Giants were 10-6 and 9-7 when they won their last two Super Bowls. Right now its important they get their heads in order and refocus.
Wilson didn’t come to play in that 1st half