Takeaway
With rookie RB Thomas Rawls out for the year with a broken ankle and torn ligaments, the Seahawks had no recourse Sunday but to rely offensively on Russell Wilson, who responded with another historic performance. Wilson tossed five touchdown passes, three to the equally torrid Doug Baldwin, as Seattle crushed the Baltimore Ravens 35-6 (box).
The fourth win in a row and fifth in six games gives the Seahawks (8-5) the fifth seed currently in the NFC playoffs ahead of the Minnesota Vikings. If the Seahawks hold that wild-card spot through the Jan. 3 regular season finale at Arizona, they will open the playoffs the weekend of Jan. 10-11 at the NFC East champion, one among Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Giants, all with losing records now.
The Seahawks had a modest 14-6 lead at the half after LB Bobby Wagner’s fumble recovery deep in Baltimore territory set up a 14-yard Wilson-to-Baldwin TD. But Wilson went on a second-half tear as Seattle easily vanquished a Ravens team that has 16 players on injured reserve, including its best quarterback, running back and receiver.
Essential moment
Rawls looked well on his way to a fifth 100-yard game, gaining 44 yards with his first six carries, helping set up Seattle’s first touchdown. But Rawls was twisted around in a tackle on his sixth carry and didn’t get up for several minutes. He eventually walked off on his own. But after the game coach Pete Carroll disclosed the severity of Rawls’ injury.
Since Marshawn Lynch remains out following sports hernia surgery, the Seahawks are down to 34-year-old Fred Jackson and practice-squad call-up DuJuan Harris next week when they host Cleveland. Carroll might be spending time this week scrounging the waiver wire.
Offense
Wilson completed 23 of 32 for 292 yards and no picks fumbles or sacks. His five TD passes matched the franchise record set five times, including by Wilson Nov. 29 against Pittsburgh. Wilson and Matt Hasselbeck (Nov. 23, 2003 at Baltimore and Sept. 24, 2006 vs. the New York Giants) are the only quarterbacks in franchise history with two five-TD games.
In his past four contests, Wilson has thrown 16 touchdown passes without an interception. His passer ratings in those four: 138.5 vs. San Francisco, 147.9 vs. Pittsburgh, 146.0 at Minnesota, and 139.6 at Baltimore. Wilson is the first player since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger with four consecutive ratings of 138.5 or higher.
Four of Wilson’s top six passer ratings (career) have come in the past four weeks.
Wilson is also the first player in Seahawks history with three or more touchdown passes in four consecutive games. Sunday broke a tie with Dave Krieg, who had three consecutive three-TD games in 1983. Wilson has thrown 26 touchdown passes this season, which matches his career high with three games to play.
Wilson tossed touchdowns of 14, 22 and 16 yards to Baldwin, who had six catches for 82 yards and hit the end zone eight times in his past three contests. Wilson also pitched TDs of 8 and 49 yards to rookie WR Tyler Lockett, who posted his first 100-yard receiving game with six catches for 104 yards.
Neither was Seattle’s leading receiver in terms of catches. Jermaine Kearse, targeted eight times, had seven snags for 74 yards.
After Rawls departed, the Seahawks primarily went with Harris, signed to Seattle’s practice squad Nov. 23. He gained 42 yards, but lost a fumble.
Wilson might have finished with six TD passes had a wide-open TE Luke Willson not dropped a catchable ball in the end zone in the second quarter.
Defense
The Seahawks held third-string QB Jimmy Clausen and the Ravens to 302 yards, including 28 rushing. Clausen also lost to the Seahawks 26-0 in Week 3 while a member of the Chicago Bears. At least the Ravens managed two field goals.
CB Richard Sherman recorded his second interception of the season and the 26th of his career, tied for the sixth most in the first five seasons of a player’s career.
LB K.J. Wright led the Seahawks with eight tackles (five solo) and DE Michael Bennett recorded Seattle’s only sack.
Safety Kam Chancellor left the game in the second quarter with a tailbone injury and did not return. Preliminary word is that the injury does not appear to be serious.
Words
“We came in here for a purpose, that was our mentality. We had to be zoned in, in the second half, and we were. Right now we are really locked into it and each other. We’re playing the right way. We’re playing great football.” — Wilson
Noteworthy
The Seahawks are 17-8 in their past 25 road games and 26-5 in November/December since 2012, the best mark in the NFL . . . Seattle has won 17 of its past 23 overall and is 8-5 in its last 13 10 a.m. PT starts . . . Seahawks lead the all-time series with Baltimore 3-2 . . . . Wilson has 45 regular-season wins, tied with Joe Flacco for most in the first four seasons of a career . . . Seattle has scored 28 or more points in five consecutive games for first time since 2005.
Next
The Seahawks return to CenturyLink Field at 1:05 Sunday (FOX) to face the Cleveland Browns (3-10), who, behind QB Johnny Manziel, beat the 49ers 24-10.
8 Comments
Think the Hawks will try and grab Christine Michael off the Redskins practice squad?
No. Why would they? Dallas and Washington can’t even make room for him on their roster.
At least he knows the plays instead of bringing someone in new who doesn’t have a clue. We now know the Hawks will be taking RB in the first round in the NFL draft.
Knowing the plays doesn’t help when the coaches don’t dare to put him on the field because of ball security and pass protection issues.
Looks like they signed Michael today to be the backup this week.
Hopefully he takes advantage of having another chance with the Hawks!
Might just play Derrick Coleman at TB–he’d do a credible job.
I counted three dropped passes