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Seattle may feel like they let one slip away after their 30-24 loss to Jacksonville Sunday afternoon in Florida. But, truth be told, the conditions were right for defeat. The Jaguars are a good football team with the NFL’s top defense and this setback was somewhat predictable. But that’s history. Now the LA Rams (9-4) come calling and the NFC West division lead is one home-win away.
Seattle didn’t deserve to win this game. Russell Wilson was brilliant, as well as carless as the QB tossed three interceptions in the game to go with his three impressive TD passes. It was the first time since Green Bay in 2015 that Wilson was picked-off three times.
For as much pressure the “Sacksonville” defense put on Wilson he was only sacked two times in the game as he completed 17 of his 30 passes for 271 yards.
Heck by the time the game ended, Seattle lost half their starting linebacking corps and the team’s two leading tacklers as K.J. Wright (confusion) and Bobby Wagner (hamstring) exited the game down the stretch.
After scoring only three points in the first half of the game, the two teams combine for 51 in the second.
Settle never held a lead in the game, but tied the score at 10 early in the third quarter.
The Seahawks defense surrendered 21 points to Jacksonville in the third quarter on some quick plays and that turned out to be the difference in the game.
As for the game
And just like that, the score was tied 10-10.
First it was the 43-yard connection between Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin that set the Seahawks up well on a 9-play drive that ended in Seattle’s first points, a Blair Walsh 28-yard field goal making the score 10-3 Jaguars midway through the third quarter.
Then on the following kickoff, linebacker Terence Garvin forced a fumble which the Seahawks recovered on the Jacksonville 25-yard line.
Two plays later it was Baldwin once again on the end of a Wilson pass as the receiver hauled in a nice 26-yard grab for score. After successful extra point it was a tie game, 10-10.
But not so fast my friends…
Just as fast as Seattle tied the game at 10, the Jaguars jumped back ahed by 14.
The Seahawks started to feel the heat as an ill-advised Wilson bomb to the end zone was intercepted by cornerback A.J. Bouye late in the third quarter.
One play later, Jaguars QB Blake Bortles connected with Keelan Cole as the receiver sprinted down the left sideline and in perfect stride hauled in a pass that ended 75 yards later for score.
Seattle was forced to punt on their subsequent possession and on the return, Jacksonville J. Coleman returned the punt 75 yards to the Seattle one-yard line. One play later, Leonard Fournette carried it home for LA and with extra point, the Rams were back on top by 24-10.
The Jaguars added another field goal to extend their lead 27-10.
But in a game of big plays, Russell Wilson pulled out another one as the QB connected with Paul Richardson on a 61-yard pass for score to pull within 10, at 27-17 at 9:48 remaining in the game.
Jacksonville responded with a 9-play drive that consumed 5:43 of clock but they were forced to settle for a Josh Lamb 32-yard kick for three and a 30-17 lead.
The Seahawks quick-strike offense and teams’ never-quite mentality shown through once again as Russell Wilson then found the speedy Tyler Lockett for a 75-yard bomb completion and score and a 30-24 deficit with 3:42 to play.
But that would be it for Seattle, as the Seahawks would score no more and after a failed fourth-down conversion attempt failed, the Jaguars ran out the clock.
Things got very chippy in the end as Jacksonville was working to run out the clock. Flags were thrown. Sheldon Richardson was ejected. Michael Bennett tangled with running back Leonard Fournette. Fans tossed garbage at Quinton Jefferson as he exited the field and the player had to be restrained as he attempted to enter the stands.
Pete Carroll was flagged for entering the field with a sideline infraction as the coach tried to calm his players as the intensity peaked in the closing moments of the contest.
Next up
All is not lost. Matter of fact, much of everything Seattle plays for is still in the Seahawks’ grasp. Thanks to the Rams 43-35 loss to the Eagles (11-2) at home in Los Angeles, Seattle will now play LA (9-4) for the NFC West Division lead next Sunday in CenturyLink Field.
LA holds a one game lead in the division, but the Rams have already lost 16-10 to the Seahawks in Week 5.
So the season comes down to this…Beat LA, then win the remaining two games against the Cowboys and Cardinals. Do that and the NFC West crown is yours and another run at the Super Bowl begins.
Simple right?
SSU Live
Abraham DeWeese and Robert English break down the good and bad of Sunday’s contents with Jacksonville. But I think, it was mostly the bad.