The Seattle Seahawks improved to a five and three record on Sunday at CenturyLink Field, after beating back a late-game surge by the Oakland Raiders to win 30-24.
The team, finally back at home after a two-game East Coast road trip, dominated the first two quarters of play. Star running back Marshawn Lynch rumbled into the end-zone not once but twice, marking what fans hope is the return of Beast Mode. An interception by Hawks’ linebacker Bruce Irvin—that he tipped to himself—led to a 35-yard return for another score. Seattle’s stalwart kicker Steven Hauschka added three of his own on a 34-yard field goal early in the second.
The powerhouse performance handed the Hawks a 24-3 lead at halftime, hardly a surprise given Oakland’s zero and seven record at the start of the game. Seattle appeared to be so thoroughly shutting down the Raiders that it was hard not to feel at least a little bit sorry for Oakland, a team whose average record since 2003 has been a mere four and twelve.
Perhaps the Hawks decided to take pity on the lowly Raiders and dial back their game a bit, which might explain how Seattle managed to slowly squander away a 21-point lead in the second half and nearly blow it (again).
View the full slide-show of Sunday’s game here.
It started early in the third, as a Seattle punt on fourth down was improbably blocked and recovered in the endzone by Oakland’s Brice Butler to shrink the gap 24-10.
Raider’s quarterback Derek Carr bounced back from his underwhelming first-half performance, trading his two interceptions for a pair of touchdowns, one each in the third and fourth quarters. The second, a one-yard pass to Oakland receiver Miychal Rivera with 1:52 left in the game, pulled the Raiders to within six points.
An Oakland onside kick nearly wound up in Raider’s hands after being muffed by Seattle’s Cooper Helfet, though teammate Jermaine Kearse fell on the loose ball to stop the Raider surge. Seattle ran out the remainder of the clock for the win, as Oakland advanced to its 14th straight loss.
A look at the stats confirms what any viewer of the game could plainly see: This was hardly a resounding win for Seattle. Hawk’s starting quarterback Russell Wilson had one of his worst performances of the season. He completed only 17 of 35 for 179 total yards, along with a 39% third-down conversion rate. The Hawks’ defense gave up 21 points in the second half, though it should be noted that the squad was missing several of its usual starters due to injuries.
Fortunately Lynch’s performance offset Wilson’s down day. The running back demonstrated his versatility on the ground and in the air, leading the team in both pass receiving (76-yards) and rushing (67-yards) for the game. His total yardage, 143, was over one third of the team total. It would have been even more had penalties not resulted in 74-yards worth of turf being recalled.
The win, however unimpressive, nevertheless gives the team a much needed boost as it heads into a challenging back half of the season. The team, currently in second place in the NFC West, faces both the first-place Cardinals and third-place 49ers twice each over the next two months.
The team will next face-off against the three and four NY Giants next weekend, on Sunday November 9, at home in Seattle.
Hawk’s running back Marshawn Lynch runs for a nine-yard gain the second quarter.
Seattle tight-end Luke Willson is upended by an Oakland defender on a 16 yard pass in the second quarter.
Marshawn Lynch fights off Raiders cornerback DJ Hayden on a 43-yard gain that was called back due to a penalty in the second quarter.
Seattle running back Robert Turbin is tripped up by Rainders cornerback TJ Carrie after a 14 yard run in the second quarter.
Marshawn Lynch scores a touchdown on a 5 yard run in the second quarter.
Seattle fans celebrate Lynch’s second touchdown, which put the team up 24-3 into the half.
Seahawks’ mascot Blitz holds up a bag of Skittles after running back Marshawn Lynch, who shares his nickname with the candy, scores a touchdown in the second quarter.
Seahawk’s receiver Paul Richardson is dragged out of bounds by a Raiders defender after a 36 yard punt return to start the third quarter.
Seattle running back Christine Michael runs for a 7 yard gain in the third quarter.
Richard Sherman gestures to the crowd to up the noise on a third-down attempt by the Raiders in the third-quarter.
Hawk’s receiver Doug Baldwin struggles to gain turf on a 20-yard catch in the second quarter.
Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr gestures to the referees over a penalty in the third quarter.
Raider running back Darren McFadden evades several Seattle defenders on a 23 yard run in the third quarter.
A Raiders fan reacts to the a missed pass to the end zone in the third quarter.
Raider receiver Mychal Rivera turns to look at the call of the referee after catching a 1 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Raider receiver James Jones is tackled by Seattle’s Marcus Burley and KJ Wright for a gain of 8 in the fourth quarter.
Russell wilsons scrambles for a 19 yard gain in the fourth quarter.
Seattle’s Tharold Simon breaks up a deep pass intended for Oakland’s James Jones in the fourth quarter.
Raider running back Maurice Jones-Drew prepares for a hit by Seattle’s Earl Thomas in the fourth quarter.
A loose ball rolls out of the hands of Seattle’s Cooper Helfet after an onside kicker by Oakland with under two minutes in the fourth quarter.
Seattle’s Jermaine Kearse recovers an Oakland onside kick to end the game, 30-24.
Seahawk’s quarterback Russell Wilson exits for the locker room after beating the Oakland Raiders 30-24 in Seattle.
Russell Wilson looks for an open receiver in the first quarter.
Seahawks’ head coach Pete Carroll throws a pass in pre-game practice.
12th Man fans pen condolences, prayers, and thoughts onto a giant “We Care” poster in support of Marysville, WA, the site of a recent school shooting that left four dead.
Two Seahawks fangs hold up the letters M and P, in support of the victims and survivors of the recent school shooting at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
A fan, decked out in face-paint, awaits the beginning of the game.
Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr throws a pass during pre-game practice.
Fans on the sidelines greet Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman as he rounds the sidelines before the game.
Raiders running back Darren McFadden runs for a 9-yard gain in the first quarter.
Oakland tight-end Brian Leonhardt reaches for an underthrown pass in the first quarter.
Dressed in an intimidating get-up, a Raiders fan cheers the team’s first-quarter field goal.
Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson takes a snap in the first quarter.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch would carry the Seahawks on his back Sunday for a win over the Oakland Raiders. But first …
Seahawks’ general manager John Schneider signs autographs before the game.
Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch is pushed into the end-zone for six points in the first quarter.
Seahawks’ running back Marshawn Lynch tumbles into the end-zone for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman breaks up a deep pass intended for Raiders wide-reciever Andre Holmes in the first quarter.
Russell Wilson scrambles for a short gain in the first quarter.
Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr takes a snap in the first quarter, only to be picked off by linebacker Bruce Irvin.
Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin returns an interception 35 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter.
Raiders’ wide receiver James Jones is tackled by Seahawks’ linebacker KJ Wright for a gain of six in the second quarter.
Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman leaps over Raider tight-end Mychal Rivera after intercepting a pass in the second quarter.
Fans celebrate a 34 yard field goal by Hawk’s kicker Steven Hauschka in the second quarter.
A referee indicates a Seattle possession after Raiders’ TJ Carrie fumbled the ball atthe Oakland 25 in the second quarter.
Oakland fullbuck Marcel Reece gains 12 on a short pass in the second quarter.
