|
 The injury-plagued Seahawks overcame a second-half rally from the
NFL's worst team to hold off the Oakland Raiders 30-24, giving
Seattle (5-3) back-to-back wins for only the second time this
season.
"A win is a win," defensive end Cliff Avril said. "But that being
said, we've got to play four quarters completely. We played three
quarters, then (in) the fourth quarter, we took our foot off the
pedal a little bit."
Running back Marshawn Lynch rushed for two first-half touchdowns
before winless Oakland made two furious comeback attempts in the
driving rain after halftime. Two Derek Carr touchdown passes to
tight end Mychal Rivera kept the Raiders in the game before
Seattle's Jermaine Kearse recovered an onside kick with 1:48
remaining to clinch the Seahawks victory.
"We came here to win a football game; we didn't come here to come
close," Raiders interim coach Tony Sparano said.
Lynch's two touchdowns helped the Seahawks storm out to a 24-3
halftime lead, but a blocked punt and long punt return helped the
Raiders pull within a touchdown, at 24-17, in the third quarter.
Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka made three of four field goals,
including two in the opening six minutes of the fourth quarter to
put the Seahawks back in control.
Carr completed 24 of 41 passes for 194 yards and a pair of
touchdowns, but the rookie also threw two interceptions.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was 17 of 35 for 179 yards.
The Raiders (0-8) had three first-half turnovers as they extended
their worst season start since 1962. Oakland made a game of it after
falling behind by 21 points at halftime, thanks in large part to
special teams.
Raiders defensive lineman Denico Autry blocked a Jon Ryan punt early
in the third quarter, then teammate Bruce Butler recovered it in the
end zone to pull Oakland within 24-10 at the 13:52 mark of the third
quarter.
"I just kind of snuck in," said Autry, who ran in uncontested when
Seahawks linebacker Brock Coyle went to block another Raider.
Eleven minutes later, after a 27-yard punt return by TJ Carrie gave
the Raiders good field position, Carr pulled Oakland within 24-17 on
a 1-yard touchdown pass to Rivera.
Hauschka's two field goals extended the Seattle lead to 30-17 before
Oakland made another rally in the closing minutes. Carr led the
Raiders on a long drive that resulted in another Rivera 1-yard
touchdown that pulled Oakland within 30-24 with 1:52 remaining. But
Kearse recovered the onside kick after teammate Cooper Helfet lost
control of the ball, with 1:48 remaining to clinch the victory.
[to top of second column] |
Rivera had a team-high eight receptions for 38 yards in the loss.
Two interceptions, including one that linebacker Bruce Irvin
returned 35 yards for a score, helped the Seahawks score 24
unanswered points on the way to the 21-point halftime lead.
After the Raiders finished off their opening drive with a Sebastian
Janikowski field goal, Seattle scored the next 24 points and
appeared on the way to a blowout win. Lynch led an 80-yard drive on
Seattle's opening possession, going into the end zone from 3 yards
out to put the Seahawks ahead 7-3 with 4:07 remaining in the first
quarter.
Turnovers on three consecutive Oakland possessions allowed Seattle
to open up a 14-point lead over the following 6 1/2 minutes.
Irvin tipped a Derek Carr pass into the air, caught it and shed a
would-be tackler on the way to a 35-yard interception return on the
final play of the first quarter, giving the Seahawks a 14-3 lead.
Lynch's 5-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the first half,
pushed Seattle's lead to 24-3.
The Seahawks played the game without five starters, so escaping
with the victory was worth celebrating -- no matter the opponent and
the close call at the end.
"You just want to win," Seattle's Sherman said. "I don't care if
it's gritty or whatever. We got it done. We were able to sneak out
another win with being short a few guys."
NOTES: Seattle LT Russell Okung (calf) was not active for the game.
The Pro Bowler hurt his calf late in the week and was not available
when the Seahawks took the field. ... Seahawks C Max Unger sat out
his fourth straight game with a foot injury. Unger was active, but
Patrick Lewis started at center. ... Seattle played without starters
Okung, MLB Bobby Wagner, TE Zach Miller, S Kam Chancellor and CB
Byron Maxwell. With Wagner and LB Malcolm Smith sidelined, undrafted
rookie Brock Coyle made his first NFL start.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
