In what every expert expected to be a defensive game, Russell Wilson and Cam Newton put on a show.
Newton ran the ball for two touchdowns and passed for 388 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Wilson had one of the best games of his illustrious career, passing for five touchdowns and 288 yards against a defense that only allowed four passing touchdowns all of last season. In the end, however, the Seahawks came away with a close 35-30 victory.
The game got off to a rocky start for the Seahawks, as Russell Wilson threw a pass that went off of Greg Olsen‘s hands and right into the eager arms of Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty, who returned it for a pick-six. From there on, Russell Wilson settled in, passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, including a beautiful rainbow pass into the back of the endzone to DK Metcalf.
For the Patriots, on one of their first drives, wide receiver N’Keal Harry took a brutal-looking hit to the head from safety Quandre Diggs, who was ejected from the game. Outside of that, Cam Newton passed for 85 yards and rushed for a touchdown.
In the second half, both teams continued the offensive pressure as Newton passed for over 300 yards in the second half and Russell Wilson passed for over 100 yards. Both quarterbacks combined for five touchdowns in the second half altogether.
The game-deciding touchdown, however, went to running back Chris Carson through the air with an 18-yard pass. The Patriots still made a push to tie the game as Cam Newton scored his second rushing touchdown to make the game 35-30. Soon, the Patriots got the ball back with 1:49 on the clock. Newton drove the Patriots down the field, but on the final play of the game, Newton attempted to run the ball in the power formation and the Seahawks’ defense met and stuffed him.
The Seahawks had 429 total yards in the game offensively while the Patriots had 464 yards of total offense.
Highlights
This outcome was up in the air to the very end as this game was absolutely the best of the week. Russell Wilson asserted himself as the best quarterback of the season so far with nine touchdowns over two weeks, leading the league far and away.
As for injuries in this game, Seahawks pass rusher Bruce Irvin had to leave the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury.
These teams have multiple things to improve upon, but the main point of criticism for both teams is the need to apply more pressure to opposing signal-callers and not let them escape the pocket and create plays. There were many times in this game where both signal-callers escaped the pocket and created plays that went for first downs.
Next week, the Seahawks will host the Dallas Cowboys while the Patriots host the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
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