The Seattle Seahawks dug themselves into a hole and somehow found the grit and determination to overcome the early mistakes and even their season record to 5-5 and greatly improving their playoff chances after a hard fought 27 to 24 win over the Green Bay Packers (4-5-1) Thursday night at CenturyLink Field.
How deep was the whole the Seahawks dug for themselves? Running back Chris Carson fumbled on the Seahawks first offensive play of the game and the visiting Packers took a 7-0 lead three plays later on Aaron Jones eight-yard after just 1:14 had elapsed on the game clock. The Packers looked like they would increase their lead after Seattle’s offensive ineptness continued when it went three and out on its next offensive series.
Green Bay Packer kicker Mason Crosby gave the Seahawks a fighters chance when his 47-yard field goal was wide left. The Seahawks got back in the game on their next series on a Sebastian Janikowski field goal from 39 yards out narrowed the Packers to 7-3. Aaron Rodgers hit TE Robert Tanyon with a 54-yard touchdown pass that looked like a blown coverage by the Seattle defense.
The pass and catch play gave the Packers a commanding 14-3 lead and which was the score after the first quarter. Russell Wilson hit Doug Baldwin with a six-yard TD pass that narrowed the Packers lead to just four points at 14-10 to begin the second quarter.
The Seattle defense stiffened up and Frank Clark was able to slip through the Packers offensive line and sack Rodgers on a third and four at the Packers 27-yard line forcing a Green Bay punt. Raven Greene was flagged for a pass interference penalty on Seattle wide receiver Tyler Lockett resulting in a 48 yard gain and a first down at the Packers 22-yard line. Chris Carson’s one-yard run three players later gave the Seahawks their first lead of the game at 17 to 14.
The Seahawks lead was short lived as Rodgers engineered a 5 play 75-yard drive that gave the lead back to the Packers when he connected with Jones for a 24-yard throw and catch.
The Seattle defense was able to slow down the Packers offense and hold them to just field goal the rest of the second half as the Seahawks outscored the Packers 10-3 in the second half thanks to a Janikowski 43 yard field and Wilson to Ed Dickson 15 yard touchdown play that put the Seahawks ahead to stay with 5:08 to play.
While the Seahawks sputtered at times and the Seahawks defense gave up some big plays due to missed assignments and bad communication, the team overcame adversity, snapped a two-game losing streak and won a close game.
