The Seattle Seahawks kept their good vibes going on Monday night with a 30-13, ho-hum victory over the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field.
The Seahawks now have won five straight Monday night games, pushing their record to 17-8 in the nationally televised contests for a 68 percent winning percentage, best in league history.
“Shining on prime time when the whole world can see you – that’s a big tribute to the team and all the hard work we’ve put into it, and it paid off tonight,” Seattle linebacker David Hawthorne said. “I felt like we came out and did what we needed to do to win.”
Seattle, with a 6-7 record after winning four of its past five games, kept its faint playoff hopes alive. Seattle travels to Chicago on Sunday to face the Bears (7-6) for the third time in 11 months. The Hawks lost to Chicago in the NFC playoffs last season, 35-24.
Seattle has won seven straight against lowly St. Louis at home. The Rams fell to 2-11 this season; the Seahawks have beaten St. Louis 13 of the past 14 games.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch played a big role, gaining 115 yards on 23 carries, including a 16-yard touchdown run.
Lynch rushed for more than 100 yards for the fifth time in the past six games, and is now 31 yards short of reaching the 1,000-yard mark for the third time.
More impressive, Lynch earned tough yards behind a rebuilt offensive line, with Paul McQuistan playing left tackle for the first time this season, and Lemuel Jeanpierre filling in at right guard.
“It was a really good job by the offensive line and the tight ends,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “Marshawn again was on it, and just ran like crazy.”
Rookie receiver Doug Baldwin, who had a game-high seven catches for 93 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown, helped Seattle get off to a good start in the first quarter.
At the 9:57 mark, Baldwin blocked a punt by Donnie Jones. Michael Robinson scooped it up and ran 17 yards for a touchdown.
Steven Hauschka added a 42-yard field goal for Seattle to push the lead to 10-0.
St. Louis kicker Josh Brown made a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter and the Seahawks got another Hauschka field goal, this one from 23 yards out, midway through the third quarter to keep Seattle’s lead at 10 points.
But then Hauschka missed for only the fourth time this season – wide right on a 38-yarder. The Rams promptly drove 61 yards in seven plays to cut Seattle’s lead to 13-6 with 1:49 to play in the third.
After a 54-yard Leon Washington kick return, Baldwin wiggled free down field and Tarvaris Jackson hit him with a strike. Baldwin did the rest, diving into the end zone for a 20-6 lead.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
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