The Seattle Seahawks wanted to go into the bye week on a two-game winning streak by taking care of business at CenturyLink Field.
Mission accomplished.
After a rough first half, the Seahawks pulled away from the New York Jets for a 28-7 victory Sunday afternoon, pushing their record to 6-4 on the season – two games behind NFC West division leader San Francisco (6-2-1) in the loss column.
“It was huge,” Seattle receiver Sidney Rice said about the win. “We needed it. We fought hard all the way to this point. We got 10 games out of the way. We’ve got a little break here to rest the bodies up, and we’ll come back ready to go.”
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch once again served as the engine driving his team’s offense. Lynch finished with 124 yards on 27 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run. That effort helped the former Cal player eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for a second straight season in Seattle, and for the fourth time in his six-year NFL career.
Lynch now has 1,005 yards for the season. He also tied a franchise record by rushing for more than 100 yards for a fourth straight game. Shaun Alexander set the mark during the 2005 season.
Lynch has rushed for more than 100 yards six times this season. The Seahawks are 3-3 in those games.
Lynch declined to talk with reporters after the game, letting his teammates gush over his performance instead.
“It feels good, man,” Seattle offensive tackle Breno Giacomini said. “It’s kind of cool, but we’re not done. We want more. We always want more, but at least he’s there right now, and we’ll keep getting better, and hopefully keep unleashing him.”
Added offensive tackle Russell Okung: “That just shows how tenacious of a runner he is, and what he’s capable of. I’m looking forward to the second half of the season.” Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was not at his best, but the rookie didn’t need to be.
Wilson posted solid numbers, finishing 12 of 19 for 188 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown to Golden Tate to open the scoring, and a 31-yard strike to Sidney Rice to give Seattle a commanding, 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Wilson finished with a 131.0 passer rating and has thrown for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in five home games, all victories.
“There’s no place like home,” joked Wilson after the game.
Added Seattle coach Pete Carroll: “This guy just keeps moving forward with whatever we ask him to do. I think he is having a remarkable season, and hopefully we can fix it up.”
But Wilson also fumbled twice, including a sack and a forced fumble by Jets defensive tackle Mike DeVito that fellow defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson picked up and rumbled 21 yards for the Jets only score.
After some struggles the past three games, the Seahawks once again looked dominant on defense, holding New York’s offense scoreless for the game, forcing three turnovers and sacking quarterback Mark Sanchez three times.
Sanchez finished 9 of 22 for 124 yards and an interception. He posted a 40.7 passer rating, and actually gave way to reserve quarterback Tim Tebow at times – Tebow handled seven plays at quarterback for the Jets.
The Seahawks limited the Jets to 185 total yards and held them to 2 of 11 on third down.
“We got after them today,” Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner said. “We had a good concept of what they wanted to do to us, and we went out there and executed. So when they did run the plays, we were ready for them.
Rookie defensive end Bruce Irvin was active again, finishing with two sacks. And Richard Sherman corralled his team-high fourth interception for the year on an ill-advised Sanchez throw near the end zone with the game tied at 7-7 and 10:55 left before halftime.
“I don’t think he thought I was going to get there,” Sherman said of the play. “He kind of lofted it. He put a little air on it, and that’s what helped me out. I created some space waiting for him, and then he pumped – that’s what gave it away. And his release was kind of slow, and I was already gone.”
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
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