‘Guys don’t want to tackle him for four quarters.’ Carson scores twice, clears 1,000 yards in win over Kansas City

Russell Wilson dazzled through the air Sunday night at CenturyLink Field, connecting with seven different receivers, who often made acrobatic catches that brought the 69,067 in attendance to their feet. Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett combined for 225 receiving yards.

But, it was second-year running back Chris Carson, turning in one of the best rushing nights of his young career, who delivered the final blow in a 38-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

With less than three minutes to play, Carson — set up by a one-handed, 29-yard catch Baldwin made moments earlier — barreled into two defenders, and carried them with him for a 1-yard score that gave the Seahawks a two-possession lead, and secured their sixth trip to the playoffs in seven years.

And, that wasn’t the only significant outcome of Carson’s productive night. His 116 rushing yards on 27 attempts — the second time he’s cleared the century mark in as many weeks — also pushed him past 1,000 yards for the season in just 13 games played.

The last Seahawks player to clear 1,000 rushing yards in a single season was Marshawn Lynch in 2014, a year Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl.

“It’s a blessing,” Carson said. “At the same time, a lot of credit goes to the (offensive) line. Whatever we do to help the team out, it’s big. To be in the playoffs, it’s always a good accomplishment.”

Carson, who has missed two games this season out with injuries, becomes just the sixth running back in franchise history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, joining Shaun Alexander (five seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards), Curt Warner (five), Lynch (four), Chris Warren (four) and Ricky Watters (three).

Carson sits at 19th on Seattle’s all-time list for single-season rushing yards with one regular season game left to play next week, when the Seahawks host Arizona. He has 228 carries for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns after Sunday night’s win, and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

“Chris Carson is one of the best backs the league has to offer,” Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown said. “He has a great combination of size and quickness, speed, power. ... There are some plays we’re able to get him 6 to 8 yards before contact. There’s some plays he’s met in the backfield, and still finds a way to get back to the line of scrimmage and get 2, 3 yards.”

Brown said he didn’t see how Carson muscled his way through Kansas City defenders Daniel Sorensen and Anthony Hitchens to score the touchdown that let Seattle’s sideline exhale late in the fourth quarter Sunday night, but said he never doubts Carson’s strength.

“We get down to the goal line, there’s no doubt in our minds he’s going to get in,” Brown said. “That’s just the kind of guy he’s been. Doesn’t say much, very quiet. But, he goes about his business and guys don’t want to tackle him for four quarters.”

Carson bookended Seattle’s scoring, also contributing the game’s first touchdown on a 4-yard run to cap Seattle’s opening drive. His two touchdowns against the Chiefs are the most he’s had in a single game during his young career.

This was also the fifth time in Carson’s career he has rushed for more than 100 yards — and all five of those outings have come this season, further amplifying the commitment the Seahawks have consistently said they’ve made to the running game.

“I’ve been saying it all year — we have three great running backs. Any one of them could have gone over 1,000 (yards),” Carson said, referring to Mike Davis (105 carries, 470 yards, three TDs) and rookie Rashaad Penny (81 carries, 413 yards, two TDs).

Carson rushed for a career-high 119 yards last week at San Francisco, and nearly passed that mark against Kansas City, despite running behind a depleted offensive line.

Starting right tackle Germain Ifedi (groin) was inactive, his replacement George Fant (ankle) was injured during the game, and rookie Elijah Nkansah, making his NFL debut, took over for Fant when Carson rushed for his first touchdown.

Left guard J.R. Sweezy left for the locker room after twisting an ankle, Ethan Pocic moved over from right guard to fill in, and D.J. Fluker made his first appearance in three weeks. Yet, Carson and the Seahawks still piled up 210 rushing yards. Wilson added 57 yards, Davis had 31 and J.D. McKissic pitched in 6.

“We were just hoping for the best,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “We were going to keep the plan together, and do what we’ve been doing, and count on the guys to pull it off, and they did a magnificent job.”

“They did great,” Carson said. “We’re deep at that position, so it’s next-man-up mentality. They did a great job of coming in and feeling that.”

Carson averaged 4.3 yards per carry against the Chiefs to complement Wilson’s solid passing outing (18 of 29, 271 yards, three TDs), and the big receiving numbers Baldwin (seven catches, 126 yards) and Lockett (four catches, 99 yards) put up.

And, while the thrilling plays through the air put the Seahawks in position to score late, it was the running game that Carson describes as “physical” that finally punched Seattle’s playoff ticket.

“I saw him start digging in with his feet, and I knew he was going to score, and I started celebrating,” Carroll said. “He was just going to knock it in. His style, and the toughness that he’s brought this team ... have been a big part of the leadership.

“Chris has had a great year. So, it’s a great accomplishment.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2018 at 9:30 PM.