Headset going out puts Russell Wilson at his best on decisive series, Seahawks beat Miami
Eighteen years ago, Rich Gannon and the Oakland Raiders were rolling to the Super Bowl. Gannon was on his way to being the NFL’s MVP, with 350-plus-yard passing days and a record-setting offense featuring Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
Then those Raiders came to Miami.
The helmet-headset communications between Gannon and his play caller, coordinator Marc Trestman, went out during a late-season game. The Raiders said then it was well-known throughout the league that such “accidental” outages happen in Miami. Gannon threw for just 162 yards. Oakland scored just 17 points. They lost for the only time in 10 games that 2002 season on their way to the Super Bowl.
Entering Sunday, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks were rolling to their first 3-0 start since 2013. Wilson seems on his way to being the NFL’s MVP. with the most touchdown passes in league history through three games.
Then these Seahawks came to Miami. What do you know? The headset communications between Wilson and his play caller, coordinator Brian Schottenheimer went out in the fourth quarter of a 17-15 game. Just after Miami closed to within two points on a fifth field goal, with 8 1/2 minutes left.
“It happened on the first play of the (ensuing) drive,” Wilson said. “It just went out. I couldn’t hear anything.”
Thing is, no comms and an improvisational Wilson is the Seahawks at their very best.
The “accident” actually helped decide the game—decisively for Seattle. It’s part of the reason the Seahawks are 4-0 for the first time since 2013, the season that ended with the franchise winning the Super Bowl.
Unable to hear Schottenheimer calling plays from the press box anymore, Wilson took over all the calls. And the Seahawks soared.
Seattle’s pace quickened, effectively for the first time in the game. Shotgun formation, Wilson pass to Tyler Lockett for 9 yards, the first catch of the game for Seattle’s leading receiver. Shotgun, Chris Carson run for 8 yards and a first down. Wilson on the run for a 30-yard flip to wide-open Lockett on one of his signature crossing routes for 30 more yards, to the Miami 28.
After a run then a catch by rookie running back DeeJay Dallas, Wilson saw the frantic, backed-up Dolphins were trying to bring in new players throughout the defense. He went without a huddle and hurried the offense to the line. He saw the Dolphins again in man-to-man coverage that they played all day.
“They were substituting,” Wilson said. “And I caught them.”
On an audible, Wilson sent Moore down the right sideline on a go route, one on one with cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. He was starting because Miami’s $82.5 million Byron Jones was injured and inactive.
“They told me 23, he likes to squat (short on routes),” Moore said Igbinoghene.
Moore blew past the squatter. He expertly tapped the toes of both cleats inside the end line of the end zone. The Seahawks’ offense that had slogged through 3 1/2 quarters drove to the game’s decisive touchdown and a two-score lead on six, sharp plays.
On the last one, Wilson tied Peyton Manning’s record from 2013 for the most TD passes in NFL history through the first four games of a season. Wilson and Manning now each have 16.
Game over. The Seahawks are 4-0.
“I thought Russ played great,” coach Pete Carroll said. “He on the drive going down there when the headset went out, went and took the drive down and scored a touchdown. Did a great job controlling the club there.
“He’s just playing great football.”
With or without a play caller.
Miami and its stadium would have been better off keeping the headsets operating.
“We were rollin’, and I was just callin’ plays,” Wilson said after his latest 300-yard passing day.
“I’m always prepared for those moments, obviously, just knowing the game plan, knowing the plays, being ready to call 2-minute situations and 2-minute plays, all that stuff. I’ve kind of always been prepared in that sense.
“In general, I just know the game plan and where we went to go, and how we want to attack them.”
Wilson said it felt the need to increase the tempo at that point on a 86-degree day with the south Florida humidity at its usual 71%.
“It was SO hot out there,” Wilson said.
“In those situations, when headsets go out, you don’t freak out. You just know what we want to do and how we want to attack them. And you go do it.
“I have great confidence in calling plays.
“Obviously.”
This story was originally published October 4, 2020 at 3:25 PM.
