Quick hits: Seahawks beat Rams 20-13
Dec 30, 2012, 3:56 PM | Updated: 8:49 pm
A few notes and thoughts on the Seahawks’ 20-13 win over the Rams at CenturyLink Field:
The lead. After scoring 150 points during three consecutive blowout wins, the Seahawks beat St. Louis in a more familiar fashion on Sunday. Russell Wilson’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:45 left broke a 13-13 tie and gave the Seahawks the lead for good. Because San Francisco beat Arizona, Seattle heads to the playoffs as the fifth seed and will be the road team against the winner of tonight’s de facto NFC East title game between the Redskins and Cowboys. Update: Seattle will play Washington after the Redskins beat Dallas 28-18. The Seahawks finish 8-0 at home for the first time since 2005.
The good. Marshawn Lynch topped 100 yards for the 10th time this season. Seattle ran the ball effectively for much of the game, even when pass protection issues made it difficult to sustain drives.
Golden Tate had key receptions on both of Seattle’s touchdown drives, gaining 31 yards on one and 44 on the other. He finished with a career-high 105 yards on three catches.
The Rams had driven into Seattle territory after Wilson’s touchdown run, but Richard Sherman sealed a Seahawks win when he intercepted Sam Bradford on the goal line on fourth down.
Wilson ties Manning’s record. Wilson’s third-quarter touchdown pass to Michael Robinson was his 26th of the season, tying Peyton Manning’s rookie record. Wilson had an earlier touchdown pass wiped out by a penalty.
The bad. The Rams got to Wilson early and often, sacking him six times. That was the most the Seahawks have allowed in a game this season. Some of them could be chalked up to strong coverage and Wilson not being able to escape pressure like he often does.
The Seahawks’ penalty problem reared its ugly head. They committed 10 in all, including two costly infractions on Anthony McCoy. He was called for offensive pass interference, negating a first-quarter touchdown pass to Zach Miller. A holding call on McCoy wiped out a long completion to Doug Baldwin in the fourth quarter.
Go figure. Sidney Rice, Seattle’s leading receiver, finished with zero catches on one target.
