Fast Facts: Seahawks cruise to 28-16 win over Colts in opener
Sep 12, 2021, 1:06 PM | Updated: Sep 14, 2021, 9:26 am
The Seahawks’ first game under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron exceeded expectations.
Seahawks 28, Colts 16: Takeaways | Instant Reaction | Box score
Seattle scored a touchdown on its first two possessions of the season and never looked back on its way to a 28-16 win over the Colts in Week 1 NFL action in Indianapolis.
The Seahawks had strong showings on both sides of the ball, though it was the offense that was the story. And for good reason, as many starters sat out the entire preseason as Seattle showed very little of the concepts Waldron brought with him to the team from his time on Sean McVay’s coaching staff with the Los Angeles Rams.
Here’s a look at the Seahawks’ season-opening victory.
Scoring breakdown and key moments
The immediate start of the game didn’t go particularly smoothly for the Seahawks. Jamal Adams was flagged for being offsides on a play that would have resulted in the Colts going three-and-out, and Indianapolis was able to keep its opening drive going for another 11 plays. Seattle struggled to stop the Colts’ running game but finally got a stop at the 3 on third-and-goal, forcing Indianapolis to settle for a 21-yard Rodrigo Blankenship field goal.
The Seahawks had an answer on offense, though they needed a conversion on third-and-9 following a false start call on DK Metcalf. Russell Wilson scrambled 11 yards to convert that play, and eventually he connected in the end zone with wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who made a nifty correction at the last second to haul in the 23-yard touchdown pass with a basket catch.
.@TDLockett12 doing Tyler Lockett things.
πΊ: #SEAvsIND on FOX pic.twitter.com/As3bX7zurr
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 12, 2021
Seattle built on its lead early in the second quarter, with Wilson and tight end Gerald Everett hooking up on a 9-yard touchdown pass to cap off a seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive to make it 14-3.
.@lightningstrk12 gets his first official touchdown as a Seahawk! π€
Q2: SEA 14, IND 3 pic.twitter.com/ehJ3Yhilrd
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 12, 2021
The Colts cut into their deficit with a seven-play, 68-yard scoring drive that ended with a 10-yard TD pass from Carson Wentz to Zach Pascal with 7:04 left before haltime.
Lockett and Wilson weren’t done yet, however, as Wilson went deep to find Lockett on a 69-yard TD with less than a minute to go in the first half.
LOCKETT'S GOT IT! πππππ@DangeRussWilson fires away to @TDLockett12 for six more!
πΊ: #SEAvsIND on FOX pic.twitter.com/k0w73tFqhh
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 12, 2021
After a scoreless third quarter that included back-to-back series where the two teams fumbled away to each other, the Colts reached the Seattle 18 with just under 10 minutes to go. They opted to go for it on fourth-and-2, and Darrell Taylor, Seattle’s 2020 second-round pick who missed all of his rookie season, steamrolled through the Indianapolis right tackle on his way to taking down Wentz for his first NFL sack.
Welcome to the league, @darrelltaylorst! πͺ
πΊ: #SEAvsIND on FOX pic.twitter.com/RvkUKf1Nhl
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 12, 2021
That gave the Seahawks the opening they needed to slam the door shut, which they did with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Metcalf at the end of a seven-play, 73-yard drive to make it 28-10 with less than seven minutes to play.
The Colts were able to find the end zone one more time on an 11-yard pass from Wentz to Pascal, but the 10-play, 75-yard drive took 4:33 off the clock. A two-point conversion attempt was thwarted by Seahawks defensive end Carlos Dunlap, and an onside kick attempt was easily recovered by Seahawks running back Travis Homer with just 2:08 left on the clock.
Seahawks standouts
Wilson looked right at home in Waldron’s offense, completing 18 of 23 passes for 254 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 152.3 rating.
His top target was Lockett, who made four catches for 100 yards and two scores. Metcalf added 60 yards and a TD on four receptions.
Running back Chris Carson had a strong start to the year with 91 yards on 16 carries, though he lost a fumble.
Chris Carson. Power runner. #Seahawks
πΊ: #SEAvsIND on FOX
π±: NFL app pic.twitter.com/HjKYPyDrot— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2021
Perennial All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner led Seattle with 13 tackles. He also had a tackle for loss and a pass defensed.
Second-year linebacker Jordyn Brooks made 11 tackles and Pro Bowl safety Quandre Diggs added nine tackles.
Defensive end Rasheem Green had a big day with four tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, two passes defensed and two QB hits.
Taylor and Benson Mayowa each had a sack.
Michael Dickson had five punts with an average of 37 yards, a long of 49, and four inside the Colts’ 20-yard line.
Kicker Jason Myers hit all four of his PAT attempts.
Seahawks injuries
Wide receiver Penny Hart (concussion) and Rashaad Penny (left calf) were both knocked out of the game in the first half.
On back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, rookie wide receiver Dee Eskridge took a shot to the head and center Ethan Pocic went to the sideline with a leg injury.
What’s next
The Seahawks will play in front of fans at home for the first time since 2019 when they host the Tennessee Titans in Week 2 play at Lumen Field. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. next Sunday, Sept. 19, with coverage on 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM beginning with the pregame show at 10 a.m.
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