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Seahawks Instant Reaction: 710 ESPN Seattle on 27-26 win over Vikings

Oct 11, 2020, 9:43 PM | Updated: 10:29 pm

Seahawks Russell Wilson...

Russell Wilson led the Seahawks on a game-winning drive in the rain. (Getty)

(Getty)

The Seahawks pulled off not just one but two comebacks to beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-26 and improve to 5-0 on the season Sunday night.

Seahawks stun Vikings 27-26 | Franchise-record 5-0 start | Quick hits

As we go do after every Seahawks game, we have collected the instant reactions of the hosts of 710 ESPN Seattle to the Seahawks’ win. Remember, this is just a preview of the coverage you’ll hear all day on the stations, beginning with Danny and Gallant at 7 a.m. and a visit with the head coach on The Pete Carroll Show at 9:30.

Tom Wassell – Tom, Jake and Stacy

We said on Friday that it would be nice to force Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins into “clunker” mode, and midway through the third quarter it looked like that was going to happen. Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton brought the pressure and it worked in a big way after Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook had his way in the first half, and the big plays by Damontre Moore and K.J. Wright led to a flurry of scoring by the offense. The momentum had shifted and it looked like Seattle would run away with it.

Only they didn’t. This is where the true test of their character would be on the line.

Cook’s replacement, Alexander Mattison, was just as effective and helped Kirk Cousins get back into form. One LONG drive after another where Seattle couldn’t stop the run or defend passes underneath. And of course, Russell and the offense had to watch from the sidelines.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer made the right call going for it on fourth down to try and put the game away up five points late in the fourth quarter. With the way they’d run the ball, who would have thought the Seahawks were finally going to stop them in THAT situation? Again, big plays by Benson Mayowa, Moore and Bobby Wagner gave the offense one last chance. Big. Plays. I know it won’t make fans comfortable to live by a thread in games like this, but the Seahawks have proven they’re up to the challenge for five weeks in a row.

What do I even write about the final drive? Old-school Russell making plays with his legs and then DK Metcalf finds another gear. I actually thought the incompletion in the end zone was a TD, but whatever. Two plays later – BOOM.

I really can’t believe they won that game. This team is capable of miracles and lots of them.

Jim Moore – Bob, Dave and Moore

It had never been done before in franchise history so you knew it wouldn’t be easy to get to 5-0, but the Seahawks did it in last-gasp fashion, winning in the same end zone where they barely held off the Patriots and Cowboys in the final seconds.

I don’t know how this defense keeps coming up with huge stops, but that formula has worked thus far and led to one of Russell Wilson’s finest fourth-quarter comebacks in a career full of them. This time he needed to convert two fourth downs, including the game-winner to DK Metcalf, capping a 94-yard drive in the rain.

You could call what we saw unbelievable, but we’ve seen it so many times that it’s not unbelievable anymore. Who among us didn’t think Wilson would come through if given the chance?

And the defense gave him one, stopping Alexander Mattison on fourth-and-inches at the Seattle 6-yard line with Cody Barton, Benson Mayowa and Bobby Wagner combining to make the game-changing play on Minnesota’s 85th snap of the game.

All of which allowed the Seahawks to remain alone at the top of the NFC West entering the bye week, making up for a scoreless first half with one of the wildest and wackiest second halves in Wilson’s nine years here.

Paul Gallant – Danny and Gallant

The Seahawks are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. And in classic Hawks fashion, they got there with a traditionally bizarre 27-26 W.

Seattle’s defense couldn’t stop the run all night, allowing 41 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown. Until they did, stuffing Alexander Mattison at their own 6 on fourth-and-1.

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense had issues of their own. Russ was sacked four times, saw his offense go 0 for 7 on third downs, and threw a careless interception in the fourth quarter. Until they didn’t, and Wilson led Seattle on a 13-play, 94-yard, game-winning TD drive featuring two fourth-down conversions.

There was a point where it looked like the Vikings might run away with this game. Down 13-0 at the beginning of the third quarter, Seattle went three and out, handing the ball back to Minnesota and an extra effective Dalvin Cook. But on the Vikings’ next play, Cook injured his groin and wouldn’t return. Minnesota would go three and out, while Seahawks went on to score three touchdowns in less than two minutes of play. I’d like to thank Primetime Kirk Cousins for expediting that comeback with a fumble and interception over that stretch.

There’s A LOT for the Hawks to clean up after this one. But after playing so poorly early, it’s hard for me to nitpick about a 5-0 team.

The Groz – Every day at 11:45 with John Clayton

1:42 to play. You need a touchdown to win and have 94 yards to go with one time out. It’s wet, it’s cold, you’ve been sacked four times and picked off once.

Most could see problems. Russell Wilson sees only possibilities.

The Seahawks’ MVP candidate pulled off the drive and Seattle goes to 5-0 for the first time in its history. It was a game the Seahawks were outplayed, but they did the most important thing. Somehow they got the MVP a shot to win it, and he did.

For Seattle going forward there is a lot to work on, but the bottom line with this year’s teams is be within a score in the fourth quarter and you have the advantage. The Seahawks gave us what felt like three or four different games in one on Sunday night, and at the end showed why they are the best watch in sports. Right now there is nothing more entertaining then Seahawks football. If your nerves can take it, that is. Thank heavens for the bye week.

Bob Stelton – Bob, Dave and Moore

Somehow, some way, the Seahawks pulled a win out of the fire! They are 5-0 heading into the bye week and I still can’t believe they won this game.

In the third quarter they scored three touchdowns on seven total plays in less than three total minutes of playing time.

The defense came up with a crucial stop on fourth down when the Vikings were about to seal the victory. Then Russell Wilson became the wizard we are used to seeing in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. The Hawks go 94 yards in 1:42 to pull off an incredible win on a night where they did very little to resemble a 5-0 team.

The first half of this game was the worst of the season. They were out-played and out-coached on both sides of the ball. The stars of the first half were defensive tackle Jarran Reed and punter Michael Dickson. Outside of that, there was really nothing to feel good about.

Even when it looked like the Hawks caught a massive break with Dalvin Cook leaving the game with injury, his backup, Alexander Mattison, ran right through them for 112 yards on 20 carries.

Yet despite this being a night where they couldn’t seem to find a rhythm on either side of the ball, they did what great teams do – they found a way!

They now have two weeks to heal up, and more importantly try to find a way for this defense to become something more than they have been so far this season.

But for now, 5-0 is pretty sweet!

The closer: Russell Wilson delivers a most improbable Seahawks win

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Seahawks Instant Reaction: 710 ESPN Seattle on 27-26 win over Vikings