Fast Facts: Seahawks rip Jaguars 31-7 to go into bye on win
Oct 31, 2021, 4:02 PM | Updated: 5:25 pm
It turned out the struggling Seattle Seahawks had the perfect opponent before entering their bye week.
The Seahawks had the epitome of a get-right game Sunday afternoon as they dominated the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars for a 31-7 victory, improving their record to 3-5 with a break coming next weekend.
Seahawks 31, Jaguars 7: Takeaways | Instant Reaction | Stats
The win was Seattle’s first since turning to Geno Smith at quarterback, and for as good as he played, the Seahawks still hope it will be the last they need him to win. That’s because starting QB Russell Wilson, who has been out of action since suffering an injury on Oct. 7 to the middle finger on his throwing hand that needed to be surgically repaired, could be back in time to play the Seahawks’ next game on Nov. 14 at Green Bay. Wilson’s initial prognosis was that he would miss four to eight weeks, although it’s important to note he had not yet had a pin in his finger removed as of Sunday.
Seattle jumped out to an 18-0 advantage over Jacksonville by halftime, which was its first three-score lead in the first half of any game this season and just its second three-score lead overall in 2021. The Hawks kept their foot on the pedal in the final two quarters to run away with the win.
Here is a look at the fast facts from the Seahawks’ victory.
Seahawks standouts
Geno Smith completed 20 of 24 attempts for 195 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
DK Metcalf caught both of Smith’s TD passes and finished with 43 yards on six receptions.
Tyler Lockett led all receivers with 12 catches and 142 yards.
Alex Collins led Seattle rushers with 44 yards on 10 carries.
Bobby Wagner made 14 tackles and Jamal Adams added 10.
Ryan Neal had the Seahawks’ lone sack.
Quandre Diggs had an interception, and he and Carlos Dunlap II each had two passes defensed.
Kicker Jason Myers, he of the most Halloween-appropriate name, was 1 for 1 on field goals and 4 for 4 on extra points.
Michael Dickson punted five times for an average of 45.2 yards. He had a long of 59 yards.
Seattle held Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to 233 yards on 32 of 54 passing. Jacksonville also managed just 82 rushing yards on 19 carries, with former Seahawks RB Carlos Hyde leading with 32 yards on nine attempts.
Scoring plays and highlights
• First half
It took nine plays for the Seahawks to stop the Jags’ opening drive, but the important thing is that Seattle did force them into a punt to give its offense a chance to take an early lead. Geno Smith and crew did just that, and the Seahawks never looked back.
A sack of rookie Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence by safety Ryan Neal on third-and-nine ended the Jaguars’ hopes for a game-opening score, and Seattle answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Smith. Tyler Lockett had the big play of the series, making a 27-yard catch in which he was ruled down at the 1.
This @GenoSmith3 to @TDLockett12 pass was beautiful. 🌟
📺: #JAXvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/62aQoxsArm
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 31, 2021
In the second quarter, Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs picked off a Lawrence pass attempt from midfield, allowing the Seahawks to take over on their own 27. Seattle then put together its second scoring drive, this time finding the end zone on a ridiculous 16-yard touchdown catch by DK Metcalf.
HOW did @dkm14 make this catch 😱😱 😱
📺: #JAXvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/fQYMx6dVSY
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 31, 2021
The Jaguars turned over on downs inside Seattle territory, and the Seahawks were able to tack on a 31-yard field goal by Jason Myers just before halftime to make it 17-0.
• Second half
After the Hawks went three-and-out to start the third but forced another Jaguars turnover on downs, Metcalf hauled in a 5-yard TD pass from Smith to make it 24-0. That score was set up by a 28-yard pass from Smith to Lockett that featured a trick fitting for a game played on Halloween.
It's the perfect day for some 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨 😏
📺: #JAXvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/mRd2rNrqLh
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 31, 2021
The scoring took a break until inside the final two minutes when Lawrence hit Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew on fourth down for a 9-yard touchdown to get Jacksonville on the board.
Seattle didn’t take that lying down, though, as running back Travis Homer picked up the Jags’ onside kick attempt and returned it 44 yards to the house.
WHAT IS HAPPENING@travishomer4 just returned an onside kick for the touchdown 😱
📺: #JAXvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/OW7HMwv8Oc
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 31, 2021
Up next for the Seahawks
Seattle has next weekend off but will return to action with a road game against the Green Bay Packers at 1:25 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14. Coverage will begin on 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM with the pregame show at 10 a.m.
