BRADY HENDERSON

Seahawks defenders have let takeaways slip through their hands

Oct 14, 2014, 5:00 PM | Updated: Oct 15, 2014, 12:54 pm

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Recovering two Dallas fumbles was a step in the right direction for the Seahawks, who had only once forced three turnovers over the first four games.

Still, Seattle left one takeaway on the table when cornerback Byron Maxwell dropped an interception. That marked the third time in two games that a Seahawks defender had let a sure pick slip through his hands. This one was the most costly, though, not only considering the outcome but what happened immediately after.

Maxwell had two hands on the ball and an open field in front of him, having positioned himself to pick off a Tony Romo pass that was intended for tight end Gavin Escobar in the end zone.

It was late in the first quarter, Seattle leading 10-0 following a field goal and a special-teams touchdown. An interception on this play would have ended a Cowboys scoring threat. A pick-six – which was entirely possible considering how much room Maxwell had to run – could have buried them.

But Maxwell couldn’t hang on, and Romo found Escobar for a touchdown on the next play to cut Seattle’s lead to three points. Maxwell’s reaction after his dropped interception showed how big an opportunity Seattle’s defense had just missed out on.

The Seahawks led the league in interceptions a year ago with 28, which was five more than any other team. They only have two of them through five games this season.

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Seahawks defenders have let takeaways slip through their hands