Seahawks come back to beat Packers 28-22 in OT, win NFC title

Russell Wilson was picked off before he every completed a pass. Twice.

But his final two passes couldn’t have been any better, or for that matter any bigger, a 35-yard completion to Doug Baldwin on third-and-7 and another 35-yarder to Jermaine Kearse for the game-winning touchdown. In overtime.

It was even more unbelievable than it sounds.

The Seahawks trailed 16-0 at halftime, they were down 12 points with 5 minutes to go, and they came back and won 28-22 in overtime without ever giving the Packers a chance to get their grubby little paws on the ball in the extra period.

A six-play, 87-yard touchdown drive, Seattle’s third touchdown in the span of 7 minutes that most certainly shook the earth and at least a few of the Green Bay Packers.

It couldn’t have started out worse for Seattle in the first half. It didn’t get that much better through most of the next three periods.

The final 3 minutes were simply the most unbelievable in Seattle’s franchise history.

Two touchdowns in the span of 45 seconds.

A 1-yard touchdown run by Russell Wilson with 2:09 left made it interesting. Chris Matthews’ recovery of an onside kick set the stage for something incredible, and Marshawn Lynch’s 24-yard touchdown run with 1:25 left gave Seattle its first lead of a game it trailed 16-0 at halftime.

The only criticism of the comeback? It happened too fast. Green Bay – and more specifically quarterback Aaron Rodgers – had enough time for a seven-play, 48-yard drive that set up the game-tying field goal.

Can you win the game in the first half?

No, coach Pete Carroll will tell you.

Sure looked like the Seahawks could’ve lost it, though. Seattle committed four turnovers in the first half, three of them interceptions by Wilson. Seattle played a quarter and a half before gaining a first down. The Packers scored four times before they punted.

It was a half so poor Seattle could have been flagged for a false start, except that would have required some movement and Seattle was stagnant to start the game.

Their first two possessions produced a total of 3 yards. Seattle had gained 59 yards at halftime and lost 35 because of penalties.

Wilson started the game 0-for-6 passing, but actually it was much worse than that. Two of those passes were picked off by the Packers, both by safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The first interception came after the ball deflected off the hands of Jermaine Kearse. The second was simply the worst decision Wilson has made in the playoffs, throwing long into double coverage.

Wilson got clobbered for his trouble on that play, clipped in the chin by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. Matthews was penalized on the play, giving Green Bay the ball at its own 44.

At that point, Seattle trailed 16-0, the Packers had not punted and they were positioned to drive a stake into Seattle’s ambitions of returning to the Super Bowl. Only Aaron Rodgers made an inexplicable throw, cornerback Byron Maxwell diving forward to pick off the pass.

The Seahawks got the ball into scoring position only to have Wilson get picked off for the third time, this time throwing a fade to Kearse, who was defended perfectly by cornerback Sam Shields.

Seattle finally forced a punt on the ensuing possession, Green Bay’s first of the game, and Seattle went into halftime trailing 16-0.

And by the time Seattle finally gained some traction in the second half, it took a trick play – punter Jon Ryan throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to erstwhile offensive lineman Garry Gilliam – on what would have been a field-goal attempt.

The Seahawks next two possessions ended in punts, and when Wilson was picked off for a fourth time with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks appeared beaten. It was the fourth time he was picked off, all four passes intended for Kearse. Two of those went off his hands.

That turned out only to be the set-up for Kearse’s final catch, which he made with Packers cornerback Tramon Williams draped all over him. Kearse got up, threw the football into the crowd that was on its feet.

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