| Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch had 124 yards rushing against the Jets on Sunday, putting him over 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season. (US Presswire) |
Although they got off to a slow start, the Seahawks were able to make a strong second-half stand to beat the Jets 28-7 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday.
Coming off their bye week, the Jets (3-6) were hoping to bounce back from a poor first half of the season after focusing on fixing the inconsistencies, poor protection, poor communication, poor tackling and poor decisions by QB Mark Sanchez, among other things, that had dogged them. But none of that happened and they ended with what coach Rex Ryan called a “brutal loss.”
For the first three quarters, the Jets' defense was solid. As DL Muhammad Wilkerson promised, they rattled Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, sacking him four times and causing two turnovers. Wilkerson turned one of the turnovers into his first career touchdown. But that would be the only points the Jets (3-6, 2-2 AFC East) would score. The defense shut down RB Marshawn Lynch in the first half, but couldn't keep it going in the second. Lynch ran 27 times for 124 yards, putting him over 1,000 yards for the second consecutive year.
The play of the defense dropped dramatically in the fourth quarter. “We have to be the steady rock,” Jets DE Mike DeVito said. “To drop it like that in the fourth quarter is really disappointing.”
Said Ryan: “We had two weeks to prepare for this game. [We] thought we were prepared. [We] knew we were prepared.”
Wilson, who was 12 of 19 for 185 yards and two touchdowns, managed the game well, didn't turn the ball over and got the ball to his playmakers.
Wilson spoke to what Lynch means to the Seattle offense. "His ability to make people miss; his ability to run over people and just continue, when everybody is on him, just to continue to get four more yards on a two-yard run; it’s just unbelievable."
WR Sidney Rice had only two catches, but both were for touchdowns for Seattle (6-4, 0-3 NFC West). WR Golden Tate had two catches for 51 yards and threw his first career pass for for one of Rice's scores.
The Seahawks' defense was its usual formidable self. Rookie DE Bruce Irvin made it a tough day for Jets RT Austin Howard, sacking Sanchez twice. The Seahawks' secondary was in the right place at the right time. CB Richard Sherman’s red-zone interception in the second quarter was the fourth time this season that Sanchez was picked off on that part of the field. Sherman also caused Sanchez to fumble in the fourth quarter, resulting in another Jets' turnover.
“It was just cover two and I was sitting in the flat waiting for him to throw it and he tossed it up," Sherman said.
The Jets' quarterback carousel continued with Sanchez going 9 of 22 for 124 yards and an interception. QB Tim Tebow was 3 of 3 for 8 yards and he added 14 yards on four carries.
"It comes down to the third-down numbers, which were really cool today," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "And we rushed the passer well enough to give them problems, and Mark (Sanchez) had a hard time getting started."
Sanchez had a simpler explanation: “We can’t win with the way I played today,” he said.
Even TE Dustin Keller, usually one of the team’s most reliable players, had two false-start penalties and a dropped pass.
The Jets' special teams continued its anemic play with WR Jeremy Kerley muffing a punt that gave the ball to Seattle, which scored on the next drive.
When the game turned: With the score tied, Kerley muffed a punt return. The Seahawks scored, took the lead and never lost it.
Highlight moments: Seahawks’ CB Sherman’s red-zone interception and forced fumble of QB Mark Sanchez. ... WR Tate’s TD throw to WR Rice.
Top-shelf performances:
• Seahawks CB Sherman -- Sack, INT, forced fumble
• Seahawks RB Lynch -- 27 carries for 124 yards, TD
• Jets DE DeVito -- Sack, forced fumble, 5 tackles
Numbers you should know: The Jets were 2 of 11 on third down (18 percent). ... The Seahawks had 20 first downs to the Jets' 11.
Injury update: Jets -- RB Bilal Powell left the game in the second quarter with a concussion.
Going forward: Jets -- The Jets travel to St. Louis before hosting the division rival Patriots on Thanksgiving night. ... Seahawks -- The Seahawks have a bye next week then play Miami on the road.
Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSJets and@LisaZimmerman.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow @CBSSeahawks and@JohnBreech.