Seahawks bounce back in a big way after ugly loss to Rams
The Seattle Seahawks are not dead yet.
On the heels of the most embarrassing loss of Pete Carroll’s career, his team kept their playoff hopes alive and also eliminated the Cowboys with an unconventional 21-12 road victory. After getting torched for 42 points by the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks defense responded in a big way, surrendering just 283 total yards and picking off Dak Prescott twice, including a pick-six by Justin Coleman. In fact, Dallas didn’t score a single touchdown, despite the return of All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott, who compiled 97 yards rushing on 24 carries.
Carroll, as he’s done throughout his eight-year tenure with the Seahawks, called upon his team all week to stay focused and committed to the task at hand. And that’s exactly what they did while facing tremendous adversity on Sunday.
Dez Bryant has now gone 21 straight games w/out a 100-yard receiving effort. Dez also had his #Cowboys' high 11th dropped pass today. Dez is getting paid $14M this season. #Seahawks
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 25, 2017
Seattle was plagued all game by a series of penalties as quarterback Russell Wilson struggled immensely to establish any type of rhythm. The Seahawks gained just 136 yards while getting 142 penalty yards — the first time since 1966 that a team has accumulated more penalty yards than total yardage and still won. Although he managed two passing touchdowns, Wilson — who just earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection — totaled a career-low 93 yards passing. But that was hardly the strangest thing to happen in Dallas on Sunday.
Not only did Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey miss consecutive field goals — Bailey is the NFL’s most accurate kicker in history — but in one of more surprising postgame tidbits you will see all year, Seahawks’ All-World safety Earl Thomas apparently told Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett: “If y’all have the chance, come get me,” noting that the “Seahawks will kick me to the curb.”
Thomas is apparently displeased with front office not extending his contract. The 28-year-old will earn $10 million next season before becoming a free agent. Thomas grew up in Texas and starred at the University of Texas as a collegian. Much of his family and friends still reside there as well.
The 9-6 Seahawks meanwhile, are hardly out of the woods. They must defeat Arizona at home in Week 17 and hope that Atlanta — who lost Sunday in New Orleans — loses its home tilt with Carolina. The Falcons hold the tiebreaker over because of their 34-31 Week 11 win over Seattle. But for another week, the Seahawks are alive.
More NFL coverage from Yahoo Sports:
• Watch: Winston loses mind after game-ending fumble
• Insult added to injury: Seattle CB mocks Zeke after TD
• Charles Robinson: NFL’s worst rule rears its ugly head, again
• Winners and Losers: Suspension, drama too much for Cowboys
