The Jaguars took the Seahawks’ will, and stomped all over it in their 30-24 victory over Seattle.
From the opening kickoff, the Jaguars showed that they wanted this game more than the Seahawks, making plays all over the field on offense and defense. The Seattle offense was only able to gain 129 yards in the first half, with 59 of those yards coming on the Seahawks last drive of the half. The Jacksonville defense was swarming the Seahawks, and did not give them much space to make any plays.
Russell Wilson was almost to lead a late Seahawks comeback, but was unable to get the game-tying touchdown. He hit Paul Richardson for 61-yard touchdown with less than ten minutes in the game. He then made it a one-possession game after hitting Tyler Lockett for a 74-yard touchdown Wilson finished the game completing 17 of his 31 passes for 271 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The Seattle defense was able to hold Jacksonville to only three points in the first half. But after the first half, the flood gates were opened, and they gave up 27 points in the second half. Blake Bortles had a very solid game, completing 18 of his 27 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Leonard Fournette also had a good game, running for 101 yards and a touchdown on 24 attempts.
MVP
With little going the Seahawks way against the Jaguars today, there are very few positives to pull out of this game. But there is one player that was potentially keeping this game together for the Seattle defense. And that man is Bobby Wagner. Wagner made three total tackles before leaving the game early with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. The next three plays by the Jacksonville offense all resulted in touchdowns. Even though Wagner’s position is not directly at fault for the touchdowns, Wagner is the leader of the defense and organizes the group pre-snap. Without him on the field, the defense was unable to get any stops. Jacksonville scored 27 of their 30 points with Wagner not on the field.
LVP
Germain Ifedi entered this week leading the NFL with 12 accepted penalties. Although none of his penalties were accepted this week, Ifedi almost added three penalties to his lead. One of the penalties was an offsetting penalty, with the other two being declined. Ifedi’s penalties have created problems for the Seahawks, as they have either put them behind the chains, or ends up costing Seattle yards when there are defensive penalties on the same plays. Ifedi was also getting blown off the line of scrimmage and did not provide much protection for Wilson against the best defense in terms of sacks.
Play of the Game
The Seahawks seemed to have taken the momentum from the Jaguars after scoring 10 unanswered points. But the Jaguars took the momentum the next possession. Blake Bortles hit Keelan Cole on the first play of the drive for a 75-yard touchdown. It looked like a miscommunication by the defense, as Cole moved into Shaquill Griffin’s zone. Griffin had already crossed the field covering another receiver, leaving Cole wide open for the touchdown. After that play, the Seahawks seemed to have no life, until late in the game when Wilson almost led a comeback.
Next Up
The Seahawks (8-5) return to CenturyLink Field to play the Los Angeles Rams (9-4) on Sunday, December 17 at 4:05 p.m. EST. This game could be the last chance for the Seahawks to win the NFC West crown. A loss would end almost any shot for the Seahawks to win their fourth NFC West crown in five years.