Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks (4-2) were undermanned on defense, but they played like they had a full set of available players on Sunday.
Mike Macdonald’s group sacked Trevor Lawrence seven times and held the Jaguars rushing attack to just 59 yards on 19 attempts, and despite some early coverage busts, the Seahawks were able to win 20-12 in a game that was very ugly to watch but is nevertheless a huge W for Seattle. They are now 10-1 on the road under Mike Macdonald with nine consecutive victories outside of Lumen Field.
Sam Darnold wasn’t at his absolute sharpest, but he still threw for two touchdowns and 295 yards. Most importantly, the Seahawks committed 0 turnovers for the first time all season, denying the Jaguars any chance to extend their league lead in defensive takeaways. The star of the game on offense was Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 8 passes for 162 yards and a 61-yard touchdown. Cooper Kupp caught his first TD as a Seahawk, which proved to be Seattle’s only points in the 2nd half.
The Seahawks are guaranteed to be above .500 entering their Week 8 bye, so it’d be huge if they can turn 4-2 into 5-2 next week on Monday night against the Houston Texans.
The Seahawks and Jaguars traded three-and-outs to start the game. Seattle’s highlight was getting a sack on the first play by Byron Murphy II, giving him 3.5 on the season. Jacksonville punted again after rookie safety Nick Emmanwori blitzed Lawrence into an overthrow.
After another three-and-out by the Seahawks offense, the Seahawks defense put the Jaguars behind the sticks and still allowed them to convert. Trevor Lawrence completed passes on 3rd and 11 and 3rd and 16 to keep the drive going. Travis Hunter juked Nick Emmanwori out of his shoes, then the Seahawks were made to pay after Emmanwori and Shaquill Griffin coverage busted a fake screen and let Brian Thomas Jr run free for a touchdown.
Seattle responded with a field goal drive. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught passes of 18 and 32 yards and helped set the Seahawks in a goal-to-go situation. For whatever reason, Klint Kubiak decided it was Zach Charbonnet time, and he called three straight runs that didn’t gain a first down. Jason Myers hit a 24-yard field goal after Kubiak ludicrously took the ball out of Darnold’s hands.
Jacksonville punted on the next series following a Lawrence overthrow, a Nick Emmanwori run stop on Travis Etienne Jr, and a coverage sack by Uchenna Nwosu and Leonard Williams. The defense did its job, then the offense did its job in only one play.
Darnold to JSN, 61 yards, house call. New Jaguars CB Greg Newsome got torched.
The Jags drove into field goal range, converting on 4th and inches with Dyami Brown on a clever run play. Trevor Lawrence was sacked by DeMarcus Lawrence. A little Lawrence on Lawrence crime!
That sack meant a lot, as Cam Little missed a field goal wide right....
