The plan worked just about perfectly Sunday, as Wilson averaged 10.5 yards per attempt, the Seahawks’ highest total since 2013.
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“That was a lot of fun”.
Wilson had fought illness most of the day, but battled to his best game of the season. Russell Wilson accounted for a career-high five touchdowns as well as 345 passing yards.
The decision backfired when on third-and-10 on the next possession Wilson hit Baldwin on a crossing route.
In all five of its losses this season, Seattle held a fourth-quarter lead at some point. Going forward, Wilson should not have trouble finding options on critical third downs, since fans could already see Wilson targeting other guys on third down plays even before Graham went down.
But most of the credit falls to Wilson for one of the finest regular-season performances of his career. Rivers tossed two of his four touchdown passes in Sunday’s 31-25 victory at Jacksonville to Antonio Gates, who has 21 games with multiple touchdown receptions.
CONCUSSION CONCERNS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger started but didn’t finish. The Colts also are 6-5, one of five AFC teams with that record. Yes, it hurts – Graham literally and the Hawks figuratively – because Seattle was beginning to figure out how to get the big tight end involved. 500 mark for the first time this season and keeping the Seahawks in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt.
As I had hoped, both teams’ passing attacks were on full display, with Russell Wilson and the Seahawks emerging victorious despite a 456-yard day from Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers have been a bend-but-don’t-break defense all season, but they entered the game as the fifth-ranked scoring defense.
The Steelers’ playoff chances declined after their 39-30 loss in Seattle on Sunday, just as their pass defense did against the Seahawks.
Roethlisberger headed to the locker room during the Steelers’ final series. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did not discuss Roethlisberger’s status for week 13 after the game, but said that “he is going to do what he has to in order to take care of his guys”.
During the offseason, Seattle acquired Graham from the New Orleans Saints for center Max Unger and the 31 pick of last year’s draft, which turn into linebacker Stephone Anthony. Backup Jones, who took a shotgun snap on a play that started out of field-goal formation and took the field for the Steelers’ final drive while Roethlisberger underwent concussion tests, threw two interceptions. The coach said, “We’re gonna miss the heck out of him for the rest of the season”. “We played relentless football, and that’s how we have to play”.
Graham was reaching back for a pass in the end zone when his right ankle buckled, causing him to fall awkwardly. Graham sustained a torn tendon in his knee and will need surgery.
“I would have to look at it, but if we get them at third-and-16, I am betting on us”, defensive end Cam Heyward said. “I felt confident in our ability to do it. Obviously we didn’t”.
“DeShawn came through in a big way”, Carroll said.
The decision to replace Cary Williams with DeShawn Shead at cornerback resulted in 10 tackles and four passes defended for Shead. Whether through scheme or breakdowns, Wheaton had 201 yards receiving and a touchdown and Seattle never made the needed adjustments.
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-LB Ryan Shazier had to come out of another game because of an injury.
