Seahawks top Washington, clinch playoff berth
Russell Wilson asked Carlos Dunlap to make a play to get the Seattle Seahawks into the playoffs, and the veteran defensive end was all too eager to deliver.
Dunlap shook off a lingering foot injury and sacked Washington’s Dwayne Haskins to shore up a 20-15 victory Sunday that clinched a playoff spot. It’s Seattle’s ninth berth in 11 seasons under coach Pete Carroll but Dunlap’s first crack at the postseason since 2015 and safety Jamal Adams’ first in his NFL career.
“I know you guys are used to Seattle always going to the playoffs — I’m not used to this,” said Adams, who extended his single-season sacks record for a defensive back.
Adams couldn’t contain his excitement after another game he played with two broken fingers. “I’m just excited. It feels good, man. This is what you dream of.”
Carroll called it a “sweet win,” brushing off a rough fourth quarter to celebrate another accomplishment. Russell Wilson threw for a touchdown, Carlos Hyde ran 50 yards for a score, and the Seahawks (10-4) picked off Haskins twice to build a big lead before holding on with a big defensive stop in the final minutes.
It was only fitting Dunlap had the big sack on third-and-15 with just over a minute left, given his lengthy playoff drought.
Washington (6-8) still has that opportunity in the NFC East, even though its winning streak was snapped at four with Alex
Smith out because of a calf injury. Haskins finished 38 of 55 for 295 yards, a TD pass and the two interceptions.
Wilson threw for 121 yards and a 10-yard TD pass to Jacob Hollister and ran for 52 on six carries. Hyde’s 50-yard TD run was Seattle’s longest rushing play of the season.
Cowboys 41, 49ers
33: Tony Pollard ran for two touchdowns with Ezekiel Elliott sidelined by an injury for the first time in the two-time rushing champion’s career, andhost Dallas beat San Francisco.
Four of the seven Dallas scores were set up by turnovers from the 49ers (5-9), who guaranteed themselves becoming the second Super Bowl runner-up in the past 13 seasons to finish with a losing record the next year.
The Cowboys (5-9) kept faint playoff hopes alive in a matchup of longtime rivals with a rich playoff history that was moved out of prime time with both teams starting the day in last place in their divisions.
Andy Dalton threw for two touchdowns, and Greg Zuerlein kicked a tiebreaking field goal early in the fourth quarter after the second interception by Nick Mullens, who was replaced by C.J. Beathard.
Beathard handled the last two possessions and threw a 49-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Kendrick Bourne on the final play.
Mullens also lost a fumble that led to one of two early touchdowns for a 14-0 Dallas lead a week after the backup quarterback had a fumble and interception returned for TDs in a loss to Washington.