Wilson sparks Seattle’s comeback
CLEVELAND — As rap music thumped from the large soundsystem speakers sitting atop lockers at one end of the room, several Seattle players stood on their chairs and danced. This was their party. On the road, the Seahawks make themselves at home.
Russell Wilson passed for two touchdowns and ran for one, Seattle’s defense forced four turnovers and Chris Carson scored on a 1yard run with 3:30 left as the Seahawks rallied for a 3228 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
The Seahawks (51), who are 30 on the road for the first time in 39 years, gave up touchdowns on Cleveland’s first three possessions before storming back.
“If we want to be a championship team, we have to win these types of game,” Wilson said.
He connected with wide receiver Jaron Brown on his scoring passes, and Seattle’s quarterback scampered 16 yards for a TD. The Seahawks last were unbeaten in their first three road games in 1980, when they went 412.
“These guys are all together,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “They’re committed. They care, and they’re playing for each other.”
The Browns (24) were hurt by miscues. They couldn’t overcome three interceptions, a lost fumble, a blocked punt and quarterback Baker Mayfield’s hip injury.
“We had turnovers every which way,” wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said. “Had the game in our hands and let it get away.”
Cleveland fell to 03 at FirstEnergy Stadium, and as fans filed out, many might have been wondering what has become of a season they couldn’t wait to get started.
“The great teams learn from their mistakes,” Mayfield said. “They learn from games like these. The certain plays that you can look back on and say, ‘This would have made the difference.’ You learn from it and you move forward. This hurts, but the good teams learn from it.”
Mayfield’s three picks raised his NFLleading total to 11, and he still hasn’t found a rhythm. Trying to bring the Browns back late, Mayfield, who went to the locker room in the third quarter to be evaluated, threw a pass that was intercepted by K.J. Wright with 2:41 left.
The Seahawks defenders celebrated the turnover in front of Cleveland’s Dawg Pound section, which pelted them with cans and other debris.
“I’m not a fan of winning like this,” Wright said. “It got ugly there in the beginning. It was an uphill battle the whole time, but it’s a long game.”
Wilson then ran out the clock as the Seahawks moved to 51 for the third time.
“It was a crazy game,” Wilson said. “It was a battle. We were down 206 against a good football team with a lot of great players. We kept believing something great was going to happen and, sure enough, it did. In the fourth quarter we found a way again.”
Carson’s short TD burst capped a 79yard drive. The march came after the Browns had taken a 2825 lead on Nick Chubb’s 3yard TD run.
Wilson finished 23for33 for 295 yards and stayed errorfree. He has yet to throw an interception this season.
Carson gained 124 yards on 24 carries for the Seahawks, who lost tight end Will Dissly in the first half with an Achilles injury. Dissly, whose rookie season was ended by a knee injury, left the stadium on crutches with his foot in an immobilizing boot.