Wilson, Seahawks rally for victory over the sloppy Browns
CLEVELAND >> As rap music thumped from the large sound-system 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 threw two TD passes and ran for one, Seattle’s defense forced four turnovers and Chris Carson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:30 left as the Seahawks rallied for a 32-28 win Sunday over the mistake-prone Browns.
The Seahawks (5-1), who are 3-0 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 cool quarterback scampered 16 yards for a TD. The Seahawks, who have shown a knack for winning tight games, were last unbeaten in their first three road games in 1980, when they went 4-12.
“These guys are all together,” said Seattle coach Pete Carroll. “They’re committed. They care, and they’re playing for each other.”
The Browns (2-4) were hurt by their own miscues. They couldn’t overcome three interceptions, a fumble, blocked punt or quarterback Baker Mayfield’s hip injury.
Cleveland fell to 0-3 at FirstEnergy Stadium, and as Browns fans filed out, many were wondering what has become of a season they couldn’t wait to get started.
The Browns also came out on the short end of several questionable calls by an officiating crew that had its hands full.
“The refs are never an excuse,” Mayfield said. “I will probably get fined for saying this, but it was pretty bad today . ... It ticks me off.”
Mayfield’s three picks raised his NFL-leading total to 11, and the secondyear QB 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, was intercepted by Seattle’s K.J. Wright with 2:41 remaining.
The Seahawks defenders celebrated the gameclinching turnover in front of Cleveland’s Dawg Pound section, which pelted it with cans and other debris.
Wilson then ran out the clock as the Seahawks moved to 5-1 for the third time.
“It was a crazy game,” Wilson said. “It was a battle. We were down 20-6 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.”