Seahawks keep playoff hopes alive, eliminate Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Texas — Already missing two of their defensive stars for the season, the Seattle Seahawks were coming off their most-lopsided loss under coach Pete Carroll and facing Ezekiel Elliott in his return to the Dallas Cowboys after two of their worst showings against the run this year.

The Seahawks are still fighting for their sixth straight trip to the playoffs following a 21-12 victory Sunday. The Cowboys are out.

“We’ve been doing this since I’ve been here the past seven years,” said linebacker K.J. Wright, who had one of two interceptions against Dak Prescott, the other returned for a touchdown by Justin Coleman.

“Whenever our backs are against the wall, we just find a way to bounce back.”

Seattle won despite a career-low 93 yards passing from Russell Wilson, who still threw two touchdown passes to get to 32 for the season, within two of his career high.

The Seahawks won with 136 yards total offence — fewest since beating the then-St. Louis Rams in 2013 — because that defence missing safety Kam Chancellor and cornerback Richard Sherman, not to mention end Cliff Avril, forced three turnovers. Each led to one of the touchdowns, highlighted by Coleman’s score to put Seattle in front for good in the third quarter.

Seattle (9-6) was eliminated in the NFC West race because the Los Angeles Rams beat Jacksonville 27-23 a week after a 42-7 blowout of the Seahawks. But Seattle still has a shot at the post-season with a win at home against Arizona and an Atlanta loss to Carolina this coming Sunday.

“Adversity to me is all the same,” said receiver Doug Baldwin, who had one of the touchdown catches. “It’s another mountain that you have to climb. It’s motivation that we can win with the struggles we’re facing.”