Seahawks stay in playoff chase
Clutch defence, pounding ground attack power Seattle past sinking Vikes
SEATTLE Bobby Wagner blocked Dan Bailey’s field goal attempt midway through the fourth quarter, sparking the Seahawks to two late touchdowns and a 21-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, Seattle’s fourth straight victory.
Chris Carson followed the blocked kick with a two-yard TD run with 2:53 left, and Justin Coleman provided the capper with a 29yard fumble return touchdown 18 seconds later.
“I loved the way our defence played tonight. They played hard. they hung in there, made the big stops when they had to, and came up big at the end,’’ said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
“We were playing a very good football team out there tonight, with a lot on the line. If you look at the numbers, there wasn’t a lot done offensively, but when you can run the ball 40 times like we did tonight, you normally should win the game.’’
What was an ugly and mostly forgettable first three quarters turned into a Seattle party in the fourth as the Seahawks (8-5) moved to the brink of wrapping up a wild-card spot in the NFC. One win in Seattle’s final three games — including matchups with lowly San Francisco and Arizona — should put the Seahawks into the post-season.
Minnesota (6-6-1) twice had scoring chances in the fourth quarter when it was still a onescore game but was turned away each time. Minnesota’s chances of winning the NFC North took a major hit, but the Vikings still hold the No. 6 spot in the NFC.
Wagner has been one of the top linebackers in the NFL this season, but it was a debatable special teams play that made the difference. The question was whether his leap over the line of scrimmage was legal to block Bailey’s 47-yard field goal attempt with 5:38 left. A flag was initially thrown, but was picked up by the officials.
Seattle took possession and quarterback Russell Wilson immediately scrambled 40 yards deep into Minnesota territory. Five plays later, Carson scored and Seattle finally had a cushion.
Two plays after that, Jacob Martin sacked Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and the ball popped to Coleman, who wove his way to the clinching touchdown.
Cousins threw a six-yard touchdown to Dalvin Cook with 1:10 remaining.
Wilson had one of the worst passing games of his career, completing 10 of 20 for career-low 72 yards and a baffling interception late in the first half, but the Seahawks finished with 214 yards rushing, led by 90 yards from Carson.
Cousins was 20 of 33 for 208 yards, most of that coming late.
Sebastian Janikowski hit field goals of 37 and 35 yards to account for all of Seattle’s scoring until the closing minutes.