By Jawann Bennett
The Seattle Medium
A lot of questions hover over the 2018 Seattle Seahawks as they came back to Seattle 0-2 on the young season to face the 1-1 Dallas Cowboys for their home opener. Could the offensive line protect quarterback Russell Wilson? Would Russell Wilson be more decisive with the football?
The most pressing question was whether or not the Seahawks would they walk their off-season talk and run the rock..specifically with their starting running back Chris Carson? Carson came into the contest with just 13 carries through two games, though having gained 75 yards. The Seahawks seemed pretty determined to change that narrative in the first quarter as they ran Carson 7 times for 29 yards.
Questions remained on the defensive side of the Seahawks with the chemistry of a group that looked vastly different from the 2017 version that faced the Cowboys Christmas Eve, ironically the last time Seattle won a regular season game. Infamously after that game, safety Earl Thomas told Dallas coach Jason Garrett “…if I’m available, come get me!”
The biggest question that lingered throughout the offseason and continues into the regular season is the fate of Thomas, is there a future in Seattle for the 8-year veteran and 4-time All-Pro?
Thomas was a holdout the entire offseason and did not report until the Wednesday prior to the season opener in Denver due to an ongoing contract dispute. A dispute that reportedly disrupted preparations for this game as Thomas abruptly stopped practicing Friday and did not participate in Saturday’s walk through.
“I need to make sure my body is 100,” said Thomas of the situation. “I’m investing in myself, now if they were investing in me I’d be out there practicing. I don’t care if it’s anything as small as a headache, I’m not practicing.”
However, Thomas started the game and made his presence felt early and often as he intercepted Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott’s first quarter pass for his second interception of the season. Along with the interception, Thomas would finish the first half with four tackles and a pass defense. The Seahawks defense looked solid as a unit in the first half holding Dallas to 92 total yards, 3 points and only one first down.
Seattle’s defense seemed to inspire what had been an anemic Seattle offense. Behind a continued dose of strong running by Carson, Wilson started to find rhythm in the passing game in the second quarter. After completing only 3 of 7 pass attempts for only 15 yards in the first quarter, Wilson completed 9 of 13 for 130 yards including 2 touchdowns in the second quarter. The first touchdown to receiver Jaron Brown for 16 yards capped off a 10 play, 64-yard drive. The second touchdown pass come on a beautiful 52-yard dime down the right sideline to receiver Tyler Lockett to finish a 7 play, 75-yard drive. The Seahawks would add a Sebastian Janikowski 47-yard field goal before halftime to put the Seahawks up 17-3.
Seattle would continue solid play in the second half on both sides of the ball. The offensive line protected Wilson well allowing only two sacks for the game, after giving up a league-high 12 sacks through the first two games. This was a monumental task as Dallas’ defense came into the game leading the league with 9 sacks. Carson continued to grind the Dallas defense behind the Seahawks offensive line finishing with 32 carries for 102 yards including a 5-yard touchdown with 12:54 left in the fourth quarter that put Seattle up 24-6.
The Seahawks defense would seal the victory, as they thwarted any comeback attempt by the Cowboys in the fourth quarter with two takeaways in the red zone. Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald punched the ball out of Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott’s arm at the Seattle 19-yard line. The fumble was recovered by Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman at the Seattle 13 yard line with 10:57 left. Seahawks safety Earl Thomas would strike yet again with another interception at the Seattle 15 yard line with 3:17 left. Thomas would celebrate by bowing toward the Dallas sideline drawing a 15-yard taunting penalty, but that play would seal the Seahawks 24-13 victory as the offense ran out the clock.
Thomas would finish the game with a team-high 7 tackles and 2 pass defenses to go along with his two interceptions. Asked if that was his last game with the Seahawks Thomas said, “I don’t know if it was man I had a damn good time and I’ll go out like that if I have to.”
Thomas would add to his comments after the game by stating, “…I just want to be appreciated.”
It was the Seahawks 10th consecutive home opening win bringing their record to 1-2 on the season. The Seahawks next travel to Phoenix to take on the 0-3 Arizona Cardinals for their first divisional matchup of the year.
