SEATTLE — For 58 minutes, the Seattle Seahawks were as bad as they could possibly be.
(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
Russell Wilson threw four interceptions and was sacked four times. Jermaine Kearse couldn’t hang onto a ball if he’d had duct tape on his hands. Marshawn Lynch was as quiet as he is during the week. And despite Aaron Rodgers clearly not at his best, he still found ways to get the Green Bay Packers to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
But games go 60 minutes. And oh, were those last two epic.
Two touchdowns, 15 points. In a span of 44 seconds Sunday afternoon, the Seahawks flipped the script on not only the game, but their season. Instead of heading home, they’re headed for Arizona, where they’ll play for a second consecutive Super Bowl title in two weeks.
Perhaps Wilson should borrow Rodgers’ R-E-L-A-X tagline.
We started off a little slow, but our defense kept hanging in there and making plays for us. We just kept believing, Wilson said.
There was no doubt in this team. When we were 3-3, there was no doubt. When we were 6-4, there was no doubt. When the score was whatever the score was and we needed two touchdowns, there was no doubt. When I threw that ball to Doug Baldwin, and I threw it to (Jermaine) Kearse there was no doubt. It’s because of this 12th man, God is too good man. I’m just glad to be here on this team, and we’re going back to the Super Bowl.
After looking so inept all afternoon, Wilson was brilliant in Seattle’s last two drives. He connected with Doug Baldwin (20 yards) and Lynch (26 yards) to take the Seahawks to the Green Bay 9. Three plays later, he ran in from the 1 for the touchdown that pulled Seattle within 19-14.
The Seahawks caught a break when Packers tight end Brandon Bostick botched the onside kick, jumping in front of Jordy Nelson and having the ball bounce off his helmet. But Wilson and Lynch did the rest, taking a 22-19 lead on Lynch’s 24-yard run.
The Packers managed to force overtime, but there was no way Seattle was losing this one. Not after all that.
And in perhaps the most fitting end, Wilson found Kearse for the game-winner.
I even told (offensive coordinator Darrell) BevelI I was going to hit Kearse with a touchdown, Wilson said.
Seattle may have been less-than-impressive for most of the afternoon. But all anyone will remember from this game is the finish.
And what a finish it was.