SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks went deep into their bag of ’90s-era nostalgia as they debuted their throwback uniforms Sunday at Lumen Field. From the color pattern of the weekly media guide to the boxes of Cracker Jacks inside the press box, the royal blue end zones and Montell Jordan performing at halftime, Seattle aimed to deliver on what was a much-anticipated tribute to the past.
Advertisement
And, of course, the most important detail: the helmets. A sleek, silver design atop the royal blue and apple green jerseys to match the silver pants. The NFL’s change of course, permitting teams to wear an alternate helmet, paved the way for the Seahawks to turn back the clock. So it’s only fitting that a play directly involving one of those helmets was the catalyst for the Seahawks’ 24-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns that vaulted Seattle to the top of the NFC West.
“I love them helmets,” cornerback Tre Brown said. “We need to wear them every week, or every other week. We can’t put them up.”
The Seahawks (5-2) trailed 20-17 with 2:04 remaining in the fourth quarter, with Cleveland facing a third-and-3 from the 41-yard line that, if converted, would have essentially iced the game. Quarterback P.J. Walker, playing in place of the injured Deshaun Watson, attempted a slant to receiver Amari Cooper. Seattle was surprised to see a pass play there, seeing as Walker and the running backs had combined for 160 yards rushing to that point. Before Walker’s pass could reach Cooper’s hands, it ricocheted off the helmet of a blitzing Jamal Adams, popped toward the sky and hung in the air for what felt like an eternity.
GO DEEPER
Seahawks fail first big test miserably vs. Ravens: 'We came out there and flatlined'
“It was like a movie,” outside linebacker Darrell Taylor said, “and it was beautiful.”
The ball landed in the arms of safety Julian Love, who was gleefully walking around the locker room with it long after the offense orchestrated a game-winning drive. It was, literally, a heads-up play by Adams — and a bit of good fortune for Love, who snagged his first interception of the year and Seattle’s third turnover of the game.
OUR BALL!
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/J0XWeEZgy3
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 29, 2023
“I got that from Messi,” Adams joked after the game.
Love was on the backside of the formation and didn’t see the ball bounce off Adams’ head but did a nice job of tracking it after the fact.
“You dream of moments like that,” Love said. “First pick as a Seahawk. Thank you, Jamal Adams.”
The Seahawks desperately needed a change of momentum at that point. After scoring 17 points through three first-quarter drives, Seattle’s offense stalled for the better part of the next three frames. At one point, the Seahawks failed on seven straight third-down tries — after starting 3 for 3 — and had five three-and-outs in six possessions. Of those six, the one drive that didn’t sputter after three plays ended in an interception to close the first half.
Advertisement
The script felt similar to the last few weeks: Seattle’s defense holding it down while the offense looked out of whack.
“Everything is not always going to go your way. That’s what we have to get used to and know — they’re a good football team as well,” receiver DK Metcalf said. “They’re a top-five defense; they’re going to win some battles, we’re going to win some battles, but as long as we stay connected and stay with the plan, everything is gonna work out.”
Seattle took over at its own 43-yard line trailing by three points with 1:57 remaining and acted as if none of those previous drives ever happened. All that mattered was Tyler Lockett’s message to relax, and a statement from 41-year-old offensive tackle Jason Peters: “Stick the ball in the end zone.”
Smith then led his second game-winning drive of the year. He hit Lockett on a crosser for 7 yards. Then came a slant to Metcalf for 9 more. After that, a 27-yard catch-and-run by tight end Noah Fant, who eluded two defenders and followed a lead block from Metcalf down to the 14. Smith threw incomplete to Metcalf in the end zone, then a defensive penalty moved the ball to the 9. That’s when Smith threw a bubble screen to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who sped to the corner, got a key block from Metcalf and walked in for the game-winning touchdown.
THANK YOU, JSN!
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/oCb4bg8YMb
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 29, 2023
The Seahawks drafted Smith-Njigba with the 20th pick in April to be a difference-maker in their offense. He got off to a slow start, catching just 12 passes for 62 yards and no touchdowns in Seattle’s first four games, but since the Week 5 bye, he’s been more involved. Smith-Njigba has 11 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns in Seattle’s last three games.
“He could be something really special,” Fant said. “We notice that, but hopefully he gets more opportunities as we keep going.”
Advertisement
Smith-Njigba’s score was the offense’s first touchdown in the second half since Week 3. Seattle’s offense has struggled mightily in that stretch, in part because the quarterback continues to have one or two costly hiccups every week. The first miscue Sunday was an interception while targeting Metcalf on first-and-10 with 27 seconds remaining in the first half and the ball inside Cleveland’s 30.
GO DEEPER
The Seahawks believe in Geno Smith, but untimely errors must be cleaned up quickly
“I was just throwing it in rhythm, guy did a good job undercutting it and he made a play,” said Smith, who completed 23 of 37 passes for 254 yards and two scores. “I can get the ball out faster or maybe lead him more to the sideline.”
Smith threw his second interception on third-and-6 in the third quarter of a 17-all game while targeting Fant on a hot route. However, the ball was batted and caught by defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr., who dropped into coverage late after initially engaging with an offensive lineman.
a DT INT!! you love to see it#CLEvsSEA on FOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/2WT2JTe6in
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 29, 2023
“Take away two plays, three plays and we’re talking about a really good game,” Smith said when asked to assess his play. “Obviously, you can’t eliminate those. Those things happened, and that’s something I’ve been trying to be better at — not having those mistakes because those can hurt us.”
The last few weeks have been doubly frustrating for the offense because the defense has been excellent for more than a month now. From Weeks 3 to 8, they allowed an average of just 15.4 points per game, third-best in the league. Seattle has one of the best pass rush units in the league and on Sunday, the defense had three takeaways, five pass breakups and three sacks while holding the Browns to six points in the second half. Seattle’s defense hasn’t allowed a second-half touchdown since Week 3.
So, in addition to winning, the offense was happy to finally reward the other side of the ball for keeping them in the game until it was time to finish the job.
“As we come off (the field) when we go through those lulls, you don’t feel good about that, because those are your teammates, those are your brothers out there and they’ve gotta go back on the field,” Fant said. “You take it personally like, ‘Damn, I want to do better for them.’ That makes it sweeter at the end of the game.”
Advertisement
The vibes associated with Seattle’s throwback uniforms have been so positive that the team announced this week that it will wear them again in prime time at Dallas in Week 13. Following the good mojo after Sunday’s victory, it might be hard to get the players to wear anything else.
“The throwback uniforms, there’s something in them,” cornerback Riq Woolen said. “They need to go ahead and let us wear ‘em every game. The throwback uniforms are the best uniforms. A lot of good things come from them.”
(Photo of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, upper right, and teammates: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
“The Football 100,” the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, is on sale now. Order it here.
