SEATTLE, Wash. – This one was tough from the start.
And while the Jaguars made positive strides late, and while there were slivers of opportunity at times early, the surging Seattle Seahawks (3-0) continued to do just that on Sunday, turning a 17-point second quarter into a 45-17 victory over the Jaguars (0-3) at CenturyLink Field.
The Seahawks led 24-0 at halftime and 38-10 after the third quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson completed 14 of 21 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns with an interception before being replaced by Tarvaris Jackson late in the third quarter. Two of Wilson's touchdown passes went to tight end Zach Miller in the first half, with two to wide receiver Sidney Rice – one each in the second and third quarter.
The Seahawks took control early, holding the Jaguars to minus-9 yards offense on three first-quarter possessions. Wilson gave Seattle a 7-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Miller with 8:04 remaining in the quarter.
A four-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Miller extended the lead to 14-0 with 14:26 remaining in the second quarter, with a 21-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka making it 17-0 9:40 before halftime.
An 11-yard pass from Wilson to Rice gave the Seahawks a 24-0 halftime lead. At that point, Seattle had outgained the Jaguars, 275-52. Wilson passed 23 yards to Rice early in the third quarter for a 24-0 Seattle lead.
The Jaguars got their first touchdown on a 2-yard run by running back Maurice Jones-Drew with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter, a play that came two plays after middle linebacker Paul Posluszny returned a tipped-ball interception nine yards to the Seahawks 2. That made it 31-7, Seattle.
Running back Jordan Todman's 3-yard run with 9:06 remaining made it 38-17, Seattle.
TURNING POINT
This came in the first quarter. The Jaguars' defense forced two punts on the first three Seattle possessions, but the offense faced three consecutive third-and-long situations, which led to three punts and enabled the Seahawks to take control of the game's momentum. The Seahawks limited the Jaguars to minus-9 yards total offense in the quarter, taking a 14-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter with Russell Wilson's second touchdown pass of the game to tight end Zach Miller.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wide receiver Cecil Shorts' 59-yard reception from Henne in the third quarter set up a 33-yard field goal by Josh Scobee. Shorts finished the game with eight receptions for a career-high 143 yards.
- Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin sacked Wilson late in the first quarter, forcing the Seahawks' second punt of the period. It was Babin's second sack in three games this season.
- Jaguars linebacker Geno Hayes and safety Chris Prosinksi tackled Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch for a two-yard loss on 3rd-and 1 early in the second quarter. The play came after good penetration by defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick and forced a Seahawks field goal
- Cornerback Demetrius McCray made his first NFL start in place of injured Alan Ball, and rookie Denard Robinson returned his first kickoffs for the Jaguars. Robinson returned two kicks for 27 yards.
- Rookie Safety Johnathan Cyprien forced a fumble by Wilson with a second-quarter blitz. Defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick recovered. It was Cyprien's second forced fumble in as many games.
- Todman's 3-yard touchdown was the first touchdown of his NFL career.
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LOOKING ON . . .**
*Part of the Jaguars' early offensive struggles came because of a lack of production on early downs. Facing too many 3rd-and-long situations has been an issue for the Jaguars in the first three games, and that was particularly true early Sunday. They faced 3rd-and-13, 3rd-and-11 and 3rd-and-21 on their first three possessions, punting to end all three drives and enabling the Seahawks to methodically take control.
*The Jaguars narrowly missed a chance to recapture a bit of momentum just before halftime. Chad Henne found Shorts in the corner of the end zone, but after the ball went through the hands of cornerback Richard Sherman, the ball went through Shorts' hands, too. A pass by Henne bounced off center Brad Meester on the ensuing play, and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner intercepted.
INJURY WATCH
Jaguars safety Dwight Lowery left the game on the Seahawks' first drive after sustaining a head injury. He did not return, with rookie Josh Evans taking his place.
Cornerback Will Blackmon sustained a fourth-quarter head injury and also did not return.
Jones-Drew started for the Jaguars after being listed as questionable entering the game. Jones-Drew practiced Friday on a limited basis after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a strained ankle tendon sustained in Oakland Sunday.
Ball (groin) did not play, and guard Uche Nwaneri (knee) did play. Each was listed on the injury report as questionable entering the weekend.
Wide receiver Mike Brown (back), tight end Marcedes Lewis (calf), cornerback Dwayne Gratz (ankle) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (hand) missed the game, with Allen Reisner starting for Lewis, Henne starting for Gabbert and Blackmon starting for Gratz.
Inactive for the Jaguars: Ball, Gabbert, Brown, Gratz, Lewis, safety Winston Guy and defensive tackle Abry Jones. The team signed wide Jeremy Ebert late in the week and released guard Jacques McClendon.
