Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Russell Wilson became the first Seattle
quarterback to run for three touchdowns in one game in the Seahawks' 50-17
victory over the Buffalo Bills at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
All three of Wilson's rushing touchdowns came in the first half for the
Seahawks (9-5), who sit second in the NFC West behind 9-3-1 San Francisco. The
49ers play at New England later Sunday.
Wilson, who ended with nine carries for 92 yards, also set the franchise
record for rushing yards in a season by a QB that was set in 1993 by Rick
Mirer (343). Wilson now has 402 rushing yards.
Wilson also completed 14-of-22 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown for
Seattle, which has scored 131 points during a three-game winning streak. The
Seahawks were coming off a 58-0 rout of the Arizona Cardinals last week,
a franchise record for most points scored in a game.
It's the third time in NFL history that a team has put up 50 points in back-
to-back games.
Marshawn Lynch carried the ball 10 times for 113 yards and a score for
Seattle, which welcomes San Francisco to town next Sunday night.
Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 21-of-38 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and
two interceptions for the Bills (5-9), who played a regular-season game in
Toronto for a fifth straight season.
C.J. Spiller carried the ball 17 times for 103 yards and a score for Buffalo,
which was mathematically knocked out of playoff contention for a 13th
consecutive season -- the NFL's longest active drought. Stevie Johnson caught
eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Seattle's offense quickly picked up where it left off last week, as Wilson led
the Seahawks on a 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive to start the game.
Sidney Rice and Zach Miller caught passes of 17 and eight yards, respectively,
to convert a pair of third downs, and Michael Robinson added a 20-yard catch
before Wilson used his legs to find the end zone. On 1st-and-10 from the
Buffalo 14, the rookie faked a handoff and found an opening on the right side
for an easy touchdown.
Wilson added another rushing score on Seattle's next possession, which began
when Lynch caught a 14-yard pass to move the ball past midfield. Faced with a
3rd-and-10 from the 25 of the Bills, Wilson scrambled to his left and went
untouched for a touchdown.
Buffalo responded with a score of its own. Fitzpatrick completed three passes
of at least 10 yards on the 8-play, 72-yard march, including a 17-yard strike
to Johnson. Spiller's 14-yard touchdown run capped the drive and made it 14-7
with 34 seconds left in the first quarter.
Seattle tacked on three more points early in the second stanza. Golden Tate
caught a 44-yard pass off a flea-flicker play, but the Seahawks would settle
for a 19-yard Steven Hauschka field goal which made it 17-7.
The Seahawks started their next drive near midfield, and Lynch's 54-yard run
set up Miller's 4-yard TD catch, making it a 24-7 contest with 10:10 to go
before halftime.
Another Buffalo punt led to more points for Seattle. Rice hauled in a 41-yard
pass to move the ball to the 10-yard line, and following an offensive holding
penalty and a short run by Lynch, Wilson found the end zone on an identical
play to his first touchdown. It was a 13-yard score this time around.
The Bills managed to close the gap some by scoring the final 10 points of the
half. Scott Chandler's 21-yard catch led to Johnson's 20-yard TD catch to
bring Buffalo closer, and Rian Lindell added a 41-yard field goal as time
expired to make it 31-17.
However, the momentum quickly shifted back to the Seahawks. On the first
possession of the second half, K.J. Wright picked off Fitzpatrick and returned
the ball 24 yards to the Buffalo 20. Lynch scored from 13 yards out on the
second play, though the extra point was blocked.
Seattle's defense came up with another turnover on the ensuing possession.
Chris Clemons stripped the ball from Fitzpatrick and Bruce Irvin recovered the
ball before returning it 35 yards before being brought down at the Buffalo 10.
Hauschka then made a 33-yard field goal to make it 40-17 with 7:29 remaining
in the third period.
Earl Thomas followed with a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown to
extend Seattle's lead.
Hauschka added a 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. The field
goal was made possible due to Robinson's 29-yard run on a fake punt.
Game Notes
The Seahawks made their first international appearance in the regular season
... Seattle racked up 270 yards on the ground, compared to 118 for Buffalo ...
With his 2 1/2 sacks Sunday, Clemons became the first Seattle player since
Michael Sinclair (1996-98) with three straight double-digit sack seasons ...
The Seahawks finished the road portion of the regular season with a 3-5 record
for the second year in a row ... The Seahawks currently hold the No. 5 seed in
the NFC playoff picture.
The Sports Network