The Seattle Seahawks needed to show they could do better on defense after three poor games. They certainly did against the Atlanta Falcons.
Derick Hall scored a touchdown by returning a fumble 36 yards, helping the Seahawks end their three-game losing streak with a 34-14 win on Sunday.
Geno Smith threw for two touchdowns, but this win was mainly due to a defense that created turnovers on three straight Atlanta possessions in the fourth quarter, including Hall’s touchdown run down the sideline.
Hall mentioned it was his first touchdown since high school. “Just playing ball,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be able to have those opportunities.”
The Seahawks (4-3) stopped Atlanta’s three-game winning streak, controlling a Falcons offense that had scored an average of 37 points in the previous two weeks.
Smith completed 18 of 28 passes for 207 yards, which was his second-lowest total of the season but enough to win against the Falcons. He threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Walker and a big 31-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf just before halftime.
After Walker’s touchdown catch made it 24-14 late in the third quarter, Seattle’s defense secured the win.
Kirk Cousins was hit by Boye Mafe while trying to throw, causing the ball to come loose before his arm went forward. Hall picked it up in front of the Atlanta bench and ran all the way to the end zone with 12:46 left in the game. Hall credited Mafe for the play.
“As soon as he got off, he was like, ‘You’re welcome,’” Hall said. “He plays with an effort that nobody can match. I feel like that’s where everybody on the team can get to. I mean, that guy flies around every single play.”
Cousins ended a rough day with interceptions on his last two drives, along with three sacks. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. took over for the Falcons, marking his first NFL game.
Atlanta had a hard time against the struggling Seahawks defense, which had given up nearly 36 points a game during the losing streak. “A tough day at the office,” Cousins said. “Pro football has a way of testing you like that.”
The Seahawks’ win was affected by Metcalf being taken to the locker room with a knee injury after a tough landing while trying to make a difficult catch late in the third quarter.
“We’re optimistic at this point,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. “It doesn’t look too bad.”
After dealing with a flu-like illness that added him to the injury report late, Walker also scored on a 20-yard run that put the Seahawks up 10-0. Jason Myers made field goals of 38 and 59 yards.
The Falcons narrowed Seattle’s lead to 10-7 with a 70-yard drive fueled by their running game. Cousins threw only one pass, relying on Bijan Robinson, who ran seven times for 55 yards, capped by a 5-yard touchdown.
But Seattle regained some space on its last drive of the first half. Smith completed four passes in a row before an intentional grounding penalty forced the Seahawks to use their last timeout with 10 seconds left.
Instead of going for a field goal, the Seahawks chose to run one more play from the 31. That decision worked out well.
Smith found Metcalf open on a slant toward the middle of the end zone, throwing a touchdown pass with just 4 seconds left, sending the Seahawks into halftime with a 17-7 lead.
“Great defenses step up and get stops in that situation,” said Falcons safety Jessie Bates, who couldn’t reach Metcalf after he got past cornerback A.J. Terrell.
Cousins connected with Drake London on a 5-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, but that fourth-down score ended up being Atlanta’s last chance.
