Running back Kenneth Walker III gave a big boost to the Seattle Seahawks and helped them get back on track.
Despite feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms, Walker scored two touchdowns and led Seattle to a 34-14 victory over the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday.
This win ended a three-game losing streak for the NFC West leaders and might have shown a way to maintain offensive consistency for the rest of the season.
“He was sick today, man,” quarterback Geno Smith said. “Two touchdowns on his birthday, that was sick. I thought he did a great job. Obviously, he was under the weather. A little bit of his ‘flu game’ today on his birthday. I think that’s spectacular.”
Walker carried the ball 14 times for 69 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards, including an impressive diving 17-yard touchdown catch that put Seattle ahead 24-14 in the third quarter. His 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter made the score 10-0.
Although Smith entered the week as the NFL leader in passing yards per game, the Seahawks’ offense had been inconsistent under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Walker had missed two games due to an oblique injury from the opener, and the team was struggling with chemistry during their recent three-game losing streak, which occurred over an 11-day period.
The Seahawks balanced their offense well, passing 29 times and rushing 26 times in the win against the Falcons, a mix that Smith and his teammates hope to replicate moving forward.
“I thought Grubb called a great game today. I thought the balance was there,” said Smith, who threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns. “We were able to pass the ball when we needed to and we were able to run the ball when we needed to, and that’s complementary football. That’s what it takes in this league.”
