Lynch helps Seahawks by Eagles
Published 2:04 am Friday, December 2, 2011
SEATTLE (AP) — Marshawn Lynch ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns, sending the Seattle Seahawks to a 24-7 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles after three quarters Thursday night.
Lynch had carried 15 times, scoring twice in the first half on runs of 15 and 40 yards. It was his eighth straight game with a touchdown and his fourth 100-yard effort in his last five games.
Tarvaris Jackson threw an 11-yard TD pass to Golden Tate in the third quarter to make it 24-7.
LeSean McCoy had a short touchdown run for Philadelphia, which played without injured quarterback Michael Vick for the third straight week.
Fill-in Vince Young was intercepted on a third-quarter pass that went right through the hands of receiver Riley Cooper and into the arms of Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner. He returned the ball 55 yards down to the Eagles 30.
Seattle capitalized, with Tate making an impressive catch over Joselio Hansen and Kurt Coleman while managing to get two feet down in the back of the end zone.
Young was intercepted by Kam Chancellor on his first pass attempt of the game, a throw that was nowhere near his intended receiver. The Seahawks responded with a drive that gave them the early lead.
Jackson connected with Ben Obomanu for 26 yards to give the Seahawks first-and-goal at the 10-yard line in the first quarter. After a false start pushed Seattle backward, Lynch carried into a wall at the line of scrimmage — only to emerge from Jamar Chaney’s grasp with his legs still churning. He dashed 15 yards into the end zone to put Seattle ahead.
The run was reminiscent of Lynch’s 67-yard, tackle-breaking gallop against New Orleans in the playoffs last season that sealed an upset of the defending Super Bowl champions.
Lynch added his second score on the first play of the second quarter. He cut back, broke outside and outraced the Eagles defense for a 40-yard TD run to make it 14-0.
Young answered when a busted coverage left Cooper wide open behind the Seahawks defense for a 47-yard gain to the Seattle 3-yard line. Two plays later, McCoy ran in from a yard out to get Philadelphia on the board.
Steven Hauschka added a 49-yard field goal to give Seattle a 10-point edge at the break.
Nnamdi Asomugha started for the Eagles despite a sore knee, but was injured with 5 minutes left in the second quarter. Jackson threw a jump ball for Mike Williams to avoid a sack and Williams collided with Asomugha, leaving him down on the field for a few minutes before he walked off under his own power.
Asomugha left with a neck injury and was being evaluated for a possible head injury as well. He is not expected to return.
Jackson was 10 of 13 for 154 yards and a touchdown. Young was 10 of 18 for 130 yards and two interceptions.
McCoy had 14 carries for 76 yards.
Both teams entered 4-7 and mathematically still alive for the playoffs in the NFC. Realistically, they are at the point of holding auditions for next season as each would likely need to win out to have a chance at the postseason.
Philadelphia was again without Vick as he recovers from two broken ribs. The injuries didn’t end there. Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin both missed their third straight game. Rodgers-Cromartie has an ankle injury, while Maclin was out with hamstring and shoulder troubles.
Eagles safety Colt Anderson came out with a left knee injury and was not expected to return.