John Blanchette: Three guys happy to play and some Wilson anger fuel victory

SEATTLE – So this is what it’s come to for the Seattle Seahawks? Justin Coleman and J.D. McKissic and Marcus Smith?

Can you imagine more unlikely headliners?

Unless maybe it would be Jimmy Graham, of course.

Heh, heh, heh.

But then, desperate times call for desperate pleasurers, and desperation was certainly in the air for a time Sunday night at CenturyLink Field. Shortly before intermission of a game that seemed better suited for the insomniac/infomercial hours than prime time, the Seahawks had been flummoxed by a quarterback making his first road start in the National Football League and a defense ranked 29th among 32 teams.

You could sense a rumbling in the stands – even the echoes of “boycott” – and it had nothing to do with anthem protests or “spoiled players.”

And then they went to the bargain bin.

By the time it was all over, the Seahawks had flattened the Indianapolis Colts 46-18, regaining the respect of the 68,872 who might complain about the social activism but still aren’t willing to give up their tickets – and maybe their self-respect as well.

The Seahawks, of course, will never cop to that. They put the “wag” in swag, and to suggest that their own esteem had plummeted after two yucky road losses and a dismal field-goal win over the lowly San Francisco 49ers would be as misguided as thinking a fantasy leaguer will ever dump his best point-getter for not standing at attention.

But they needed something Sunday night, and they got it in large part from the players who locker on Anonymity Row.

And one who doesn’t: Russell Wilson.

There’s no underestimating a great quarterback’s worth, and it’s seen as much when he’s something less than great. That was true this night, too. Wilson dallied a split second too long and got sacked for a safety – even if it took a replay review to affirm it – and late in the first half threw an interception that the Colts would turn into a touchdown and a 15-10 lead. There would be another pick in the second, though both balls could – and in the second case should – have been catches.

But then came a 23-yard scramble on the first possession of the third quarter that saw Wilson steam straight for the goal line, where he was met by Darius Butler. It took yet another replay to put the points on the board, but Wilson’s animated – and ferocious –celebration was probably worth more than the six.

“If you ask me what the spark was,” said his favorite target, Doug Baldwin, “it was him going on that long run and getting up celebrating like he did. That gave a lot of juice to the rest of the team.”

And it’s probably something the Seahawks need to see more often.

“He’s always cool, calm and collected,” Baldwin said. “But guys want to see that passion from him. I try to force it out of him, but he doesn’t want to let it happen. I got to punch him in the mouth sometimes.”

Nor does it hurt when the spear-carriers of the cast get a few solos.

“When you’ve got a shot to be great,” said coach Pete Carroll, “be great.”

And so when Justin Coleman – undrafted, released three times (once by Seattle) and finally traded here for a seventh-round pick – turned a tasty out throw by Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett into a pick-6, Richard Sherman and the Seahawks front-liners went bonkers.

“But his celebration game stinks,” teased Sherman.

Later, it was McKissic – undrafted, waiver-claimed – who bolted 30 yards for his first NFL touchdown and then snagged a 27-yard pass from Wilson for another.

“When you play pickup at the park,” said Wilson, “he’s one of those guys you want to pick.”

And finally, it was Smith – a discarded first-round pick of Philadelphia – stepping in for the injured Cliff Avril, stripping Brissett on a sack and allowing Bobby Wagner to scoop it up and barrel 21 yards for the break-it-open score.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re drafted or how you’re picked up,” Sherman said. “If you do the job in practice, Pete will reward you – and those guys were rewarded today.”

And the Seahawks by extension. The blowout will mask many of the problems that still beset this team – and the ever-growing notion that it isn’t special anymore. Less-talented – ordinary – teams used to come into CenturyLink and get rolled, and while the score says that’s what happened to the Colts, they dominated the first half.

This seems like more than a slow start. The offensive line continues its follies. The defense seems less than intimidating. The special teams don’t do much that’s special.

And yet at game’s end there you could add up 477 offensive yards and two defensive touchdowns.

Plus a little Russell Wilson anger – and some who-dat guys who may have to be heard from again.