Seahawks defense clamps down
SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks’ first-team defense gave little Thursday night beyond the bruises and headaches associated with games that count.
The performance seemed appropriate as August gave way to September and the Seahawks’ focus shifted to the regular-season opener at Detroit a week from Sunday.
Seattle coasted to a 30-7 victory over Oakland at Qwest Field with help from a starting defense that allowed two first downs in the first half. The signature play: defensive end Darryl Tapp forcing Raiders quarterback Andrew Walter into defensive tackle Chuck Darby, who blasted the unsuspecting passer straight to the turf.
Seattle’s first-team offense wasn’t as sharp, but Matt Hasselbeck’s 25-yard run nonetheless sustained a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on the starters’ second and final possession.
The Raiders could be forgiven if they decided to sit this one out emotionally. They had already played the usual – and wholly sufficient – allotment of four exhibition games, winning them all.
The Seahawks had lost two of three exhibitions. Coach Mike Holmgren found the outcomes less nettlesome than some of the sloppiness that had seeped into his team’s play. There was little to complain about on this night beyond the Raiders’ 72-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Seattle outgained the Raiders 279-46 in total yards through three quarters. The Seahawks held a 13-2 lead in first downs at halftime.
Even third-team quarterback David Greene had his way with an Oakland defense speckled with players whose employment could expire with the next wave of NFL-mandated roster cuts Saturday.
Greene completed 8 of 10 passes for 77 yards during a 16-play, 90-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. Marquis Weeks ended the nearly 8-minute-long march with a 1-yard run that made the score 27-10.
This was easily Greene’s most impressive performance in two summers with the Seahawks. A third-round pick in 2005, the former University of Georgia standout struggled to grasp the offense until recently.