Three takes: Paul Richardson’s TD catch had familiar look to it

Shades of the past, right?

Paul Richardson’s 38-yard touchdown catch that secured Seattle’s 24-7 harder-than-it-should-have-been win over the New York Giants brought every Seahawks fan back to 2012.

And the Fail Mary, or whatever you want to call it.

Golden Tate. Russell Wilson. Replacement referees. Touchdown.

This was a bit different, though. It came late in a game Seattle dominated and yet hadn’t put away, due mainly to self-inflicted wounds.

It came after the Hawks’ first forced turnover, a strip sack that gave Wilson and the offense, which had trouble finishing drives, good enough field position to try a trick play.

A toss to J.D. McKissic running right. A throw back to Wilson. The high throw to Richardson, who battled with the Giants’ Landon Collins for the ball. A touchdown call. And a win the Hawks’ needed, if only to keep pace in the NFC West and the conference.

But there’s more.

The Hawks needed the win if only to wash the sour taste of a castor-oil-laced first half that included three crucial dropped passes, a fumble that led to the Giants’ only score and a sideline confrontation that featured Doug Baldwin and offensive line coach Tom Cable, among others.

The defense rarely faltered Sunday, yielding just 177 yards of offense to Eli Manning’s beat-up group.

But the offense couldn’t put New York away, though they were wearing down the Giants defense, controlling the ball for two-thirds of the game. It paid dividends late, with three touchdowns in the final 22 minutes and 30 seconds.

How much is Jimmy Graham costing the Seahawks?: We’re not talking monetary costs here, though those are considerable and probably would be better spent at other positions. (Could $10 million bring a decent left tackle into the fold?)

The other costs might be even higher.

In the first half Sunday, Graham’s lack of toughness – mental and physical – cost them at least 10 points. There was the dropped fourth-down, should-have-been-a-touchdown pass just before the end of the first quarter. And there was a sure 20- to-30-yard gain down the left sideline in the second quarter that would have been good for at least a chip-shot field goal.

Make both of those plays and the Hawks not only have 10 more points, but they also have the lead. And the tension on the sideline might not have occurred.

Graham had a better second half, catching a 29-yard pass in the Hawks’ first touchdown drive and grabbing the final score, a 1-yard pass from Wilson.

But on Doug Baldwin’s 32-yard scoring catch, which came on an audible between Wilson and the receiver, Graham undercut the route, bringing a Giants defender into the play when he shouldn’t have been involved.

Is there anyone in the NFC the Hawks should fear these days?: Maybe the Eagles, as Philadelphia is a surprising 5-1 and host to Washington Monday night.

The preseason NFC favorites, the Green Bay Packers, are without their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, for possibly the season. They lost Sunday and are 4-2, second in the North. Minnesota leads that division at 5-2 and will be 6-2 – the Vikings play Cleveland next.

The Saints, who won in Green Bay, are 4-2, lead the South and head home for their next two games. Atlanta, which is still dealing with the Super Bowl loss, is 3-3 following Sunday night’s loss to New England.

The West? The Rams lead after destroying the Carson Palmer-less Cardinals, 33-0, but Seattle has a win at Los Angeles in its back pocket.

Maybe the only fear Seattle should have is fear of itself, and its yet-to-come-together offense.

There is a chance to get it together, however, with a two-game homestand against Texas and Washington looming, followed by a road game at the reeling Cardinals. Take care of business and Seattle should be 7-2 when Atlanta comes to Seattle late in November.