Wilson Wins Shootout

There aren’t many things in the NFL more automatic right now than Russell Wilson with the ball in his hands, needing a score to win.

The Seattle Seahawks blew a lead because their defense is giving up way too many big plays, but Wilson had more than four minutes and the ball, trailing 31-30. Hopefully, the Dallas Cowboys didn’t believe they were going to win at that point. Wilson driving the Seahawks for the winning score seemed like a layup with how well he’s playing.

Wilson led his team downfield and hit DK Metcalf on a great throw in the end zone to give Seattle a lead with 1:47 remaining, and then the Seahawks got an interception in the final seconds to seal a thrilling 38-31 win.

There are still plenty of issues for the Seahawks to work through, most notably a defense that is giving up way too many big plays this season. But they’re 3-0 and have the hottest player in the league. That’s a good place to start.

Wilson was out of his mind yet again, and the Seahawks needed every bit of his heroics to win because their defense is giving up yards and points in bulk. That will be an issue, but Wilson has been so good it hasn’t mattered yet.

The Cowboys started slow and fell behind, which has been a problem in all three games this season. With all their stars on offense, it was Cedrick Wilson who helped the Cowboys get back in the game. He caught touchdowns of 40 and 42 yards from Dak Prescott. Despite bad turnovers from Prescott at the end of the first half and the start of the second half, the Cowboys trailed just 30-22 after Wilson’s second score. It could have been worse. Michael Gallup caught a 43-yard touchdown after that and although the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, the Seahawks’ lead was down to 30-28.

Dallas caught a huge break in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks seemed to have a big interception deep in Dallas territory, but Tre Flowers juggled it on the ground, kicked it up and right to Gallup, who got a first down. That started a long Cowboys drive that ended with them taking the lead on a Greg Zuerlein field goal.

But it couldn’t have taken long for Cowboys fans to do the math. Wilson with more than four minutes left, needing just a field goal was too easy.

Wilson would have had six touchdowns, but Metcalf slowed up before crossing the goal line and had the ball punched out and through the back of the end zone for a touchback. Wilson had to settle for five touchdowns and the winning drive.

The Seahawks never seemed panicked or in any trouble, even when they got to fourth-and-3 with 2:37 left. Wilson dropped back and hit Greg Olsen over the middle to not only pick up the first down, but get Seattle into field-goal range. The Seahawks didn’t bother setting for a field goal, with Wilson hitting Metcalf deep for a go-ahead touchdown on third down. Not many teams would trust their quarterback to even think about throwing to the end zone in that situation.

Prescott drove the Cowboys into Seahawks territory after Metcalf’s touchdown but he threw an interception into the end zone with six seconds left after doing a great job to keep a play alive after almost taking a sack. Prescott was good. Wilson was great. That’s why the Seahawks are 3-0 and Wilson is looking like he’ll win his first MVP award.