Two of the oldest coaches in the National Football League (NFL),  Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick, faced off in front of the nation on Sunday Night Football. Two of the league’s most mobile quarterbacks: Cam Newton versus Russell Wilson. The one-yard line, where Seahawks and Patriots games have a history of ending. This game was no exception, it went down to the wire. 

The Seahawks started on offense. On the second play, Greg Olson, Seahawks veteran tight end, tipped the ball and it was picked off by Patriots safety Devin McCourty who ran it back for a touchdown. However, this would be one of Russell Wilson’s only mistakes. As always–the cool, calm, and collected–Russell Wilson drove them back down the field right after his pick-6 for a touchdown to Lockett. Russell Wilson continues to have a hot hand finishing with a career-high five touchdowns and 288 yards.

The play of the game occured when Wilson hit second-year receiver D.K. Metcalf on a go route over the reigning defensive player of the year, Stephon Gilmore. The matchup between Metcalf and Gilmore included a sideline scuffle. D.K. would win this matchup with four receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown, leaving Pete Carroll and Seahawks fans impressed and hopeful.

The Seahawks suffered some key injuries including linebacker Bruce Irvin and nickel cornerback Marquise Blair to ACL injuries. Second-year player out of Oregon, Ugo Amadi, will take his spot at nickel and rookie linebacker out of Texas Tech, Jordyn Brooks, will take Bruce Irvin’s spot. On top of the decimating injuries, free safety Quandre Diggs ejected for a helmet to helmet hit on receiver N’Keal Harry.

The game came down to the Patriots, with ten seconds left on the clock, on the Seahawks one-yard line. When asked about the last play of the game strong safety Jamal Adams said “we finished strong as a defense.” Strong is exactly what they were, as defensive end L.J. Collier managed to stop Cam Newton at the one yard line.

Cam Newton had a great game, but it was not enough. He threw for 397 yards and had one rushing touchdown. Julian Edelman had a career day against the Seahawks finishing with 179 yards receiving. 

While Edelman was able to catch a few passes over Adams, Adams did not go unnoticed. He has changed the Seahawks defense into more of a blitzing defense. The Seahawks are blitzing 36% of the time, a 10% increase over last year, according to sports journalist Rob Staton.

The Seattle Seahawks are currently leading the NFC West as they remain undefeated the first four weeks of the season. This week the Seahawks will face the Miami Dolphins on October 4, after another close win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, 38-31.