ATLANTA — Russell Wilson did everything he could to deliver the Seattle Seahawks another comeback win in the playoffs.
Wilson led the Seahawks to three fourth-quarter touchdowns only to see Atlanta’s Matt Bryant kick a 49-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining to give the Falcons a 30-28 NFC divisional playoff win over Seattle on Sunday.
The Falcons led 27-7 at the start of the final quarter before Wilson, the Seahawks’ rookie quarterback, began Seattle’s comeback. Wilson had a 1-yard touchdown run, passed to tight end Zach Miller for a 2-yard score and then led a go-ahead touchdown drive that was capped by Marshawn Lynch’s 2-yard run with only 31 seconds remaining. But, that was enough time for Atlanta’s Matt Ryan to complete passes to Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez to set up Bryant’s game-winning kick.
Left with 8 seconds after a squib kickoff by Bryant, Wilson completed a short pass to Doug Baldwin to the Falcons 46. That left Wilson only 2 seconds for one final desperation toss. The game ended with Falcons receiver Julio Jones, playing deep in the prevent defense, intercepting Wilson’s pass.
in the end zone.
It was the only interception for Wilson, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson also had seven carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.
The Seahawks trailed 14-0 before rallying in last week’s 24-14 victory over Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins in the opening round of the playoffs.
Wilson and the Seahawks narrowly missed joining the 1989 Los Angeles Rams as the only West Coast teams to win two postseason games at East Coast sites in the same year.
The loss also left the Seahawks to bemoan two lost scoring opportunities deep in Atlanta territory earlier in the game.
Wilson completed a 34-yard pass to Miller and added a 16-yard pass to Tate to push the Seahawks deep into Atlanta territory in the second quarter. Robert Turbin was stopped on third-and-1 from the Falcons 11. On fourth down, Wilson handed to fullback Michael Robinson, who was dropped by Charles Mitchell for a 1-yard loss.
The Seahawks were stopped again as the first half ended after Wilson moved the Seahawks to a first down at the Atlanta 6. Wilson threw incomplete passes to Sidney Rice and Tate as Seattle used all its timeouts. On third down from the 11, Wilson was sacked by Jonathan Babineaux and time expired before the rookie quarterback could attempt a fourth-down pass.
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