Seahawks use huge 2nd-half surge to rout Colts 46-18
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threads the defender and delivers a 27-yard strike to receiver Doug Baldwin in the first quarter on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. Defending is Indianapolis Colts cornerback Nate Hairston. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)
SEATTLE (AP) — It took a trio of relative unknowns to wake up the Seattle Seahawks.
J.D. McKissic took the second carry of his career 30 yards for a touchdown and Bobby Wagner scooped up Marcus Smith’s forced fumble and rumbled 21 yards for a score in a 13-second span late in the third quarter, and the Seahawks beat the Indianapolis Colts 46-18 on Sunday night.
Justin Coleman added a 28-yard interception return for a TD in the first half and Seattle overcame a sleepy first 30 minutes from its offense to finally put away the Colts.
McKissic was once cut by Atlanta, but his athleticism earned him a spot in Seattle. Coleman was deemed expendable by New England and was acquired in a trade just before the start of the regular season. And Smith, who finished with 1 1/2 sacks, was a former first-round pick who was a bust with Philadelphia.
Their big plays turned boos that cascaded down at halftime with Seattle trailing 15-10 into cheers in a hurry. CenturyLink Field was left shaking after Wagner scooped up Smith’s forced fumble against quarterback Jacoby Brissett and weaved through tacklers for Seattle’s second defensive score and a 32-18 lead.
Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions, but his most important play was a 23-yard run in the third quarter to give Seattle an 18-15 lead. Adam Vinatieri pulled the Colts even at 18 as the Colts capitalized on Wilson’s second interception. Graham dropped a catchable pass and it was intercepted by Malik Hooker , his third straight game with an interception.