Seahawks winning performance was statement of offseason work

Coach Pete Carroll believes the Seattle Seahawks’ winning performance Week 1 was a statement of the offseason work the players put in.

The Seattle Seahawks were in firm control of the majority of the game Sunday in Atlanta, handing the Falcons their first loss of the season. Quarterback Russell Wilson was up on his game, getting his chance to “cook” and putting up impressive numbers in the passing game.

Wilson nailed 31 of 35 passes attempted for an 88.6% completion percentage and threw for four touchdowns and 332 yards.

“Russ has been extraordinary all camp,” coach Pete Carroll said after the win. “He had a great summer throwing the ball to everybody and he had perhaps his best throwing day, numbers-wise, just about as you could have. He was in great command of the game.”

Seattle’s offense was able to rally together and put up big numbers on the board. Wilson found three different receivers for touchdowns and Carlos Hyde was able to score the Seahawks’ sole rushing TD. The defense held its own, holding Atlanta to just 12 points through three quarters of play. Carroll believes it’s a testament to how hard everyone worked this summer.

“This whole Zoom season, our guys did a marvelous job,” Carroll explained. “Russ was extremely involved, integrally involved with all of that, and it just showed. It showed. We were together and tight and functioning well. I don’t know what we did on third down, I don’t know if it was any good, but we just were able to move the ball, even when we were backed up with penalty situations or sacks, we came back and converted. That’s confidence and belief. These guys, first game, they have earned their way right here.

“They have earned their way to play like that by the way they practiced.”

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