Preseason Game #3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Total

Seattle

6

17

21

0

44

Kansas City

0

7

0

7

14

Wilson Leads the Way as Seahawks Rout Chiefs

Preseason Game #3

NFL.com l Video Highlights

Chiefs QB Matt Cassel threw for 168 yards against the Seahawks.

Aug. 24- It's going to take a lot more than one dazzling performance against the Kansas City Chiefs' first-team defense to surprise Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson.

Perhaps getting the starting job on a full-time basis would do the trick.

Wilson certainly staked his claim Friday night, throwing for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-14 rout. The third-round draft pick also scrambled for 58 yards while leading the Seahawks to scores on their first six possessions, and had effectively put the game away by halftime.

"I don't surprise myself, I think because I prepare in the right way," Wilson said. "I try to visualize myself being very, very successful, and just positive self-talk, I guess."

The 5-foot-11 Wilson has been competing for the No. 1 job with Matt Flynn, the former Green Bay backup who signed in the offseason. Flynn missed the game with a sore elbow, giving Wilson a chance to shine after two impressive performances against Tennessee and Denver.

"He's done everything we've asked of him," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "This is the guy we hoped he would be. All of the talk about how tall he is and all that stuff, I don't see it being a factor. I don't see it, and I have watched more carefully than anybody could ever have watched, and I don't see it being an issue. It isn't to me."

The Chiefs looked much like the Seahawks in their first preseason game against Arizona, but they struggled last week at St. Louis. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's attack simply fizzled against Seattle, going three-and-out on three of its first four possessions.

Matt Cassel was 19 of 34 for 168 yards and a touchdown, but also was intercepted by Seattle safety Earl Thomas, who returned it 75 yards for a third-quarter score.

Even the special teams were a disaster for Kansas City, which watched Golden Tate zigzag 95 yards on a punt return with 2:12 left in the third quarter. The touchdown gave Seattle a 44-7 lead and sent the sparse crowd at Arrowhead Stadium streaming for the exits.

"Obviously we have to play better all around. It's disappointing to come out here and play like we did," Cassell said. "I'm glad it's the preseason right now."

The Seahawks are unbeaten in the preseason, and looked downright unbeatable against a Chiefs defense that was among the best in the NFL at the end of last year.

"We need to figure out what we do well with this team," Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said. "The regular season is just right around the corner. We need to see what we can do."

It didn't help that the Chiefs were without starting safety Kendrick Lewis, who is out with a shoulder injury, and cornerback Brandon Flowers, who has missed several weeks with a hurt heel.

Still, the Seahawks managed to slash through the defensive line for huge gains on the ground, and that helped give Wilson plenty of time to sit in the pocket and pick apart the secondary.

He led the Seahawks to field goals on their first three possessions before finding tight end Kellen Winslow alone for a 21-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.

The Chiefs answered with their best drive of the night, going 80 yards and scoring on a short TD pass from Cassel to Dexter McCluster. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who signed his franchise tender just a week ago, caught his only pass on the drive.

Wilson led Seattle to another touchdown before halftime, hitting Anthony McCoy for two big gains and Charly Martin on an 11-yard scoring strike. The drive was helped along by two late hits on Wilson by Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali, who learned this week he'll be suspended for the season opener against Atlanta after testing positive for a banned substance.

Turbin put an exclamation point on his big night with a 25-yard touchdown run early in the second half to give Seattle a 30-7 lead. The fourth-round draft pick finished with 14 carries for 93 yards in place of Lynch, who missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday with a back injury.

"We did a great job tonight. We really came out and played a great game," Wilson said. "A lot of enthusiasm, which is huge for our football team. Defense made some tremendous plays, stopping them on third downs and getting us the ball. We capitalized on some plays and opportunities."

Individual Statistics

Kansas City Passing:

Matt Cassel 19 of 34 for 168 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception

Brady Quinn 5 of 10 for 44 yards

Seattle Passing:

Russell Wilson 13 of 19 for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns

Tarvaris Jackson 3 of 5 for 1 yard

Kansas City Rushing:

Nate Eachus 10 carries for 98 yards and 1 touchdown

Jamaal Charles 6 carries for 32 yards

Shaun Draughn 3 carries for 9 yards

Brady Quinn 2 carries for 4 yards

Matt Cassel 2 carries for 3 yards

Peyton Hillis 2 carries for -1 yard

Seattle Rushing:

Robert Turbin 14 carries for 93 yards and 1 touchdown

Russell Wilson 2 carries for 58 yards

Kregg Lumpkin 5 carries for 24 yards

Tyrell Sutton 2 carries for 8 yards

Leon Washington 2 carries for 5 yards

Michael Robinson 1 carry for 3 yards

Josh Portis 2 carries for -2 yards

Kansas City Receiving:

Dexter McCluster 7 receptions for 61 yards and 1 touchdown

Jon Baldwin 6 receptions for 37 yards

Tony Moeaki 1 reception for 31 yards

Shaun Draughn 3 receptions for 21 yards

Brandon Kinnie 1 reception for 16 yards

Junior Hemingway 1 reception for 14 yards

Steve Breaston 2 receptions for 10 yards

Dwayne Bowe 1 reception for 9 yards

Jamaal Charles 1 reception for 7 yards

Patrick DiMarco 1 reception for 6 yards

Seattle Receiving:

Anthony McCoy 2 receptions for 47 yards

Terrell Owens 2 receptions for 41 yards

Braylon Edwards 1 reception for 32 yards

Kellen Winslow 2 receptions for 23 yards and 1 touchdown

Charly Martin 2 receptions for 15 yards and 1 touchdown

Golden Tate 1 reception for 14 yards

Sidney Rice 1 reception for 8 yards

Sean McGrath 1 reception for 5 yards

Cooper Helfet 1 reception for 3 yards

Vai Taua 1 reception for 3 yards

Robert Turbin 1 reception for 0 yards

Tyrell Sutton 1 reception for -5 yards

Kansas City Tackles-Assists-Sacks:

Jovan Belcher 4-0-0, Stanford Routt 4-0-0, Leon Williams 4-1-0, Jalil Brown 3-1-0, Ropati Pitoitua 3-0-0, Javier Arenas 2-0-1, Travis Daniels 2-0-0, Glenn Dorsey 2-0-0, Amon Gordon 2-0-0, Derrick Johnson 2-2-1, Jerrell Powe 2-0-0, Jacques Reeves 2-0-0, Eric Berry 1-2-0, Jerome Long 1-0-0, Brandon Siler 1-1-0, Tamba Hali 0-1-0, Justin Houston 0-1-0, Edgar Jones 0-1-0, Cameron Sheffield 0-1-0, Anthony Toribio 0-1-0

Seattle Tackles-Assists-Sacks:

Phillip Adams 5-0-0, Heath Farwell 5-0-0, K. J. Wright 5-0-0, Brandon Browner 3-0-0, Jeron Johnson 3-2-0, Kyle Knox 3-0-0, Clinton McDonald 3-0-0, Bobby Wagner 3-0-0, Alan Branch 2-0-0, Jaye Howard 2-0-0, Cordarro Law 2-0-1, Mike Morgan 2-0-1, Richard Sherman 2-0-0, Earl Thomas 2-0-0, Leroy Hill 1-0-0, Jeremy Lane 1-0-0, Chris Maragos 1-0-0, Byron Maxwell 1-0-0, Greg Scruggs 1-0-1, Korey Toomer 1-0-0, Marcus Trufant 0-2-0

Kansas City Fumble Recoveries:

None

Seattle Fumble Recoveries:

Jeron Johnson 1 for 0 yards

Kansas City Interceptions:

None

Seattle Interceptions:

Earl Thomas 1 for 75 yards and 1 touchdown