Monday 14 November 2016 11:22, UK
Doug Baldwin scored three touchdowns as the Seattle Seahawks claimed a 31-24 victory over the New England Patriots. LeGarrette Blount also scored three times for New England, but a critical forced fumble set up Seattle for the winning touchdown four minutes from time.
In 140 Characters...
Seattle hold firm to beat Patriots in nail-biting Foxboro encounter, sweet victory for former Patriots head coach Carroll.
MVP
Russell Wilson showed the sort of form that won him a Super Bowl in 2014. Having recovered from a knee injury that was causing his mobility to suffer, Wilson is once again able to scramble and make plays out of nothing. It will be a valuable asset if Seattle are to mount a title challenge.
Game-changer
Midway through the fourth quarter, strong safety Kam Chancellor forced a fumble on Julian Edelman, which was recovered by cornerback Richard Sherman. The Seattle offence took over, marching down field and into the end zone, establishing a 31-24 lead that New England couldn't recover.
Stat of the night
3 - Tonight was Doug Baldwin's third game with three receiving touchdowns in the past two seasons. No other player in the NFL has more than one. This stat is all the more surprising considering Baldwin hadn't scored in his previous five games.
The game
New England scored on their opening drive, Blount bulldozing in from a yard out early in the first quarter. The Seahawks responded with two field goals, before taking the lead with a touchdown of their own.
Using all available weapons, Russell Wilson went 65 yards downfield, finishing with a six yard touchdown pass to Baldwin.
The Patriots replied late in the second quarter, Blount again scoring from just a yard out. But it was Seattle who held a 19-14 lead going into half-time, after Wilson led his team 75 yards in seven plays before finding Baldwin in the end zone from 18 yards.
On New England's first possession of the second half, Blount scored his third touchdown, this time from 13 yards to hand the advantage back to the home side.
Steven Hauschka's 41-yard field goal gave Seattle a one point lead and, after trading field goals, Seattle got a breakthrough, Chancellor forcing Edelman into a fumble which Sherman recovered. The Seahawks capitalised, Baldwin grabbing his third TD of the night to extend the lead to 31-24.
New England had opportunities to level at the end, a four minute drive was accelerated after Edelman caught a 30 yard pass, before Rob Gronkoswki added a 27 yard reception. However, with just two yards to go, the Seattle defence stayed strong to keep the Patriots out of the end zone.
In only their second loss of the season, New England remain two games up in the AFC East, but now join the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, both of the AFC West, on a 7-2 record.
Meanwhile the Seahawks (6-2-1) also hold a two game advantage over their divisional opponents, while the win represented another positive step in Wilson's return to top form.
Our live NFL coverage continues with Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Giants, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1.15am on Tuesday.
