Seattle, WA – Russell Wilson threw for a career-best 293 yards, and fired the game-winning touchdown to Sidney Rice with just over one minute left in regulation, sending the Seattle Seahawks over the New England Patriots, 24-23, in a Week 6 matchup.
Wilson ended 16-of-27 with three scores for the Seahawks (4-2), who beat their Sunday foes for the first time since 1993 and have taken four of their last five since a season-opening loss at Arizona.
Rice totaled 81 yards on three receptions, as Marshawn Lynch was held to 41 yards on 15 carries as Seattle pulled into a three-way tie atop the NFC West standings after wins by San Francisco and the Cardinals.
"We got some offensive plays thanks to the offensive line," Wilson admitted. "Practice was sharp this week, and the coaches really did a good job getting us focused. Guys worked hard this week. Every team tries to slow down Lynch, but at the same time, it opens opportunities for us. Playing here in front of this crowd is fascinating."
Tom Brady threw the football a career-high 58 times, completing 36 for 395 yards, a pair of touchdowns with two interceptions for the Patriots (3-3), whose two-game win streak was halted.
Wes Welker led all receivers with 138 yards and a TD on 10 catches, while Aaron Hernandez also posted a touchdown reception in defeat.
The hosts' final drive began at their own 43-yard line, thanks to a 25-yard return from Leon Washington. Wilson rushed for nine yards on first down, then a two-yard run by Lynch following an incompletion gave Seattle a fresh set of downs.
That's when Wilson aired one out over the middle and found an open Rice for a 46-yard touchdown which gave Seattle a 24-23 lead with 1:18 remaining.
Brandon Lloyd barely missed a diving reception which would have put the Patriots in Seahawks territory on first down, and Brady was felled by his own lineman on second down. After an illegal motion penalty, an incompletion made it 4th-and-17 from the 13-yard line, but a completion to Welker was short of the marker.
Wilson took a knee twice to run off the remaining seconds.
"It was just one of those days where we just did not play well," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. "We missed a lot of opportunities. Congratulations to Seahawks, they outplayed us. We just did not do a good job today."
Steven Hauschka made a 34 yarder to cap Seattle's first offensive series, then Welker's 46-yard reception put New England on top to cap the following drive.
Doug Baldwin's leaping grab in the end zone for a 24-yard TD gave the hosts the lead once more, but an 80-yard drive which bridged the first and second quarters saw Hernandez haul in a one-yard pass from Brady to make it 14-10 for the visitors.
On the next drive, Wilson was sacked and coughed up the ball, and replay upheld the ruling. New England took over on the Seattle 47, and 11 plays later a Stephen Gostkowski make from 25 yards away pushed the Pats' lead to seven.
Gostkowski ended the first New England series of the second half with a 35-yard field goal for a 10-point margin, and connected on a 35-yard field goal with 9:21 remaining to give the Patriots a 23-10 advantage.
The Seahawks responded on the next touch, going 83 yards in just five plays, ending on a 10-yard connection from Wilson to Braylon Edwards which was upheld by review.
Game Notes
Prior to Sunday, New England had won three in a row and eight of 15 all-time meetings with Seattle, including 4 of 6 in Washington's largest city ... The Seahawks have won six of the last eight matchups dating back to 1989 ... Wilson broke his own previous record of 221 yards, achieved in last Sunday's 16-12 win at Carolina ... The Patriots were limited to 87 yards rushing, but outgained the Seahawks by a 475-368 count ... Brady's previous career high for passing attempts was 55, done on Nov. 10, 2002 against Chicago and Sept. 24, 2006 vs. Denver.
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