Quarter Notes
First Quarter
In a nutshell: Seahawks 10-0, as the special teams set up or scored all 10 points.
Players of the quarter: The Seahawks’ special teams. From Michael Robinson (force) and Earl Thomas (recovery) combining to give the Seahawks the ball on the opening kickoff and Steven Hauschka kicking a 21-yard field goal; to Malcolm Smith blocking a punt that Jeron Johnson returned for a TD; to Byron Maxwell catching Jon Ryan’s Aussie-drop punt at the Dallas 5-yard line. What a way to open the home opener.
Play of the quarter: After the special teams setup a field goal with a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff, they scored a touchdown on the Cowboys’ ensuing series when Smith blocked Chris Jones’ punt and Johnson picked up the ball on a hop and scored on a 3-yard return.
Number of the quarter: 4, as in the number of consecutive third-down situations the Cowboys converted to end the quarter – including third-and-13 and third-and-9.
Second Quarter
In a nutshell: 13-7 Seahawks. The Cowboys got on the board with a Tony Romo to Miles Austin TD pass to cap a ridiculously long drive. The Seahawks then went 52 yards in 11 plays to Steven Hauschka’s second field goal, a 25-yarder with 1:57 left in the half.
Player of the quarter: Romo. He was 4 of 4 for 52 yards to four different receivers on third downs during the Cowboys’ 15-play, 95-yard TD drive that consumed 7½ minutes.
Play of the quarter: Romo’s TD pass to Austin, who got behind Brandon Browner to make the catch and then got into the end zone with a lunge to the pylon.
Number of the quarter: 3. It’s Wilson’s uniform number, and he was 6-of-6 for 66 yards in a multiple-of-3 performance on the Seahawks’ field goal drive. But it’s also the number of penalties the Seahawks had on that drive, putting them in two-and-21 and second-and-17 situations.
Third Quarter
In a nutshell: 20-7 Seahawks, as Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch spark an eight-play, 90-yard drive that is capped by Wilson’s 22-yard TD pass to tight end Anthony McCoy.
Player of the quarter: Lynch. He broke a 36-yarder on the TD drive and also had a 16-yarder on the first play of the half. His efforts softened up the Dallas defense for Wilson’s play-action passes.
Play of the quarter: Wilson’s 22-yard TD pass to a wide-open McCoy, which came from a three-TE set – all on the right side, with McCoy between Zach Miller (inside) and Evan Moore (outside).
Number of the quarter: 0. The number of third-down situations the Seahawks faced on their 90-yard TD drive.
Fourth Quarter
In a nutshell: Seahawks 27-7. The capper on this day was a 12-play, 88-yard TD drive that consumed 7½ minutes to open the quarter and ended with Marshawn Lynch scoring on a 3-yard run.
Player of the quarter: Lynch. He scored the TD, and went over 100 rushing yards for the game.
Play of the quarter: It was just one play on the Seahawks’ 12-play TD drive, but it was memorable because 202-pound wide receiver Golden Tate took out 245-pound linebacker Sean Lee with a vicious block to spring Wilson for a 14-yard run on second-and-12.
Number of the quarter: 81. It’s Tate’s uniform number. In addition to the big knocked-his-block-off block, Tate also had an 8-yard catch on third-and-4 just before Lynch scored.
