The Seahawks rolled to their 10th win of the season on Sunday, beating the Falcons 37-9 behind the strength of a big second half.
Neither team could get much going offensively in the first half, resulting in a 6-6 tie at the break, but the Seahawks caught fire in the second half, sparked first by Rashid Shaheed's 100-yard kick return to start the third quarter, then continued with great play on offense and defense.
While the defense was busy keeping opponents out of the end zone for the second straight game, forcing three more turnovers to make it eight takeaways in the last two weeks, the offense got rolling in the second half in no small part thanks to the play of quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold, who like the rest of the offense, did not have a big first half, started out the second half completing all five passes on an 88-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Darnold finished the game 20 for 30 for 249 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and in the second half he was 11 for 15 for 182 yards, all three touchdowns and no turnovers.
And Darnold did some of his best work when the Falcons blitzed him with man coverage. Atlanta, which came into the game with 41 sacks, the third most in the league, was able to add three more sacks to that total, but when the Falcons brought extra rushers, Darnold usually got the better of them.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Darnold was 6 for 8 for 75 yards and all three touchdowns and one interception against man blitzes. Darnold generated +8.3 EPA (expected points added) on those passes, his highest single-game EPA against man blitzes this season, and ninth best by any quarterback this season.
The Seahawks put together a dominant second half to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 37-9. Check out photos of the team's postgame celebration after earning their 10th win of the season.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
The Seahawks celebrated the 37-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercdes-Benz Stadium.
