The Seahawks appear to be coming to peace with the two Russell Wilsons.
One one hand, the rookie quarterback had one of his best games of the season. On the other, he nearly cost them a game they had well within their grasp.
Statistically, a 19-of-25 for 221 yards day was a smash hit, an efficient showing for what had been the league’s worst passing offense (allowing them to pass the Jaguars for that honor).
But throwing behind tight end Anthony McCoy in his own end became an interception which was returned for a touchdown, the Panthers only such score in a 16-12 road victory.
“Honestly, it didn’t even faze him,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said, via Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times. “It’s because he has this extraordinary belief. I wish we all had that.”
Wilson then completed seven of his next 11, including the go-ahead touchdown to Golden Tate, which came inside the red zone, on third down. Both of those areas had been a problem for Wilson previously.
But Sunday, he was 9-of-10 on third downs, for five first downs and a touchdown.
“He fixed something that we challenged him to fix,” Carroll said. “I thought he was big time.”
“The main thing is having amnesia,” Wilson said. “That’s what I always say. Whether it is good or bad, you have to forget about it.”
Wilson had written the word “poise” on his wristband prior to the game, and he showed plenty of it Sunday.