Seahawks' Rally Shocks Green Bay

(AP Photo / David J. Philip)

Remarkable comeback fuels OT win

After trailing by sixteen at halftime and being shut-out for most of the game, the Seahawks found themselves down at home with time running out. The miscues and turnovers were proving to be too much and they were running out of chances to mount their comeback.

With just over 5 minutes to go in the game, Seattle's defense forced a three-and-out and Green Bay punted the ball back to Russell Wilson. The clock was ticking and the sense of urgency had been present since the second quarter. Seattle needed to score or their season would come to a bitter and disappointing end in front of their home crowd. This was their last chance to bridge the gap and get back into the ballgame.

A miserable first half for Seattle

That chance was short lived: Wilson's first pass bounced off his receiver's hands and was intercepted by Green Bay's Morgan Burnett, who promptly slid to the ground as if the game was over.

It certainly felt like it.

The pic was Wilson's fourth interception of the game, and was just another bad break for a Seattle team that had self-destructed all day long. They had committed 8 penalties-- two of which resulted in GB first downs-- and turned the ball over 5 times. Though the Seahawks entered the game as the #1 seed, favored by 7.5 points, they found themselves down by 12 with just 5 minutes to go.

After another failed drive, Green Bay had the ball again, and the stands in Seattle began to empty early.

Coach Pete Carroll still had three time outs to use and would use two of them on the ensuing Packers drive: a three-and-out that took a total of 1:12 off the clock. Green Bay would punt again and Seattle would set-up at the 31 yard line with 3:52 to go.

But the air in the building, and some of the fans, had already gone out. Russell Wilson was 6 of 19 with 61 yards, four interceptions, and entered the fourth quarter with a QBR of 0.2, before even throwing his fourth interception.

It was time to accept defeat.

But the dial of Marshawn Lynch's watch read a different time:

Time for Beast Mode. 

The explosive Seattle RB took the first carry 14 yards up the middle to get the drive going. Two plays later, he blew past the defense on a wheel route and caught a 35-yard rainbow from Russell Wilson for a touchdown.

The replay showed his right foot just out-of-bounds, and he was ruled down at the 9 yard line. Three plays later, Steven Hauschka was kicking the extra point.

19-14, Green Bay. 2:07 remaining.

With only one timeout remaining, there was no time to hope for a defensive stand, and Seattle needed a miracle to get the ball back.

Wish granted. 

The onside kick was recovered by the home team and Russell Wilson set up shop on the 50 yard line. Down 5, Seattle would need to score and had the two-minute warning and one time-out to stop the clock.

There was only time for one course of action:

44 seconds later, Marshawn Lynch was shaking hands in the end zone.

Seattle would convert the two-point conversion attempt on the unlikeliest of plays, as Russell Wilson scrambled and hoisted the ball across the field to his tight-end, who somehow beat the defender in the air and landed in the end zone to put Seattle up by 3.

But Green Bay would not go quietly.

With 1:19 to go and the season on the line, the one-legged wonder that is Aaron Rodgers would hit his first two passes to gain 30 yards in 36 seconds before scrambling for another 12. That put the ball on Seattle's 36 yard line and within the range of Mason Crosby.

The field goal was good, and we headed to overtime.

Anyone who was watching the game was surely in shock, for a team that managed just 59 total yards in the first half had suddenly added 119 yards in two drives. Except for a fake field-goal, the offense had been wholly shut down for 58 minutes, and suddenly erupted to score 14 points in 44 seconds.

Certainly the Packers were shocked, and just before the overtime kickoff Troy Aikman was commenting on their mindset heading into the extra period. Surely they must be wondering what had just happened.

That feeling that will persist in Wisconsin for weeks, if not months to come, as before they could blink twice the game was over.

It took just 6 plays for Seattle to find the endzone. Russell Wilson hit back-to-back 35 yard bombs to Doug Baldwin (who was responsible for a fumble) and then Jermaine Kearse (the target on all four interceptions) to send his team back to the Super Bowl.

In a game that is sure to be remembered for one of the great postseason comeback's ever, the Seattle Seahawks advance in absolutely astonishing fashion.

Marshawn Lynch, who once again ignited his team in a huge win, exited the locker room without a word to reporters, leaving the stadium-- and the Green Bay Packers-- speechless.



** GIFs by SB Nation**