The Seattle Seahawks had to make a cross country trip to play the Carolina Panthers to start the season and despite the heavy travel, the team was able to pull out a gutsy win and it happened on the arm of quarterback Russell Wilson, as he threw a 40-yard touchdown in the final quarter to take the lead and that was all the team needed.
Wilson was excellent on Sunday even though the overall offense was not and even though Seattle put up just 12 points, it was enough to pull out the victory 12-7 over Cam Newton and the Panthers and now the team has a prime matchup coming next in the division rival 49ers. Wilson was looked at as a fantasy sleeper heading into this season and even though the team won the game, the absence of wideout Percy Harvin was felt by Seattle and their offense could be deadly when he finally returns and if he finally returns this season after getting hip surgery.
The Seahawks were one of the most consistent teams in the league last season on offense and Marshawn Lynch got started off on a slow roll on Sunday and the team is hoping that he will get out of that funk quickly. Lynch averaged just 2.5 yards per carry and had 43 yards rushing in the game and the leader for the Seahawks on offense apart from Wilson was wideout Doug Baldwin.
Wilson was criticized last season for not putting up as big of passing numbers as fellow rookies Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin, but after tying the touchdown record as a rookie, he appears ready to do more this season after throwing for 320 yards in the contest against a solid Panthers D.
Baldwin and Golden Tate were the best wideouts for the team and finished with a combined 11 catches. Baldwin led the team with seven catches for 91 yards and Tate was second with four catches for 51 yards. Sidney Rice did not get much thrown his way, but he is coming off an injury as well and he could be a bit slow off that. Both receivers should be sleeper fantasy options in leagues and Baldwin could come up with some of the production left off by Harvin.
