INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — 샘 하웰이 시애틀 데뷔전에서 130야드를 던지고 타우치다운을 기록했고 마이크 맥도날드 아래 성공적인 시즌개막전을 치른 시애틀이 피카고 더 데스레스를 16-3으로 물리쳤다. 이 경기는 지미 하버 코치가 로스앤젤레스에서 처음으로 맡은 경기다.
하웰은 오프시즌에 워싱턴으로부터 영입된 후 로스앤젤레스 카치를 지휘했다. 2쿼터에 2개의 득점 드라이브를 연출했다. 하웰은 27회의 패스를 시도해 16회를 완성했으며 10개 시리즈에서 130야드를 기록했고 3쿼터 중반까지 출전했다.
“공격적으로 몇 가지 좋은 점들을 보여줬다. 좀 더 많은 점수를 낼 수 있었을 것 같았다. 3쿼터 초반에 그 드라이브를 끝맺었으면 좋았을텐데,” 하웰은 말했다.
시애틀 퀼트백 제노 스미스는 무릎과 엉덩이 문제로 지난주 연습을 빠져서 경기에 출전하지 않았다. 와이드 리시버 DK Metcalf와 Tyler Lockett, 그리고 러닝백 Kenneth Walker III도 다른 시애틀 공격수들과 마찬가지로 출전하지 않았다.
“대체로 우리 작전은 깔끔했다,” 맥도날드는 말했다. “게임이 펼쳐짐에 따라 쫓아갈 것과 메모할 것들이 많이 있었지만, 전체적으로는 기반을 다졌다고 말할 수 있다. 우리는 이를 계속해서 쌓아올려나갈 것이다.”
시애틀은 공을 이동시킬 수 있었지만, 찰각스는 투쟁했다. 이들은 이배드엔초드 and gained only 21 yards on their first six offensive possessions with Easton Stick at quarterback.
Stick, who has been taking the majority of first-team snaps for the past week with Justin Herbert sidelined due to a foot injury, was 5 of 13 for 32 yards and an interception in his eight series of work during the first half.
Stick used one word to some up his outing — “frustrating.”
“I think it’s always a combination of things, but ultimately just not executing at a high enough level to move the football. And that starts and ends with me,” said Stick, who is in his sixth season.
With the exception of Herbert, and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, the rest of the starting offense got playing time. With Herbert’s injury status remaining an unknown, it should make for an interesting couple weeks for Harbaugh, who returned to the NFL after leading Michigan to a national championship last season.
“There’s work to be done. A lot of work to be done,” Harbaugh said. “Now we’ve begun, which is a positive. Offensively there were some good things, but not enough.”
Howell — who started all 17 games for the Commanders last season — opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end with Brady Russell with 12:27 remaining in the first half. Russell caught the ball at the Los Angeles 10-yard line and eluded a tackle attempt by Chargers linebacker Nick Niemann before making it into the end zone.
“I was kind of just expecting to get the first down, but it’s great when you got a guy who can run after the catch and make guys miss,” Howell said. “Brady’s had a really good camp, and he’s doing a great job. Every time he’s in there, I’m gonna try to keep finding him for sure.”
Seattle extended its lead on the next series after Coby Bryant picked off Stick on a pass down the middle. George Holani went off right end from 11 yards out to make it 13-0. Jason Myers was wide right on the extra-point attempt.
Stick gave the Bolts their initial first down on an 11-yard keeper with five minutes remaining in the first half. Then came a 15-yard completion to tight end Stone Smartt to the Seahawks’ 40.
The drive stalled, but Cameron Dicker put the Chargers on the board with a 58-yard field goal. Had it been a regular-season game, it would be the second-longest kick in franchise history.
Myers supplied the only points of the second half with a 47-yard field goal with 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHT
The Chargers’ defense got some momentum midway through the second quarter when they stopped the Seahawks on two running plays from the LA 1, resulting in zero Seattle points on a 14-play, 84-yard drive.
Holani was stopped for no gain on third-and-goal by Matt Hankins and Tony Jefferson. On fourth-and-goal, Holani was dropped for a 1-yard loss by Shane Lee and Niemann.
Lee’s father, Mark, suffered a massive heart attack the family’s home in Maryland on May 12. Mark Lee was recently cleared to travel and surprised his son following Thursday’s practice.
HELLO, AGAIN
Macdonald was Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator at Michigan in 2021. Jay Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh’s son, is Seattle’s special teams coach.
UP NEXT
Seahawks: At Tennessee on Aug. 17.
Chargers: Host Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 17.
