Top 50 Seattle Seahawks Games of All-Time: 31-40
The Seattle Seahawks will celebrate their 50th anniversary this coming season. The franchise has plenty of things planned and the team will don patches on their jersey for the occasion. 50 is a nice, round number. It gives us another opportunity for reflection on this entire franchise’s history.
What defines a “top game” in franchise history can mean various things. From dramatic finishes, to record-setting performances, to iconic moments, to playoff performances. This list will have a little bit of everything.
Let’s take a look back at the top 50 games in Seahawks history. Here are games 31 through 40:
40. Sep. 20, 2020: Goal Line Stand vs. Cam Newton, Patriots on SNF
The game featured a shootout between quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. Wilson threw five touchdown passes, including deep strikes to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Newton, in his second game with the Patriots, kept New England close with both his arm and legs. He rushed for two touchdowns and passed for nearly 400 yards. In the final moments, the Patriots drove down to Seattle’s one-yard line with a chance to win despite trailing most of the game. With three seconds remaining, Newton attempted a designed QB power run—the same play that had worked earlier in the game.
However, the Seahawks’ defense was ready. L.J. Collier and safety Lano Hill broke through the line and stuffed Newton short of the end zone, completing a dramatic goal-line stand as time expired. It was a statement win for the Seahawks in a fun yet awkward COVID-marred 2020 season.
39. Sep. 29, 2002: Seahawks’ First Win at New Stadium
The Seattle Seahawks earned a historic 48-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, marking their first win at their new home stadium, Seahawks Stadium (later named Qwest Field, CenturyLink Field, and now Lumen Field). The game was a major milestone for the franchise, as it showcased the beginning of a new era in a brand-new, state-of-the-art venue.
Quarterback Trent Dilfer led the Seahawks' offense with a strong performance, throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown. Running back Shaun Alexander was the star of the day, scoring four total touchdowns—three rushing and one receiving—helping Seattle pile up points and energize the home crowd. The Seahawks’ defense also contributed, forcing multiple turnovers and keeping the Vikings’ offense, led by Daunte Culpepper, in check.
Of course, as Seahawks fans know, the stadium is now known for its distinctive architecture and as one of the loudest venues in the NFL. This victory not only gave Seattle a 1-2 record but also symbolized a fresh start for the team and its fanbase in their new home. It set the tone for what would become one of the NFL’s most iconic and intimidating home field environments.
38, Nov. 29, 2015: Seahawks and Steelers Combine for 69 points and Almost 1,000 yards
The Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers delivered an offensive shootout at CenturyLink Field, combining for 69 points and nearly 1,000 total yards in a 39-30 Seahawks victory. It was a thrilling, back-and-forth battle between two high-powered offenses, with both teams trading big plays throughout the game.
Russell Wilson had one of the best performances of his career, throwing for 345 yards and a then-career-high five touchdown passes, including two each to Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. Baldwin’s 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the fourth quarter helped seal the win and capped off his three-touchdown day.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 456 yards, but was intercepted twice by Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor and cornerback Richard Sherman. Roethlisberger left the game late with a concussion, and backup Landry Jones threw a key interception that helped Seattle hold on.
Neither defense had many answers, but Seattle made just enough key plays to secure the win. The game was a turning point in the Seahawks’ season, sparking a strong finish that helped them reach the playoffs, winning six of their last seven games.
37. Dec. 23, 2018: Russell Wilson Outduels Patrick Mahomes on SNF
In a prime-time showdown between two of the league’s most electrifying quarterbacks, Russell Wilson cooked, throwing for 271 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-sealing deep ball to Tyler Lockett late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle’s offense leaned heavily on its rushing attack, with Chris Carson pounding out 116 yards and two touchdowns. The balanced offense kept Mahomes off the field and helped control the tempo. Still, Mahomes dazzled with his signature off-script magic, throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns, keeping Kansas City in the game until the final minutes. This stretch was in the middle of him putting a bow on his first MVP award.
Seattle’s defense bent but didn’t break, coming up with key third-down stops and applying just enough pressure to disrupt Mahomes late. The win clinched a playoff berth for the Seahawks and showcased Wilson’s ability to go toe-to-toe with one of the NFL’s rising stars.
36. Oct. 2, 2023: Defense Tortures Daniel Jones and Giants on MNF
Even though this team was coached by Pete Carroll instead of Mike Macdonald, it felt like this game was something of a coming-out party for the current iteration of Seattle’s defense. The team tied a franchise record with 11 sacks on Daniel Jones, including four different players with two sacks. For some, this is the “Devon Witherspoon Game.” This was during Witherspoon’s rookie year coming out from being a top five pick. He notched two sacks of his own, despite being a cornerback. It was punctuated by a 97-yard pick six to make the score 21-3 and essentially, put the game out of reach.
Overall, Seattle collected three turnovers and held New York to just three points.
35. Oct. 29, 2017: Russell Wilson sets franchise passing record in shootout with Deshaun Watson
Russell Wilson rewrote the passing record books during his time in Seattle. This time, he set the franchise single-game passing record and Deshaun Watson emerging as a rising star. Wilson dazzled, throwing for 452 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the Seahawks’ previous passing record and showcasing his elite playmaking ability. His connection with receivers Tyler Lockett and Paul Richardson kept the pace, with both wideouts eclipsing 100 yards.
The real story was Watson, who quickly announced himself as one of the NFL’s brightest young talents. Watson threw for 402 yards and four touchdowns, displaying poise, strong arm talent, and clutch decision-making against a tough Seattle defense. His ability to extend plays and make accurate throws under pressure earned him widespread praise and helped keep the Texans in the game.
Despite the high amount of points and yards allowed, Seattle’s defense won the day in the end. They picked off Watson three times while sacking him five times to do just enough to get Seattle the win.
34. Sep. 26, 2010: Leon Washington Returns Two Kickoffs for Touchdowns
Seahawks and their fans witnessed a rare and spectacular special teams performance against the San Diego Chargers. Washington returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game—a thrilling and almost unheard-of feat. His first kickoff return came early in the game, a 101-yard sprint that set the tone and energized the Seahawks. Later in the second half, Washington struck again, returning another kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
Washington nearly single-handedly willed Seattle to a 27-20 victory over the Chargers.
The two kickoff return touchdowns put Washington in rare company. This performance made Washington the 10th player in NFL history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game. Only Nyheim Hines has done it since.
33. Dec. 18, 1988: Seahawks Clinch First AFC West Crown
The Seahawks clinched their first-ever AFC West division title with a 43-37 win over the Los Angeles Raiders in a wild, high-scoring shootout at the Kingdome. The victory was a historic moment for the franchise, marking its first division championship since joining the NFL in 1976.
Seattle's offense exploded behind quarterback Dave Krieg, who threw for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Brian Blades had a breakout performance, hauling in 10 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Curt Warner added 126 rushing yards and a score on the ground. The Seahawks built a 30-14 halftime lead, but the Raiders, led by Jay Schroeder and Bo Jackson, stormed back to make it a tense finish.
Despite surrendering big plays, Seattle's defense came up with key stops late in the game, including a crucial fourth-quarter interception that helped preserve the win. The high-octane battle featured over 900 combined yards, but it was the Seahawks’ resilience and offensive firepower that secured the crown.
The win capped a strong 9-7 season and secured Seattle’s place in the postseason, cementing 1988 as one of the most significant years in team history.
32. Dec. 21, 2008: Mike Holmgren Gets Snowy Seattle Sendoff
Seattle isn’t known for snow games like Green Bay or teams in the Northeast. But for this mid-December Sunday, it was a sloppy, snowy affair. In franchise icon Mike Holmgren’s final home game as head coach, the Seahawks looked determined to send him off as a winner. Quarterback Seneca Wallace connected with tight end John Carlson for the game's only touchdown. Defensively, Seattle stifled the Jets, limiting them to just three points and forcing two interceptions. After the final whistle, Holmgren took an emotional lap around the stadium, waving to fans who had supported him throughout his decade-long tenure. In the locker room, Wallace presented Holmgren with the game ball, symbolizing the team's appreciation for his leadership.
31. Nov. 7, 2016: Ref Controversy Benefits Seahawks in MNF Win over Bills
This is a game remembered as much for its action as for a major officiating controversy. Seattle jumped out early with two first-half touchdown passes from Russell Wilson to Jimmy Graham, including a spectacular one-handed grab. Wilson finished with 282 passing yards and three total touchdowns, helping Seattle build a lead they would protect late.
The turning point — and most controversial moment — came just before halftime. With the Bills lining up for a field goal, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman aggressively jumped offsides and collided with kicker Dan Carpenter after the whistle. The officials failed to call roughing the kicker, and confusion followed: the Bills were eventually flagged for delay of game after being forced to spike the ball to reset, pushing them out of field goal range.
Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan was furious, and the NFL later admitted the officiating crew mishandled the sequence. The Seahawks held on for the win, improving to 5–2–1, but the officiating overshadowed an otherwise competitive prime-time matchup.
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