Hawks backups prevail in 31-10 win over Chargers; analysis

SAN DIEGO – It started off slow but quickly picked up steam.

No. We’re not talking about last year’s Seahawks season. We’re talking about the first preseason game of 2013.

The Seahawks beat the Chargers 31-10 in a preseason game that started off colder than most Hawks at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium would like to see.

Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson looked pedestrian in his first preseason start, going 2-for-6 in his two series behind center. Wilson looked rushed at times, scrambling out of the pocket after failing to find any receivers, running for 9 yards on 2 carries and only completing one first down.

Phillip Rivers, on the other hand, looked like the franchise quarterback he has long been touted as. Rivers went 5-for-6 and 45 yards in his lone series. A strong opening drive for the Chargers ended in nothing more than field goal, putting the Chargers up 3-0 early.

But the sun started to shine for the Hawks as the starters were called off the field. Brady Quinn took over for Wilson and made a case for why he should be called permanent backup. Quinn went 6-for-11 for 59 yards and one touchdown on an 11-yard pass to Jermaine Kearse. Tavarais Jackson – signed again to the Seahawks in the offseason – picked up where Quinn left off  in the third quarter. Jackson went 8-for-9 with 128 yards and two touchdowns.

A strong Hawks offense and timely interceptions from the Seahawks secondary by Byron Maxwell and Chris Maragos kept the Hawks in a good position through the remainder of the game. At one point early in the fourth quarter, the Hawks had scored 21 unanswered points. The Seahawks special teams also looked superior, with Walter Thurmond returning a punt for 46 yards and kicker Steven Hauschka barely missing a 61-yard field goal by hitting the crossbar to end the first half.

However, big penalties hampered the Hawks early on – though some of the calls were questionable – as the team lost 65 yards on 8 penalties.

Many of the Seahawks' 90 position players currently on the roster got a chance to show their stuff Thursday night, and tough decisions lie ahead for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks coaching staff in the weeks ahead. Husky alumni and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse talked about his touchdown, and the joys of playing in an NFL jersey.  He said the team feels comfortable after a strong season last year.

"We're just trying to get better each day," Kearse said.

Kearse also gave praise to the backup quarterbacks.

"They did a great job," Kearse said. "We just tried to catch the ball."

The Hawks (1-0) will face the Denver Broncos at 7 p.m. on Aug. 17 at CenturyLink Field.

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Live Updates: 

-- Well, the Chargers got some back. Chargers trail the Hawks 24-10 with a little more than half to go in the fourth quarter.

-- Are they starting to pile it on? Hawks lead the Chargers 24-3 just seconds into the 4th quarter.

-- Huge 40-yard completion from Tavaris to Wide Reciever Stephen Williams sets up a run for Spencer Ware. Hawks go up 17-3 with 4:06 left to go in the third quarter. The Hawks have scored 17 unanswered points.

-- Tavaris Jackson is back in a Seahawks uniform and back under center with 5:30 left to go in the 3rd quarter. He's 0-1 on a pass that was dropped.

-- Russell Wiggs nails a 22-yard field goal to put the Hawks up 10-3 with 7:32 to go in the 3rd quarter. Special teams and defense for the Hawks really showing their metal.

-- Big 47-yard punt return for the Seahawks Walter Thurmond III. Hawks get the bowl deep in Chargers territory.

-- Charlie Whitehurst is still taking the snaps for the Chargers. Chargers have moved more to their running game since Rivers went out.  The Hawks D is doing a good job, keeping the Chargers to 73 yards on 22 attempts.

-- Hawks takeover with Brady Quinn behind center to start the 2nd Half. Interesting nugget: Hawks only rushed nine times in the first half. You wanted a bigger passing game, you got a bigger passing game. At least in the first preseason game.

Seahawks lead the Chargers 7-3 at the end of the first half.

-- Wow. Hawks kicker Steven Hauschka hits the crossbar on a 61-yard field goal attempt. Doesn't go in, but was darn close.

-- Ahh, things continue to look up. Hawks get their second interception of the game as Chris Maragos picks off Charlie Whitehurst.

-- Touchdown Seahawks! Hawks take the lead 7-3 after a 11-yard pass from Quinn to Wide Receiver Jermaine Kearse. The touchdown caps a 3-play 14-yard drive set up by the Maxwell interception.

-- That's more like it. Byron Maxwell intercepts Charlie Whitehurst for the first turnover of the preseason. Tack on a 15-yard late-hit penalty and the Hawks get the ball with good field position on the Chargers' side of mid-field.

-- Charlie Whitehurst completes a 22-yard pass to the Seahawks 47. Chargers are going no huddle to keep the pace of the game up. Seahawks have yet to show too much on offense yet.

-- Brady Quinn takes over for Russell Wilson at QB. Wilson showed pedestrian numbers in the first preseason game, going 2-for-6 with 23 yards passing.

-- Sack, baby. Malcolm Smith comes from the outside to sack Charlie Whitehurst on a Chargers 3rd down. Chargers are forced to punt. Seahawks get the ball deep on their own 7-yard-line.

-- A lot of flags here in the second quarter. The Hawks have been dinged for a couple of late hits and personal fouls that have been close. Michael Bennett called for a helmet-to-helmet penalty that had color man Brock Huard asking, "That's helmet to helmet?"

-- Seahawks forced to punt.

 2nd Quarter-- Hawks start the 2nd quarter with the ball on their own 40. Wilson is still in the game, and he has scrambled quite a bit.

-- Woah. Are you scared or happy to see Wilson run in the preseason? Wilson scrambles for six to convert a third down around the Hawks 20 yard line.

-- Whitehurst (yeah, remember him) and the Chargers can't convert a 3rd-and-long. Hawks takeover after a punt and a holding penalty.

 -- Hawks can't convert their first third down of the season and have to punt. Chargers takeover on their own 20. Old Seahawks back-up Charlie Whitehurst in at Quarterback for the Chargers.

 -- That's better. Russell Wilson completed his first pass for a 20-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse.

-- Chargers go up 3-0 after field goal from Nick Novak long drive to the Seahawks 28. Rivers showed his old personality, completing 5-for-6 passes, converting 4 first downs and averaging 7.5 yards per pass. Hawks takeover at their own 20.

-- The Chargers come out strong on their first drive of the game. Some long completions by Chargers QB Phillip Rivers. Chargers convert on 4th and inches on the Seahawks 20 to get into the Red Zone.

-- Kickoff! Hawks kick to the Chargers to start the game. Ball returned to the 15 yard line of the Chargers.