The Seahawks opened preseason play at Lumen Field with a lot of early promise and not much payoff, falling 17-7 to the Cowboys on a night that started cleanly enough before unraveling into a mess of stalled drives, missed chances and too many flags.
Seattle’s first offense gave the crowd something to grab onto right away. Drew Lock steered a 13-play, 80-yard march, with Dallas cornerback Caelen Carson helping extend the drive by drawing a pass interference on the game’s first third-down and then a face mask on what should have been a Lock scramble for a first down. Lock finished the series by dropping a third-down touchdown into the back of the end zone for Montorie Foster Jr., who made a sharp grab for the game’s first score.
That was about as good as it got for Seattle’s passing game. Lock and Jalen Milroe alternated every two possessions, but neither quarterback helped the Seahawks clear 100 passing yards. Milroe’s sacks dragged Seattle all the way down to 49 net passing yards by the end of the night.
Milroe’s first series came around the 11-minute mark of the second quarter and started with a botched exchange with Olu Oluwatimi, though Milroe recovered the fumble himself. He answered the mistake with a third-down throw to Jake Bobo, then added a 12-yard scramble on 3rd and 11 and another improvised conversion to Bobo on 4th and 2 before Amari Kight was flagged for holding. Jason Myers then pushed a 45-yard field goal wide right.
The Seahawks’ run game showed a few signs of life, even if it never really took over. George Holani and Velus Jones Jr. both had some useful carries, but the offense never found a rhythm that lasted.
Dallas answered Seattle’s opening touchdown with a field goal drive from former Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell, who started for the Cowboys and leaned on Jonathan Mingo and a pass interference call on Shemar Jean-Charles to move the ball. Noah Igbinoghene’s blitz forced Howell into a bad throw on third down, helping Seattle hold Dallas to three after a 16-play march. Tyrice Knight, Mike Morris and Patrick O’Connell all flashed on the series.
The Seahawks’ defense had some moments, but the night as a whole belonged to the Cowboys’ passing game. Seattle never recorded a sack against Joe Milton or Sam Howell, and Jean-Charles had a rough one, allowing a touchdown and drawing a costly pass interference that set up a field goal. The bright spots on that side included Tyrice Knight and Patrick O’Connell at linebacker, Rylie Mills getting a couple of pressures, and Noah Igbinoghene turning in a strong first half in coverage and as a blitzer.
Dallas grabbed control before halftime. In the two-minute drill, Howell found Camden Brown on a deep shot that exploited Jean-Charles for the go-ahead touchdown, sending the Cowboys into the break up 10-7.
The second half brought more of the same. Joe Milton opened for Dallas and immediately led a touchdown drive, while Seattle’s third-team defense struggled to make much of an impression. Brown then struck again, this time on a one-handed touchdown against rookie Michael Dansby to push the Cowboys’ lead to 17-7.
Seattle did create a few chances to get back in it. Rashad Rochelle delivered a 52-yard punt return to set the Seahawks up with excellent field position, but the offense gave it away on downs on 4th and 4 after Logan Brown was beaten and called for holding, with Lock also throwing short of the sticks.
The Seahawks did finally get the game’s first turnover after Cowboys punt returner Traeshon Holden tried to return a punt from his own 2-yard line and promptly lost the ball with the Seahawks already swarming. T.J.
Harden recovered, but Seattle still couldn’t turn that into points. Harden carried three times without scoring, and Milroe was sacked on fourth and goal.
Dallas then closed it out by running off the final 6:32.
The only injury note that stood out was Bobby Hart appearing to grab his right hand in the second quarter.
Seattle’s next preseason game comes Sunday, Aug. 23 against the Tennessee Titans at 5 pm PT on FOX.
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