Patriots blow lead, lose at Seahawks

The New England Patriots blew a 13-point fourth quarter lead to lose 24-23 at the Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson found Sidney Rice for a 46-yard touchdown with 1:27 left to tie the game at 23. Steven Hauschka's extra point gave Seattle the lead, and after Tom Brady and the Patriots were stopped short on fourth down, the final margin was secure. New England falls to 3-3, while the Seahawks improve to 4-2.

Brady threw the ball 58 times for 395 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Wes Welker led the receiving corps with 10 receptions, 138 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots extended their 17-10 halftime lead to 23-10 after a 35-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 9:25 left. But New England's defense couldn't hold.

Wilson threw for 293 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, including two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks cut the deficit to 23-16 after Braylon Edwards caught caught a 10-yard pass on fourth down. After the Pats punted, the New England defense forced a three-and-out. But the Seattle defense, which ranks first in the NFL, held the Patriots in check. Leon Washington returned the ensuing punt to the Seahawks' 43, where Seattle went 57 yards in 1:20 for the winning score.


In the first half, Brady hit Welker on a 46-yard touchdown to give New England the early 7-3 lead. Brady also found Aaron Hernandez on a 1-yard pass to make it 14-10. The Pats would lead 17-10 at halftime.

The Patriots had ample opportunities to extend the lead, but Brady threw interceptions on back to back drives in the third quarter, one coming on third down in the red zone. The picks were Brady's second and third of the season.