You wouldn’t have expected anything less from a Pete Carroll-coached team.
In his return both to Seattle and the NFL, Carroll watched his new team, the Las Vegas Raiders, fall behind early and trail by 13 at halftime against the Seahawks Thursday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
But the Raiders clawed back, as his Seahawks team had so many times before on the same Lumen Field, and tied the game with 1:12 left on a 51-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson.
When Jalen Milroe couldn’t lead Seattle down the field, Las Vegas was able to move into position for a 55-yard attempt by Carlson on the final play it appeared as if Carroll would leave Seattle with something to celebrate.
Instead, Seattle rookie Jalan Gaines blocked the kick and the game ended there in a 23-23 tie — the NFL got rid of preseason overtime in 2021.
Seattle grabbed a 16-3 lead thanks to a stifling defense that snared two interceptions and some big plays on offense.
They did so playing few of their starters.
None of Seattle’s listed defensive starters played and the only ones on offense who did were three offensive linemen — left guard Grey Zabel, right guard Anthony Bradford and right tackle Abraham Lucas. They each played the first two series, or 19 snaps.
Carroll played his offensive starters, including Smith, in for one series and sprinkled in a few defensive starters for a couple series. But by the second quarter it was a game for backups.
Here’s some of what stood out:
Milroe sees first action
The Raiders’ comeback from a 23-13 deficit early in the fourth quarter allowed Seattle to see how Milroe would react under pressure.
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Milroe threw a 14-yard pass to Ricky White III to start the drive. But he was incomplete on the next two and then sacked.
That capped an up-and-down outing for the third-round pick who played the entire second half.
Milroe’s first two drives, each in the third quarter, were derailed by holding penalties, one called on tight end Brady Russell that wiped out an apparent 45-yard gain by Jacardia Wright.
But the Seahawks played mistake-free on his third drive and moved 65 yards in nine plays to score on a 1-yard TD run by Wright that made it 23-13.
Milroe put his running ability to use when he bootlegged to his right to get past the Raiders rush and fired a 15-yard pass to Tyrone Broden that helped set up the TD and was 2-for-2 for 29 yards on the drive.
After the Raiders scored again and Seattle had to start at its own 6-yard line on its next drive, Milroe got the Seahawks out of danger with a 27-yard run when he kept the ball on a zone read and raced around the right side.
However, Milroe threw incomplete on a rollout a few plays later on a fourth-and-1 giving the Raiders the ball at the Seattle 45 with 4:12 left. It appeared as if he might have gotten the first down if he’d ran it.
He then overthrew Broden on second down on the final drive before taking a sack and giving the ball back to the Raiders.
Milroe finished 6-of-10 passing for 61 yards and 38 yards rushing on three attempts.
Lock rallies after sluggish start
Backup quarterback Drew Lock played the first half and got five series. Seattle scored on three of the last four.
The first ended in an interception when Lock tried to hit rookie receiver Tory Horton deep on a third-and-10 play. The ball hung in the air and Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao undercut it for an interception at the Raiders 9.
Seattle held and responded with a TD drive thanks spurred by two Raiders defensive holding penalties and a couple big plays by running back George Holani (more on him in a moment).
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But once the second quarter began — and the Raiders also had only backups in the game — Lock found his stride, completing seven of 10 passes for 93 yards and a 10-yard TD to Horton and a passer rating of 110.8. Lock finished 12-of-22 for 147 yards, a TD and an interception and a passer rating of 71.6 with Seattle up 16-3 at halftime.
Holani makes case for third running back spot
Seattle’s top two running backs — Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet — sat out. That left the starting duties to second-year vet George Holani, who is battling with rookie Damien Martinez for the third running back spot.
Holani took full advantage by rushing for 61 yards on seven carries in the first half, including a 24-yard TD run, as well as a 20-yard gain on a screen pass on a third-and-10.
Holani had a gain of 19 yards on the second play of the game, helped by a block from fullback Robbie Quzts, who showed throughout how much of a factor that position may be in Seattle’s offense this season. There was plenty of work out of I-formations.
Holani then scored on a 24-yarder in the second quarter in which he cut back to the left side, again aided by an Ouzts block.
Martinez finished with 10 yards on six carries and also muffed a kickoff in the fourth quarter.
Cornerbacks get timely picks
Each of the first-half interceptions were pulled off by cornerbacks battling for roster spots — Josh Jobe and Nehemiah Pritchett.
Jobe’s night began rough as he was beaten for a 17-yard gain to convert a third-and-14 midway through the first quarter and then the next play got called for hands to the face.
But on the first play of the second quarter, Jobe caught up to a badly underthrown deep pass by Aidan O’Connell down the left sideline, returning it from the Seattle 19 to the 47.
Later in the quarter, Pritchett broke off his coverage to quickly jump in front of an O’Connell pass at the Raiders 35, returning it to the 27.
Each time, Seattle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct when numerous defensive players ran on the field to celebrate.
Jobe is battling for the third cornerback spot and will get competition soon when Shaquill Griffin returns to practice after missing much of the last two weeks. Pritchett, a fifth-round pick last year, is hoping to earn a roster spot.
Emmanwori gets brief action
Second-round pick Nick Emmanwori played the first two series for the Seahawks then headed to the bench, coach Mike Macdonald appearing to want him to give him just enough action to get his feet wet some.
Emmanwori had one tackle, coming when he lined up on the left side of the line and then roamed to the right to chase down Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty for no gain.
Jeanty, the sixth overall pick after a standout career at Boise State, was held to minus-one yard on three carries in playing the first two series.
Arroyo, Horton power passing offense early
Seattle veteran receivers Cooper Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marquez Valdes-Scantling all sat out, as did starting tight end AJ Barner.
That left a lot of snaps and targets early on for rookie receiver Tory Horton and tight end Elijah Arroyo.
Arroyo, the 50th overall pick, caught both of his targets for 14 yards, including a 10-yarder on a third-and-6 that kept a drive alive that led to Seattle’s first TD.
Horton, a fifth-round pick, had three receptions on seven targets for 31 yards and a TD.
Horton’s score came in the second quarter and put Seattle ahead 13-3. On the play, he matched up in the slot on cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, who played in five games for the Seahawks in 2023.
Horton got a step on Kelly with a quick cut to the left. Lock fired the pass and Horton caught it at about the 5 and raced into the end zone for his first NFL TD — if only the preseason kind — and then a leap into the stands.
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This story will be updated.
Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout the year.