Seahawks stuff Newton on final play, beat Patriots 35-30

Cam Newton was stopped at the 1-yard line on the final play and the Seattle Seahawks held off the New England Patriots 35-30 on Sunday night.

Newton led New England 80 yards in the closing moments, trying to spoil the performance of Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, who matched his career high with five touchdown passes.

Newton and the Patriots reached the 1 on a pass to N’Keal Harry with 3 seconds left. On the final play, Newton tried to run power to the left, but was upended by L.J. Collier in the biggest play of his young career. Newton, who had two rushing touchdowns in the game, never got close to the goal line and Seattle’s sideline erupted in celebration.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton comes down on his back after he was stopped near the goal line as the clock expires in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 35-30. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Newton was excellent in his first road game with the Patriots throwing for 397 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He ran for another 47 yards, but couldn’t get the last three feet to give New England a victory.

Wilson was masterful on the other side, completing 21 of 28 passes for 288 yards. It was his fourth career game with five touchdown passes. Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore, Freddie Swain and Chris Carson all took turns celebrating in the end zone. Carson was the last, running under a 18-yard rainbow toss from Wilson against the blitz with 4:32 left to give the Seahawks a 35-23 lead.

But Newton wasn’t done. His second TD run pulled New England to 35-30 with 2:16 left. It was his eighth career game with at least two rushing TDs, setting an NFL record.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 35-30. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer)

New England held the Seahawks to a three-and-out after Seattle threw on third-and-1 and Wilson couldn’t connect with Lockett on a deep shot.

Newton needed just five plays to move New England from its 19 to the Seattle 36 with 41 seconds left. After a penalty, Newton hit Edelman for 18 yards to the Seattle 13 with 20 seconds left and the pair nearly connected again in the end zone but Newton’s pass was high with 9 seconds remaining. Newton found Harry but was stopped at the 1 and New England used its final timeout, setting the stage for the final play.

Edelman finished with eight catches for 179 yards.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton is tackled by Seattle Seahawks safety Ugo Amadi, left, as linebacker Jordyn Brooks, second from right, and cornerback Tre Flowers, right, look on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Wilson became the first QB in Seahawks history to throw at least four TDs in consecutive games after he had four TD tosses in Week 1 against Atlanta.

It was the kind of performance that in a normal setting would have left CenturyLink Field shaking with delirium. But the stadium built for noise was empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving fans to celebrate Seattle improving to 2-0 for the second straight year at home.

NO WHITE

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson passes against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

New England played without running back James White after his father was killed Sunday in a car crash in Florida, authorities said. The wreck that killed Tyrone White happened around 1 p.m. in Cooper City, Florida, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. White, who was the captain of the Miami-Dade Police Department, was pronounced dead at the scene.

SAFETY PLAN

Seattle lost its starting and backup free safeties in the first half. Starter Quandre Diggs was ejected late in the first quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New England’s N’Keal Harry. On fourth-and-3 from the Seattle 30, Newton hit Harry on a slant for 13 yards. The rookie was immediately hit by Diggs in a violent collision that snapped Harry’s head backward. The penalty helped lead to Newton’s 1-yard TD run.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton rushes for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Diggs was the first Seattle player ejected since 2017 when Sheldon Richardson and Quinton Jefferson were both ejected in a loss at Jacksonville.

Marquise Blair moved from nickel cornerback to safety in place of Diggs, but left with a right knee injury in the second quarter. Blair had to be helped off the field and the team immediately ruled him out. Lano Hill took over at free safety with Blair out.

UP NEXT

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson makes a catch for a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Patriots: Return home to host Las Vegas.

Seahawks: Host Dallas next Sunday.

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Freddie Swain center, celebrates with teammates, including wide receiver DK Metcalf, right, after Swain scored a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick catches a packet of papers after he tossed them in the air during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer)

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman makes a diving catch in front of Seattle Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer)

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman comes down with a pass reception over Seattle Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots play during the first half of an NFL football game in an empty CenturyLink Field stadium Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. No fans were in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks to pass against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)