When Marshawn Lynch rumbled into the end zone for the game-winning points in Seattle's 26-20 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday, my initial thoughts were this:

Why didn't we get this game in February?

In the Super Bowl seven months ago, the Seahawks threw the Broncos around like they were the varsity scrimmaging the jayvee, but this time it turned into a physical battle with a classic ending.

First, it had Peyton Manning driving Denver to the game-tying points in the last minute and then hitting a two-point pass to Demaryius Thomas to tie it. Then it was Russell Wilson leading Seattle to the winning score on the only possession of overtime. He did a lot of the damage with his legs, rushing for 22 yards on that drive, and hitting 4-of-6 passes.

Two quarterbacks getting it done in entirely different ways, one traditional, one not, with both overcoming terrible interceptions in the fourth quarter to do so. I keep hearing how this loss will do a lot for the Broncos in terms of moral victories. What does that mean?

Yes, they came back from a 17-3 fourth-quarter deficit to send it to overtime, and they showed they are a much tougher team than they were in the Super Bowl, but that's reaching. What I do think they will get out of the loss is how they should play the Seahawks if they do meet again. They played fast, they drove the ball down the field and they attacked them vertically.

For much of the game, there was little of that. The Broncos struggled to throw it until that final drive. They ran some strange plays, like an inside draw to backup tight end Virgil Green on third-and-long, and seemed to get too cute at times. I think offensive coordinator Adam Gase is one of the best in football, but the early part of the game seemed to be too much feeling out and not enough dictating.

As for Seahawks, they were their usual physical selves on defense, and the offense was efficient and rolled up 384 yards, including 80 on the final drive to score the winning points.

On that drive, Wilson was 4-of-6 for 35 yards and was able to keep the drive alive with his legs. It was vintage Seattle: Wilson outside the pocket creating problems with his legs and little schemed-up passes for key plays. There was nothing but 100-percent efficiency on the drive. Wilson finished 24 of 34 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and the one bad interception that enabled Denver to get back into the game. Why Seattle was throwing in that spot is a mystery. The Seahawks led 17-5 with 11:12 left and have Lynch in the backfield, yet they threw it? Bad move.

Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch make sure the Broncos offense never sees the ball in OT. (USATSI)
Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch make sure the Broncos offense never sees the ball in OT. (USATSI)

In the end, they got away with it because Wilson was able to drive it down the throats of an exhausted Denver defense in overtime. He is now 7-0 against Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady, even if six of those games were in Seattle, where it's tough for any opposing quarterback to win.

Wilson isn't always pretty. But you have to give him credit for doing what he's asked to do. He is smart. He knows how to move outside the pocket. He knows when to run and when to throw it away.

The last drive was vintage Wilson: A mix of his ability to run with short passes. It also led to some foolish members of the media saying he's now one of the elite of the league. Are you kidding?

He's barely averaging over 200 yards passing. He's the perfect quarterback for what Seattle is doing -- especially at home. He's good, but elite? Not quite, but on this day he was good enough to beat one who is elite.

Foles shows toughness: I have to give credit to Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. He took a nasty cheap shot from Redskins defensive tackle Chris Baker on an apparent interception, but stayed in the game to throw the winning touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin. He did so behind an offensive line that had just one projected starter before the season, and right guard Todd Herremanswas actually forced to play right tackle late in the game instead of his usual right guard. Foles completed 28 of 42 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. He played through the Baker hit and another shot earlier in the game that appeared it might knock him from the game. That's tough. Playing that way in a big division game is huge for a young quarterback. It sends a big-time message to his teammates. Foles leads the NFL in passing yards. I might have been wrong about him. It looks that way after three games.

Nick Foles shakes off some hard shots to help lift the Eagles past rival Washington. (USATSI)
Nick Foles shakes off some hard shots to help lift the Eagles past rival Washington. (USATSI)

Bridgewater, Bortles make debuts: Two of the rookie first-round quarterbacks saw their first action this week and both will start next week, one for injury and the other for performance. Teddy Bridgewater came of the bench for the Vikings in relief of the injured Matt Cassel, who has broken bones in his foot, while Blake Bortles started the second half for the Jaguars after they trailed 30-0 to the Colts at the half. Both did some good things and some bad things, but it's clear that both have ability. Bortles, who threw two touchdown passes and two picks, will start next week at San Diego. That won't be easy. Bortles did look much more effective than Chad Henne, who started the first three games. Cassel is expected to be out for a while, so Bridgewater will be the starter. He was 12 for 20 for 158 yards in the Vikings' loss to the Saintswithout a pick or a touchdown pass. You never want to see a player get a job because of injury, but it's best for the Vikings for the long haul to have Bridgewater playing. Like I always say: Play the kids.

More Musings

Andrew Luck was sensational against the Jaguars, completing 31 of 38 passes for 370 yards and four touchdown passes. Luck hit nine different receivers to roll up the big numbers. It's amazing what he can do when Pep Hamilton allows him to do it.

That was a heck of a performance by Giants running back Rashad Jennings. He ran 34 times for 176 yards against the Texans. That's impressive, but that is a ton of carries for a back that has to play Thursday night.

The Texans run defense is really bad. Hard to believe it's that way with J.J. Watt on that line.

The Cowboys impressed in coming back from a 21-0 deficit to beat the Rams. But let's be real, they made Austin Davis look like Kurt Warner. He threw for 327 yards and three touchdown passes. He was picked off for a score, but that defense will be a season-long problem for the Cowboys and they have the Saints up next.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin is in trouble already. There is no way his team should lose at home to a Chiefs team that is banged up. That's inexcusable. If the Dolphins lose to the Raiders in London, is Philbin out? Should he be?

Joe Philbin's seat in Miami gets hotter after an ugly home loss to the Chiefs.(USATSI)
Will Joe Philbin make it to the end of the season in Miami? (USATSI)

Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis, does it matter? Davis had 131 yards playing for Charles against Miami, and he also had a 21-yard run for a score.

The Patriots are a dink-and-dunk offense now. Tom Brady threw for 234 yards in New England's 16-9 victory over the Raiders. His longest pass play to a receiver was 16 yards. They need Aaron Dobson to get healthy.

I seem to say it in this space every week, but I can't say enough about the job that Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is doing this season. He's suffered a lot of big hits to that defense from a year ago, yet he's been able to overcome it with a variety of aggressive schemes. The Cardinals came after Colin Kaepernick all day Sunday in Arizona's 23-14 victory. They had just one sack and two quarterback hits, but they made Kaepernick uncomfortable in the pocket and they made him run a lot. He ran 13 times for 54 yards, some of them designed runs, but also many scrambles.

What's wrong with the 49ers' defense? The pass rush isn't very good right now. They really miss Aldon Smith. They didn't get a sack against Drew Stanton.

The Cardinals raved about rookie receiver John Brown this summer. They compared him to Marvin Harrison. Now we know why. Brown had two touchdown catches against the 49ers and had four catches for 52 yards. He can fly.

Losing running back Danny Woodhead will really impact the San Diego offense. Woodhead is so valuable in the passing game. With Ryan Mathews out for a month or so, the Chargers are thin at the position. I love Woodhead's toughness. It will be missed.

I love the creativity of Cincinnati offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. In successive weeks, receiver Mohamed Sanu threw passes and Sunday he hit Andy Dalton for a touchdown. Sanu has a heck of an arm and touch. The thing I like about the way Jackson is calling a game is that it's creative yet not crazy. He is cutting down on all the number of throws Dalton is making, yet isn't getting bogged down. I like it. Dalton hasn't been sacked in three games. He did throw an interception against the Titans.

Andy Dalton scores his first TD as a receiver in a win over the Titans.(USATSI)
Andy Dalton scores his first TD as a receiver in a win over the Titans. (USATSI)

What the heck was that pass Jake Locker threw at the end of the half that was picked off in the end zone by Reggie Nelson? That can't happen. Locker was bad for a second consecutive week. That has to be concerning for the Titans coaching staff.

I have to give it to Cleveland quarterback Brian Hoyer. He's been better than I expected. He had a nice game against the Ravens. He went 19 of 25 for 290 yards and a touchdown. That's good enough to win, but the Browns couldn't hold the lead.

Cleveland's run defense is really bad. Why is that? They have good players and coach Mike Pettine is a defensive coach. The Ravens ran for 160 yards to continue a three-game-trend.

What were the Green Bay Packers doing on offense against the Lions? They opened the game by running on five of their first seven first-down plays? Why? Isn't that Aaron Rodgers' offense? Be who you are, not what you think others want you to be. Bad plan.

Julius Peppers looked like the Peppers of old against the Lions. He had one sack, a forced fumble and three quarterback hits. Impressive.

I hated the roughing-the-passer call on the Vikings to keep the Saints' last touchdown drive alive. Yes, Brees was thrown to the ground, but not on his head. Bad call.

Was that the real Carolina Panthers we saw Sunday night or was it the team that opened 2-0? Time will tell, but Pittsburgh dominated them Sunday night. That's not a good sign.