On back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter of Monday night’s game at Washington, Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin showed why he’s one of the NFL’s most electrifying players in the open field.
However, neither play counted.
First, Harvin, as a halfback, lined up to the right of Russell Wilson, took a handoff and ran off left end for a 16-yard touchdown. But a holding penalty by guard James Carpenter nullified the score.
So Seattle moved 10 yards back and faced 2nd-and-17 at the Washington 26. On this play, Harvin lined up at wideout, and Wilson threw him a screen pass. Harvin did the rest, running down the sideline for another touchdown.
But upon the start of the play, a penalty flag was thrown. After the officiating crew huddled, the call was made — a false start on Harvin.
From here, the Seahawks’ drive stalled, and Seattle would add a 40-yard field to take a 10-0 lead.
All things considered, it was the best possible outcome for Washington, twice saved by penalty. But as Harvin-stopping strategies go, it’s probably not sustainable.
Nor does it figure to work against quarterback Russell Wilson, whose nine-yard TD run gave Seattle a 17-0 with less than five minutes left in the half.
