Seahawks, Wilson pull off late victory over Patriots

• Wilson tossed a game-winning 46-yard touchdown with 1:27 left, his third touchdown of the game
• Through the first five games of the season, the Patriots averaged 165.4 rushing yards
• Tom Brady finished with season highs in completions (36), attempts (58), yards (395) - and interceptions (two)

SEATTLE -- He'd just played a key role in limiting Tom Brady and a potent New England Patriots offense, but all Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman cared to discuss following Sunday's 24-23 win at CenturyLink Field was rookie Russell Wilson.

"You're seeing his growth," Sherman said. "You're seeing what makes him such a great athlete, what makes him such a great player, why our team went after him and why he's our starting quarterback."

If there was any uncertainty before, can there be now?

Not after Wilson tossed a game-winning 46-yard touchdown to wide receiver Sidney Rice with 1:27 left, his third touchdown pass of the game. Not after completing 16 of 27 passes for a career-best 293 yards, without an interception. And not after guiding the Seahawks, now 4-2, back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

"Today is one of those days where we just didn't do enough things well enough," New England coach Bill Belichick said.

While one controversial finish can be disputed, Wilson has guided two fourth-quarter comebacks against two teams with quarterbacks - Brady and Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers - whose credentials can't be questioned.

"Not a lot of people can do that - and he did it with confidence and execution," Sherman said.

Which is why there was a palpable sense of elation in the winner's locker room.

"It's a big deal because of how we won," Seattle fullback Michael Robinson said. "We were down until like the last two minutes of the game. Guys in the locker room were saying, 'The last two years, we might not have won that game.' It's like our mindset is different.

"We've matured a little bit. We understand the game is four quarters."

Wilson seemingly is at his best in the fourth quarter.

"He's a good player," New England safety Tavon Wilson said. "He made more plays than we did."

As he tends to do, Wilson credited everyone else in victory, insisting what he did Sunday and what he's done thus far is simple.

"Just be decisive with the ball," he said.

Already a top-ranked defense, Seattle appears dangerous - especially if it were to secure home-field advantage, if the offense manages to be productive.

And if Wilson can continue to perform at this level?

Sherman shook his head at the thought.

"The ball was in his hands and he led us to victory," he said. "I never had a doubt."

Added Robinson: "That's why we have him. That's why he's been such a great addition for us."

An addition, meaning Wilson doesn't have to do it all. The defense remains the team's backbone.

"They're a good defense, no doubt about it," Brady said.

In their first five games of the season, the Patriots averaged 165.4 rushing yards. Against Seattle, the sum was 87.

Brady finished with season highs in completions (36), attempts (58), yards (395) - and interceptions (2). But making the Patriots one-dimensional wasn't necessarily Sunday's mandate.

Sherman said that's how it is all of the time.

"We're always great against the run," he said. "We just play sound football."

Which was also the approach early in the fourth quarter. The offense was in a lull - Seattle managed just 25 yards in the third quarter - and the defense kept finding itself on the field. It's not an enviable spot to be in - down 10 points and trying to take the ball back from Brady.

Robinson knows. When he was with the San Francisco 49ers, he recalled being in similar spots against Peyton Manning. Only then, though, his team never got the ball back. And lost.

Now, the defense forces punts late, regaining possession for an offense that believes.

"We're always in the game," Sherman said. "We trust our offense."

Faith can be powerful. The Seahawks probably can't wait until Thursday, when they go on the road to face the 49ers. The defending NFC West champs are likely smarting from a 26-3 pasting by the New York Giants, and a Seattle victory would yield a two-game lead in the division.

Just know it won't be a blowout. The Seahawks have lost their two games this season by a total of 10 points. And have won four games by a total of 27, which is skewed by a 20-point drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys.