SEAHAWKS-NO HELP
Seahawks continuing to get little help from their offense
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — To little surprise, Pete Carroll is giving the Seattle Seahawks an extra day of rest this week with a Monday night game coming up.
Seattle’s defense has certainly earned the bonus day off. The same can’t be said of the Seahawks’ offense.
Over the past two weeks, Seattle’s been pushed to the limits defensively. After being on the field for 95 plays and more than 46 minutes a week ago against Arizona, the Seahawks defense was on the field for another 76 plays and more than 36 minutes in Sunday’s 25-20 loss to New Orleans.
While the opponents are doing their part in exhausting Seattle’s defense, one of the major culprits is a struggling Seahawks offense that has one offensive touchdown in the past nine quarters.
The Saints noticed Seattle’s lack of possession and were more than willing to stay patient with their run game in trying to wear down the Seahawks defense. The Saints had a season-high 35 carries for 123 yards rushing.
NOTES: Carroll said DE Michael Bennett’s right knee surgery was postponed from Monday to Wednesday and will take place in Los Angeles. Carroll said the timetable remains two to three weeks that Bennett will be out. … Wilson played Sunday without an ankle brace for the first time since the season opener when he sprained his right ankle. Carroll added that Wilson’s pectoral injury that limited him in practice last week should not linger into this week. … RB Thomas Rawls (shin) won’t play against Buffalo but has started running and should be back in the next few weeks.
T25-WASHINGTON’S ESCAPE
Test against Utah was exactly what No. 4 Washington needed
SEATTLE (AP) — Chris Petersen was awaiting a test for No. 4 Washington different from what it faced earlier in the season with the hype surrounding a home win against Stanford or the history behind its road victory at Oregon.
Playing on the road at No. 16 Utah was really the first true measure of where the Huskies stand. And the manner in which Washington came away with its 31-24 win over the Utes to remain undefeated was probably why Petersen was in such a good mood Monday.
Washington faced the types of challenges it hasn’t seen much in the previous seven games. The Huskies trailed in the second half for the first time all season. Quarterback Jake Browning committed a costly turnover that allowed Utah to get back in the game. The Huskies defense allowed points off a turnover for the first time all season. Utah running back Joe Williams rushed for 172 yards. And there were a number of costly penalties committed by the Huskies.
Yet, Washington found a way to prevail, thanks to Dante Pettis’ 58-yard punt return touchdown with 3:25 left that put the Huskies ahead for good.
Washington (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12) is almost assured of finding itself in the top 4 when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released Tuesday. And the obstacles between the Huskies and the playoff are dwindling, although this week provides a unique test going back on the road to face California.
T25-PRESEASON BKB POLL
Duke runaway No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25; Kentucky is No. 2
UNDATED (AP) — Duke is the runaway No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason college basketball poll.
The Blue Devils, who return three starters from last season’s team and have what is considered one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, received 58 of the 65 first-place votes from the national media panel on Monday.
Kentucky, which had two No. 1 votes, is second with Kansas third. Defending national champion Villanova had four first-place votes and was fourth with Oregon, which had the other No. 1 vote is fifth.
North Carolina, Xavier, Virginia, Wisconsin and Arizona round out the top 10.
Indiana is 11th followed by Michigan State, Louisville, Gonzaga, Purdue, UCLA, Saint Mary’s, Connecticut, Syracuse and West Virginia.
The last five ranked teams are Texas, Creighton, Rhode Island, Iowa State and Maryland.
The ACC and Big Ten are tied with five ranked teams each while the Big 12 has four.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
