Craig Terrill, Rocky Bernard and Grant Wistrom combined for seven of Seattle's nine sacks as the Seahawks posted a 16-0 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Monday.
A second-year NFL player with little mobility, Andrew Walter was dumped seven times in the first half alone when the Raiders totaled just 49 yards.
Terrill, a third-year player who entered with two sacks in 25 career games, had three of the sacks -- all in the first half.
PHOTO: AP
Bernard compiled his two sacks in the first half as well. Both of Wistrom's sacks came in the second half.
The shutout was the first for the Seahawks since a 42-0 win at Philadelphia last December.
It figured it would come against the Raiders, who rank last in the league in offense. Seattle had allowed 28 or more points in its previous five games.
While Walter could not prevent himself from getting wrestled to the ground, Seattle's Seneca Wallace displayed his ability to escape, often dodging pass rushers.
Wallace did most of his damage in the first half when the Seahawks (5-3) scored all but three of their points, completing 14-of-21 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Just 4:21 into the game, Wallace froze second-year cornerback Fabian Washington with a pump-fake before lofting a perfect 22-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline to Deion Branch.
Making his second straight start for injured Matt Hasselbeck [sprained knee ligament], Wallace directed scoring drives on Seattle's next two possessions, resulting in field goals of 20 and 25 yards by Josh Brown.
Brown kicked his third field goal of the game, a 20-yarder with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders (2-6) went three-and-out on their first two possessions, which included sacks by linebacker Julian Peterson and a half-sack each for defensive tackle Chuck Darby and linebacker Lofa Tatupu.
Strahan out
AFP, EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY
The New York Giants will be without their top pass rusher for next Sunday's contest with the Chicago Bears.
The Giants announced on Monday that star defensive end Michael Strahan suffered a sprained foot in Sunday's victory over the Houston Texans and will miss two-to-four weeks.
A 14-year veteran, Strahan has three sacks in eight games this season. He has 132.5 career sacks, tying him for the all-time franchise lead with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.
Berrian injured
AFP, CHICAGO
The Chicago Bears' will have to carry on without their top deep threat Bernard Berrian who will miss up to four weeks of the NFL season with a rib injury.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported on Monday that wide receiver Berrian will suffered the injury in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Berrian, 25, suffered the injury on Chicago's first offensive play of the game. The speedy receiver was tackled by Miami cornerback Andre Goodman after a 10-yard reception and did not return to the game.
Cole Signs Extension
AFP, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
The Philadelphia Eagles signed a five-year contract extension with defensive end Trent Cole on Monday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Cole had over two years left on his original NFL contract. The extension will run through 2013.
The 24-year-old Cole leads the Eagles with 6 1/2 sacks.
The signing comes four days after the Eagles locked up defensive tackle Mike Patterson to a seven-year extension through 2016.
Six Eagles have signed long-term deals in the last five months -- guard Shawn Andrews (through 2015), centre Jamaal Jackson (2013), safety Brian Dawkins (2008) and punter Dirk Johnson (2011).
A fifth-round pick last year, Cole won the starting job at right end midway through his rookie season and finished fourth among rookies with five sacks.
In 23 career games, including 13 starts, Cole has 11 1/2 sacks, 19 quarterback hurries and 99 tackles.
The Eagles (4-4) are tied with Dallas for second place in the NFC East, two games behind the New York Giants.
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