It was a classic demonstration of poise under pressure by one quarterback, and crumbling in the spotlight by another. Just what you'd expect when Russell Wilson faces Tom Brady.
But you'd have lost a lot of money betting on which was which Sunday in Seattle.
Wilson -- after a sterling first quarter and a humbling second and third -- was perfect in the fourth. Brady, meanwhile, could only lead the Pats to one touchdown in six trips to the red zone, threw two second-half interceptions, and failed on two attempts to close out the game in the last seven minutes.
And that gave Wilson -- aided by an absolutely pathetic Patriots secondary, which put in possibly its worst effort of the season -- the opportunity to drive the Seahawks to two touchdowns in the final 9 minutes and 22 seconds, giving Seattle the 24-23 upset over New England.
On his last three drives, Wilson passed for 109 of his 293 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice -- who was all alone behind the New England safeties -- with 1:18 to play for the game-winning TD.
"This," former Patriots defensive standout Ty Law after the game, "has to be the worst secondary in football."
Hard to argue.
New England Patriots
Wilson was unstoppable -- at least by this defense -- in the first quarter. He had four completions of 22 yards or longer, hit 7 of his first 8 attempts for 131 yards, and had Seattle in front, 10-7, after the first 15 minutes.