The Seattle Seahawks have produced a strong first-half display to take a 16-0 lead into the break of their divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.
Seattle's opening drive was slow and not too successful, but they managed to get into field goal range with Steven Hauschka successful from 38 yards to put the first points on the board.
The Saints had a chance of their own with a 45-yard kick with five to play in the first quarter, but Shayne Graham turned it wide in the windy conditions at CenturyLink Field.
Another slow drive for the Seahawks ended with the consolation prize, as with just 37 seconds on the clock Hauschka put his second attempt through the sticks for a 6-0 first-quarter lead.
It did not take long in the second quarter for the first touchdown and it went the way of the hosts. On second and one, Marshawn Lynch found a gap in the Saints defense to drive a 15-yard run through the middle, with the extra point good for 13-0.
The visitors offense could not get any chance from the Seahawks and after another couple of drives went by, Hauschka managed his third field goal with just over a minute of the half left to consolidate a dominant first two quarters.
Matt Domm
