Seattle Seahawks: Winners and Losers After Friday's Preseason Clash with Chiefs

Head coach Pete Carroll and his Seahawks remained unbeaten in three preseason games.

Riding the impressive throwing and running abilities of rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, Seattle blew away Kansas City 44-14 for its third preseason win in 2012.

First-year running back Robert Turbin turned in a solid performance, crashing through the line to gain 93 yards on the night.

Seattle's defensive unit contributed one touchdown on Earl Thomas' 75-yard pick into the end zone.  Not to be left out, the punting unit factored in their own seven points on Golden Tate's 92-yard touchdown return.

On the downside, combustive wideout Terrell Owens had a so-so night.  He finally caught his first two passes of the preseason, but dropped one very catchable ball.

Seattle's No. 1 draft pick Bruce Irvin continues to struggle and failed to record a tackle or sack.

The upcoming cuts this week means that head coach Pete Carroll must get rid of 15 players to hit the league mandated 75-man limit.  With tonight's blowout, Seattle is clicking on all offensive, defensive and special teams cylinders.

Carroll will face some tough decisions and could lose several talented players.

Winner: Quarterback Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson made the most of his opportunity to start behind center for the first time in his professional career. 

The rookie quarterback led the Seahawks to six straight scores.  Seattle scored on every possession in the first half.  Wilson threw two touchdowns by completing 13 passes on 19 attempts for 185 yards. His completions were spread around to seven different receivers.

The ex-Wisconsin Badger showcased his running ability by running for 58 yards that included a highlight reel 31-yard scramble in the second quarter.

Wide receiver Sidney Rice praised Wilson and his work ethic. 

"He's a great young quarterback," Rice said while being interviewed on KIRO TV, the local Seattle station broadcasting the game.  "He's a guy that studies a lot. Very smart, intelligent quarterback. He wants to win."

In his post-game comments, Russell attributed his fine outing to preparation.

"I definitely thought I was ready to go," Wilson said during the same broadcast. "I believe when you're prepared you're never nervous.  That's the way I've always been."

Loser: Wide Receiver Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens struggled to record his first catch as a Seahawk.  He finally hauled in his first pass with an impressive over-the-shoulder 40-yard catch in the third quarter. Owens finished the night with two grabs for 41 yards.

The evening started off in a disappointing manner.  Russell Wilson's first pass to Owens was deflected by a Kansas City defensive back as it neared the receiver's arms. 

On the second pass thrown to him, Owens dropped a catchable ball slightly behind him.  The play was called back because of a roughing-the-passer penalty on the Chiefs.

The veteran receiver is fighting for one of the last receiving slots on the 53-man roster.  He showed his athleticism with his first catch, but it may not be enough to extend his stay in Seattle.

Winner: Running Back Robert Turbin

Rookie running back Robert Turbin solidified his spot as Marshawn Lynch's backup. 

The 5'10", 222-pound runner gained 93 yards on 14 carries.  He averaged more than six yards per carry. 

Turbin and Lynch give Pete Carroll multiple options that complement Russell Wilson's throwing and running skills.

With Turbin's power, durability and athleticism, Lynch may get more rest than he anticipates. 

Loser: Defensive End Bruce Irvin

For the second straight game, Seattle's first round draft pick failed to register a mention on the stats sheet.

Bruce Irvin, the 15th overall pick from West Virginia, must be worried about his performance to date.  Another rookie defensive end, Cordarro Law, managed to record a solo tackle and a sack in the Kansas City matchup. 

The Seahawks have to be concerned about Irvin's lack of production.

Winner: Linebacker Bobby Wagner

Rookie linebacker Bobby Wagner started the game with the No. 1 defensive unit.  He was credited with two solo tackles.  It's an improvement on the one solo tackle he recorded the previous week against the Denver Broncos.

Wagner and his defensive partners kept the Chiefs in check by holding them to one touchdown through three quarters of play.

The former Utah State linebacker has been described as a "sleeper."  If anything, he's raised his visibility to the point that no one will overlook Seattle's second round draft pick.

Winners: Seattle's Defensive Unit

The one's and two's gave up one lone touchdown against Kansas City's primary offense team  through three quarters of play.

Seattle's defense played as one cohesive unit that pressured Kansas City's quarterbacks, won the battles in the trenches and held the Chief receivers in check.

Defensive back Earl Thomas' 75-yard interception return for a touchdown capped an impressive night for what's considered to be the team's strongest asset.

Seattle held the Chiefs to 201 total yards that included 43 yards on the ground and 158 through the air heading into the fourth quarter.  Through three preseason games, five different players have intercepted a combined total of five passes.