Best play their best

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, December 27, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO – Coach Mike Holmgren has said it over and over during the past two weeks, so many times that the refrain started to pound in the brain like a bad ’80s song that won’t fade away.

At this time of the year, Holmgren said, the Seahawks’ best players had to play their best games.

That happened Saturday, resulting in renewed hopes of a playoff berth.

The two at the top of the list were outside linebackers Anthony Simmons and Chad Brown, who have been plagued by injuries and other problems this season. Simmons and Brown each had a team-high 10 tackles in Saturday’s 24-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers, and most of the hits came at opportune times.

“Both of us are paid a lot of money to do those things that we did today,” said Brown, who had two sacks and several hurries in the win.

While NFL contracts don’t always get played all the way out, Brown and Simmons are currently scheduled to earn a combined $52 million through the 2007 season. Brown’s foot problems stemming from offseason surgery, and a few missed games by Simmons because of a suspension and an injured neck muscle, left their production below expectations at times.

On Saturday, when the Seahawks needed them most, both outside linebackers earned their pay.

Included among Simmons’s tackles were two at or behind the line of scrimmage, the most important of which came when he dragged down running back Kevan Barlow on a screen pass on third-and-2 during the fourth quarter.

Brown was in on three sacks – one full one and two halves – including two that turned third downs into punting situations.

His foot problems, which caused Brown to miss at least two practice days every week, might not totally be behind him, but the 33-year-old linebacker believes his future is bright.

“As much as I’m looking forward to the playoffs, I’m also looking forward to next year,” Brown said. “I think I was able to give glimpses of what I can still do, but to have a full offseason under my belt without a cast or a boot or any of that, I think I can be a consistently good player.”

Arm on fire: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was another of Seattle’s key players to have a solid game.

Hasselbeck threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns. Along the way, he eclipsed Warren Moon’s six-year-old record for passing yards in a season. Hasselbeck finished the 2003 regular season with 3,841 passing yards.

Road warriors: Seattle ended a six-game road losing streak Saturday, and no one was as relieved as head coach Mike Holmgren.

“Well, our on-the-road streak starts tonight,” he said shortly after the team’s first road win in more than three months.

The Seahawks won their road opener in convincing fashion, blowing out Arizona 38-0 at Sun Devil Stadium in September. Since then, they have found unique ways to lose on the road, dropping six in a row before the win at San Francisco.

“Sometimes you don’t get the breaks; that could happen on the road at times,” defensive end Chike Okeafor said. “Fortunately, (Saturday) we were able to accomplish our goal.”

Gray out 4-6 weeks: The sad note from the victory was that starting right guard Chris Gray suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Floyd Womack replaced him early in the second quarter.

Gray will be out four to six weeks, meaning he will not be available for the postseason.

Womack, who played right tackle in place of Chris Terry the last two weeks, had a solid outing in place of Gray on Saturday.

“I get paid to block,” Womack said. “Wherever they put me at, I just try to produce. My main focus today was just to find a way to win, whatever we had to do.”

Special performance: Receiver Alex Bannister recently made the Pro Bowl as a special teamer, and on Saturday he showed that he could excel as an offensive player as well.

Bannister caught two passes for 53 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown reception. He entered the game with five career catches and just one this season.

“It felt good,” he said. “I’ve been working hard and waiting for my time to come. I just want to help this team win any way I can.”

Bannister practiced with the No. 1 offense all week while Darrell Jackson nursed a sore knee. Jackson played Saturday, catching four passes.

10 and in? The Seahawks won 10 games for the first time since 1986, which usually means a berth in the postseason.

Only two teams – the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers – have won 10 games and failed to make a 12-team postseason.

Incidentally, Seattle’s 1986 team also missed out on the playoffs, which included five teams from each conference.

Second and forever: Seattle’s early offensive problems could be traced to first downs, where the Seahawks gained a total of minus-3 yards on their opening five first downs.

Tight end Itula Mili caught an 11-yard pass on the third drive of the game to end that rut.

Quicks slants: Before the game, the Seahawks placed offensive linemen Jerry Wunsch on injured reserve and added wide receiver Jerheme Urban to the active roster. Wunsch will not be eligible to play in any possible playoff games. … Seattle’s inactives included defensive end Antonio Cochran, cornerback Willie Williams and middle linebackers Orlando Huff and Solomon Bates. … Kerry Carter replaced Maurice Morris as the Seahawks’ kickoff return man. Carter averaged 22.0 yard per return.