KIRKLAND – Heading into Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, the last time Deion Branch played a game without catching a single pass was way back when his New England Patriots were not even considered a dynasty.

The year was 2002, when Branch was a rookie for the one-time Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Five years and 55 games later — not including the 13 games when he was not in uniform for his respective team — Branch got shut out again. The Buccaneers held him without a catch in Sunday’s game.

“That stuff happens,” Branch said on Monday. “As a receiver, yeah, I would like the ball. But sometimes the defense does certain things that don’t allow certain receivers such as myself to get as many receptions as we wish we could.

“As far as the streak of how many games I had caught a pass in, I didn’t know and I didn’t even care. As long as we won, that’s what’s important.”

Tampa Bay’s Cover-2 system is designed to limit opportunities for the outside receivers, so the Seahawks had to rely on their tight ends, running backs and slot receiver Bobby Engram to do most of the dirty work on Sunday. Branch had just three balls thrown in his direction, and none of them were on target.

“That can happen,” head coach Mike Holmgren said. “It shouldn’t happen. It’s our job to get him the ball. … It’s not him; it’s me.”

Branch certainly wanted to catch some passes, but he’s not the type to go on a Keyshawn Johnson- or Terrell Owens-like rant.

“I’ve never been in a position of saying, ‘I want the ball,’ if we’re winning the game,” Branch said Monday. “I think that’s crazy.”

Holmgren was the one making the demands Monday.

“I must get him the ball,” the coach said. “I don’t want him to have games where he does not touch the ball.”

Fisher adjusts to role: After starting 31 games over his first two seasons as a Seahawk, defensive end Bryce Fisher had to come off the bench on Sunday. And he didn’t look happy about it.

But Fisher said Monday that he is not going to complain about his situation.

“It’s been an adjustment,” he said. “But my focus has always been on being the best player I could be and helping our team as best we can.”

Fisher, who has started 48 games in his seven-year career with Seattle, Buffalo and St. Louis, lost his starting spot to second-year player Darryl Tapp during training camp. He was on the field for only about a dozen plays in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay and was not credited with a single tackle.

“It’s the least playing time I’ve seen in four years,” he said. “I had the opportunity to be part of a rotation. It’s kind of a different role. I’m trying to help out guys as best as I can. And when I get a chance to go out and make a play, I’ve got to go do it.”

Fisher did help make a play when he chased Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia into teammate Patrick Kerney for a third-quarter sack.

Not whistling Dixie: While Holmgren plans to place a call to the NFL to inquire about one of Sunday’s strangest calls, he said he’s not bitter about the way it went down.

The incident happened in the third quarter, when Tampa Bay punter Josh Bidwell took a snap from center but made no attempt to punt the ball. When a trio of Seahawks players arrived to wrap him up, officials blew the play dead. Rather than giving the Seahawks possession of the ball, the officials ruled that the Buccaneers could get a re-kick because Bidwell had heard the sound of a referee-like whistle from the Qwest Field stands.

“I really don’t have a beef,” Holmgren said. “Everyone kind of knew what had happened. I thought it was kind of cool what the ref did.”

Defensive back Jordan Babineaux, who was the first Seahawk to descend upon Bidwell on the play in question, was less forgiving.

“Hell, no, I didn’t hear a whistle,” he said when asked that question Monday. “I didn’t know a punter could make that call.

“The only reason I stopped was because I thought something really happened. I just looked at the ref. I didn’t want to take him to the ground and get anybody hurt.”

In the end, the play did not affect the outcome of Sunday’s game. That, more than anything, may have made it easier for both Babineaux and Holmgren to swallow.

“We were getting the ball back anyway,” Babineaux said. “It didn’t contribute to them getting a first down because of a penalty or anything.”