KIRKLAND — It was the kind of play during which Matt Hasselbeck needed someone to read his mind.
On a key third-and-10 in the fourth quarter of a game against Cincinnati, the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback found both of his receivers in double coverage and had to scramble around to buy some time. As he rolled to the right, he knew the only chance for success was for wideout Deion Branch to make a hard cut back toward the middle of the field.
And just as the thought crossed Hasselbeck’s mind, the 28-year-old wide receiver did just that.
“We were on the same page, and it was a huge play for us,” said Hasselbeck, who completed a nine-yard pass to Branch with 1:41 remaining to help set up Nate Burleson’s game-winning touchdown. “A play like that never happens in practice here; we don’t scramble. He had seen the play run a few times and did a great job, really did a nice job.”
After spending most of last season trying to find that symmetry that only comes with months — sometimes years — of playing together, Hasselbeck and Branch are finally on the same page. If the play in the Cincinnati game didn’t serve as an obvious example, then maybe Branch’s recent statistics will.
The former New England Patriot has been among the most productive receivers in the league over the past three weeks, catching 20 passes for 329 yards. He’s emerged as not only Seattle’s big-play receiver, but also as the Seahawks’ go-to receiver.
“We’re getting (the ball) to him, and that all is working out well,” coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday.
Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said that the chemistry between Hasselbeck and Branch is still a work in progress, but added that “it’s getting there.”
“When the balls are a little bit off, (Branch) is making the catch,” Haskell said. “And he’s making the big play too.”
Branch has caught four passes of 30 yards or more during the past three weeks alone, including a 42-yard touchdown and a season-long 65-yard reception to set up another score.
He has more than made up for a disappointing opener that saw his streak of 55 consecutive games with a reception snapped. For each of the three games since that win over Tampa Bay, Branch has been the Seahawks’ leading receiver. Only eight receivers in the NFL have caught more passes in the three-week span.
Asked why Branch has been so productive lately, Hasselbeck provided one theory.
“I think the first week of the season coach Holmgren didn’t have him on his fantasy team,” the quarterback quipped. “And then he was able to trade for him, and it really changed everything.”
Branch wasn’t making a big issue out of his reception-less game in the opener, and he’s just as unaffected by the recent success.
“We did a lot of work in the offseason, and now it’s starting to pay off,” he said, referring to the countless hours of work he put in with Hasselbeck and fellow receiver Nate Burleson at the team’s practice complex. “But there will always be room for improvement, no matter what we’re doing.”
That was evident after Wednesday’s practice, when Hasselbeck and Branch spent a few extra minutes going over a routine pass route in search of perfection.
“We make mistakes from time to time, or we miss each other from time to time, but he’s doing a great job,” Hasselbeck said. “And I’ve said before (that) I think the reason we’re having so much progress — the wide receiver and quarterback group — is because those guys haven’t missed any practices.
“Going back to the minicamps, and training camps, not one of those guys has missed a practice. That’s huge in terms of getting time on the field. It’s not a situation where they’re sitting in the training room and then trying to play on Sunday.”
Since coming to Seattle 13 months ago in exchange for a first-round pick, Branch has put in the time. And now the $39 million receiver is starting to reap his just rewards on the field.
“Isn’t it nice to coach guys like that?” Haskell said. “It makes it so much easier for me.
“He’s doing great. He’s made a lot of tough catches for us, and that really makes it easy for the quarterback.”
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