SEATTLE — Through little fault of his own, Patrick Kerney’s Sunday afternoon got off to a horrible start.
The Seattle Seahawks’ defensive end drove toward the inside of Chicago’s offensive line on the second play of the game, and Bears running back Cedric Benson popped right by him for a 43-yard touchdown.
Kerney didn’t get the help he expected on that play, and a few minutes later the Seahawks found themselves in a 10-0 hole.
Kerney and the defense might not have gotten off to a perfect start Sunday afternoon, but they sure know how to close. Led by Kerney’s three fourth-quarter sacks, the Seahawks pulled away for a 30-23 victory over the defending NFC champions.
“It was his day,” linebacker Julian Peterson said. “Pat had one-on-ones, so it was his opportunity to make plays.”
Kerney did just that — in bunches. His three sacks came within a four-minute span, over the course of nine Bears plays.
Kerney chased down Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman and chopped the ball out of his hand for a fumble that was recovered by Seahawks lineman Darryl Tapp near midfield. On Chicago’s next drive, Kerney wrapped up Grossman for another sack on first down. The Bears’ final drive started with a five-yard Kerney sack.
“Our offense did a great job of giving us a lead,” Kerney said. “That allows us to do that, and it makes our job a lot easier. Our (pass) coverage got better and better as the game went on.”
Kerney matched his career high with three sacks while becoming the latest Seahawks defender to record that many in a game this year. Peterson had three sacks against San Francisco on Sept. 30, while Tapp had a four-sack game against the Rams three weeks later.
Only six Seahawks players have had three or more sacks in a game since 1997, and three have come this season.
“It’s just great to be a part of that rotation,” Kerney said. “Julian and Darryl having good games, that’s certainly helped out in terms of (offenses) rotating over (to block them).”
Seattle’s pass rush has been a big part of the team’s success — and lack of success — this season. When it was pointed out to him that his team tends to win when it gets more sacks, the veteran defensive end rattled off the statistics without much prompting.
“Twenty-eight sacks when we win,” he said, “and three when we lose. … I’ve heard (the statistic) once or twice.”
Added Tapp: “When we put pressure on the quarterback, good things happen to our team.”
All five of Seattle’s Sunday sacks came in the second half. The Seahawks now have 31 on the season, which is good for second in the NFL.
But they’ve certainly come in bunches, with five or more in each of the wins over Tampa Bay, San Francisco, St. Louis and Chicago, as compared to a total of three in their four losses.
The Seahawks are capable of getting to the quarterback in spurts. It’s just never certain which Seahawk will be doing most of the damage.
“Any given Sunday,” Tapp said. “Kerney told me when I had my big day that it comes in bunches.”
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