Playoffs in jeopardy as Seahawks lose crucial game

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, December 9, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

DENVER – The glimmer of hope that has followed the Seattle Seahawks the past few weeks has gone the way of a Puget Sound sunrise. It’s still there, but buried somewhere behind a blanket of gray.

Mathematically, the Seahawks’ 20-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night did not knock them out of the playoff hunt. Seattle (6-6) can still win 10 games this season, which could possibly put them in position for a postseason berth.

But by the looks of Sunday night’s game – a debacle of a performance on national television – the Seahawks look like they’ll watch another round of playoffs from home.

Seattle not only fell out of second place in the AFC West, it also stayed a full game behind the New York Jets in the race for the final wild-card berth. Worse for the Seahawks, they had another pathetic showing on the road and looked nothing like a team that can possibly put four consecutive wins together.

This game brought back frustrating memories of trips to Washington and Kansas City, with the Seahawks coming out flat and never getting into a rhythm.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck saw heavy pressure for most of the evening, and overthrew open receivers even when he had time.

Running backs Shaun Alexander and Ricky Watters seemed to down-stage each other in their battle for the starting spot.

The play at cornerback was so bad that rookie Ken Lucas got benched in the third quarter, while replacement Ike Charlton fared no better.

During one key drive late in the game, the Seahawks came out of the two-minute warning and immediately wasted a timeout before running a play.

When the Seahawks needed their A-game most, they graded out with an F.

“We had our chances, and we didn’t capitalize. That’s been our season,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “We can play good football, and then we can play bad football and dumb football.”

The Broncos passed the ball efficiently all day, even though starting quarterback Brian Griese missed most of the second half due to a concussion and wide receiver Rod Smith was playing on a bad ankle. Defensively, they kept pressure on Hasselbeck and shut down the running game.

“The whole night was frustrating,” said Alexander, who started but gained just 28 yards on 12 carries. “We have to find a way to get into a rhythm early in the game, then hammer them down.”

As has been the cases since Alexander broke out for 266 yards in an ESPN game almost a month ago, the Broncos focused foremost on stopping the run and dared Hasselbeck to beat them.

Hasselbeck had some remarkable throws – including a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Darrell Jackson that accounted for Seattle’s only touchdown – but also struggled at key moments.

In fact, Hasselbeck’s day was a microcosm of the Seattle season. Just when he seemed to turn the corner and start playing well, he would make a baffling throw that was nowhere near its target. On three occasions, Hasselbeck overthrew wide open receivers, including one to Christian Fauria over the middle that should have been a 55-yard touchdown.

“We used to be on the same page, money all the time,” Hasselbeck said, “and it’s not happening right now. It’s totally my fault.”

Actually, Hasselbeck wasn’t totally to blame. The offensive line had its worst performance in at least six games – and perhaps of the season. Hasselbeck was sacked five times and pressured on numerous other occasions. Denver rookie defensive end Reggie Hayward, who entered the game with two career tackles, made 2 1/2sacks on his own.

Hasselbeck completed 17 of 37 passes for 243 yards, including two completions of longer than 30 yards. But he also threw two interceptions, ending his streak of 124 consecutive passes without getting picked off.

The Broncos took advantage of a personal foul against Seattle defensive lineman Chad Eaton on their second drive of the game and eventually scored the game’s first touchdown on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Brian Griese to tight end Desmond Clark.

The Broncos added a field goal on their next drive to take a 10-0 lead, and it looked as if Denver might win the game going away.

But Seattle put together a10-play, 80-yard drive near the end of the first half, and Hasselbeck’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Jackson put them within 10-7 with 1:05 remaining.

In the second half, Denver shut the door. The Broncos got an insurance touchdown midway through the third quarter while Seattle missed on every opportunity to get back in the game.

Denver’s win kept its playoff hopes alive. As for the Seahawks, they’re still breathing, too … but barely.

“We’re just making it harder on ourselves to make the playoffs,” Fauria said. “We seem to do this every year. Winning four times in a row is not the hardest thing in the world. It’s not easy, but we can do it.”

Said Holmgren: “We can do it. We’ve just got to believe a little bit.”

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