Seahawks finally break through to end six-game slide

Seahawks finally break through to end six-game slide
Mare's field goal wins it for Seattle
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER

ST. LOUIS -- Finally.

The Seahawks actually found a way to finish a game Sunday, and their 23-20 victory over the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome went so much deeper than Olindo Mare's game-winning 27-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining.

Related content

· Photo gallery

The Seahawks' third victory this season also featured the resiliency of backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, who was beaten almost into submission by the blitz-crazed Rams defense in the first half but battled back to complete 12 of 17 passes in the second half -- including six in a row on fourth-quarter drives to a tying touchdown and Mare's game winner.

There were the deceptive moves of wide receivers Bobby Engram and Deion Branch, who had 37- and 45-yard receptions to ignite those decisive drives.

There were the emotional sparks provided first by Wallace and then coach Mike Holmgren after a listless first half that saw the Rams jump on top 17-7 and dominate even more than that score indicated.

There was a defensive touchdown -- cornerback Jordan Babineaux's 24-yard return of a fumble forced by defensive end Darryl Tapp -- and enough other plays by the Seahawks' much-maligned defense to force three-and-outs on the Rams' final two possessions.

There was, of course, Mare's strong right leg -- not only the game winner, but also on 50- and 38-yarders to open the second half and help pull the Seahawks back into the game.

And then there were the Rams (2-12), a dysfunctional team that made enough mistakes and blew enough plays to ensure losing their eighth consecutive game this season -- and eighth time in a row to the Seahawks.

"In this league, a win's a win," Holmgren said. "So I'm very happy for the players."

This one was different for the Seahawks, who had lost close decisions to the New England Patriots (three points), Washington Redskins (three points) and Arizona Cardinals (six points) in their past four games because the offense turned the ball over on its final possession -- and the defense could not get off the field on third downs with the game on the line.

"I don't know what to say, it's been so long," Holmgren said after the Seahawks snapped their six-game losing streak.

When this game started, however, it had the look of so many of the Seahawks' other losses on the road this season.

The Rams opened the game with a 77-yard drive that ended with quarterback Marc Bulger passing 31 yards to Torry Holt for a touchdown. They then put together an 18-play, 97-yard drive that consumed 8 1/2 minutes and mercifully ended when Steven Jackson rammed his way into the end zone from 6 yards out.

All of this in a dome that was only two-thirds full, providing what Holmgren called an "eerie" atmosphere.

"I thought we played a poor football game in the first half," Holmgren said, offering an assessment that was evident when the Seahawks had more yards on their first two possessions of the second half (101) than they did in the entire first half (76).

"We were a little bit sleepwalking in the first half. I mean, goodness gracious."

That's when things began to change.

Wallace had to leave the game late in the first half when yet another hit -- this one by 290-pound defensive tackle La'Roi Glover -- knocked the wind out of him. Wallace regained his voice on the sideline and used it to vent at his teammates for their lack of effort in the first half.

That led to Holmgren's emotional tirade in the locker room, and the Seahawks finally got the message.

The Seahawks helped turn down the heat on Wallace in the second half by running more and throwing quicker passes. The Rams gave the Seahawks an assist, as it appeared they tried to sit on their lead -- as evidenced by Jackson getting seven carries for 10 yards in the second half after powering through the Seahawks for 81 yards on 17 carries in the first half.

"They were kind of playing to protect their lead, and that's tough," middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. "That's what it felt like."

Slowly, and eventually surely, the Seahawks clawed back into this one.

Mare's first two field goals pulled them to within 17-13 entering the fourth quarter. After former Seahawk Josh Brown made it 20-13 with a 48-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Wallace began to weave his comeback web.

He completed passes to Koren Robinson (21 yards), Branch (9 and 3) and Engram (37 and 4) on an 80-yard drive the ended with T.J. Duckett just breaking the goal line to tie the score at 20 with 2:47 left.

"We were in a form of Cover 2 and (Engram) just slipped behind everybody," Rams cornerback Ron Bartell said of the biggest play on the drive.

Wallace wasn't done.

It was on the final 60-yard drive to Mare's game winner that Wallace checked to a running play on third-and-4 that led to an 8-yard gain by fullback Leonard Weaver and then found Branch for his 45-yarder.

"They caught us in a blitz and (Branch) got up on our safety and he made a nice catch, and that sealed the game," Bartell said.

And finally, the game-sealing play went the Seahawks' way.

"We just haven't been able to get over the hump," Branch said. "But we finally did."

GAME AT A GLANCE

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Seneca Wallace. In a game in which resiliency was paramount, no one was sturdier than the Seahawks' backup quarterback. Making his second start in his second stint as starter for the sore-backed Matt Hasselbeck, Wallace took a beating in the first half as the Seahawks fell behind 17-7. But it was Wallace's emotional outburst on the sideline just before halftime that helped prompt coach Mike Holmgren's fiery halftime challenge that led to the Seahawks outscoring the Rams 16-3 in the second half. Wallace completed 15 of 25 passes for 226 yards, but was 12 of 17 for 163 yards in the second half while he led the Seahawks to victory for the second time in their 3-11 season.

PLAYS OF THE GAME

Offense: Wallace's 45-yard pass to Deion Branch that set up the game-winning field goal. That should be enough right there, but there was so much more to the play. First, Branch got a read on how the Rams defense was going to play him before the Seahawks called a timeout. Then, Wallace had time to stand in the pocket and allow Branch to get behind free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. Before anyone could say Oshiomogho Atogwe, it was Wallace to Branch for the longest play of the game.

Defense: With the Rams leading 7-0 and in possession of the ball midway through the first quarter, defensive end Darryl Tapp laid a fumbling-forcing hit on Rams running back Kenneth Darby. The ball took one hop before defensive back Jordan Babineaux scooped it and ran 24 yards into the end zone. It was the second touchdown this season for the player his teammates call "Big Play Babs."

Special teams: This one is a no-brainer. Olindo Mare, who was being lauded as the team MVP in the locker room after the game, kicked a 27-yard field goal to win the game with 3 seconds remaining. The strong-legged veteran is 22 of 24 for the season, as he also kicked 50- and 38-yarders to start the second half and pull the Seahawks to within 17-13.

-- Clare Farnsworth
NARROW ESCAPES

In their 32-plus seasons, the Seahawks have won 10 games in regulation with fewer than 10 seconds to play, including Sunday's 23-20 triumph over St. Louis. The Seahawks' notable last-second escapes:
DATE SCORE TIME LEFT WINNING PLAY
Oct. 8, 1978 Seahawks 29, Vikings 28 None Efren Herrera 19-yard field goal
Nov. 11, 1990 Seahawks 17, Chiefs 16 None Paul Skansi 25-yard TD pass from Dave Krieg
Nov. 13, 1988 Seahawks 27, Oilers 24 1 second Norm Johnson 46-yard field goal
Nov. 26, 1978 Seahawks 17, Raiders 16 3 seconds Efren Herrera 46-yard field goal
Sept. 10, 2006 Seahawks 9, Lions 6 3 seconds Josh Brown 42-yard field goal
Dec.14, 2008 Seahawks 23, Rams 20 3 seconds Olindo Mare 27-yard field goal
Oct. 15, 2006 Seahawks 30, Rams 28 4 seconds Josh Brown 54-yard field goal
Oct. 23, 2005 Seahawks 13, Cowboys 10 5 seconds Josh Brown 50-yard field goal
Dec. 3, 2006 Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 5 seconds Josh Brown 50-yard field goal
Nov. 12, 2006 Seahawks 22, Rams 21 9 seconds Josh Brown 38-yard field goal



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/392130_hawk15.html