1989: Broncos Rally to Force Overtime, Defeat Seahawks

The Denver Broncos had a 5-1 record as they met the Seattle Seahawks on October 22, 1989. In their ninth season under Head Coach Dan Reeves, the key to the offense remained QB John Elway (pictured at right), and rookie RB Bobby Humphrey was giving a lift to the ground game. However, it was the revamped defense that was most responsible for the club’s success in the early going.

Seattle was 3-3 and coming off a narrow win the previous week. Under Head Coach Chuck Knox, the Seahawks had operated with a conservative, ground-oriented offense, and that was still the case with RB Curt Warner and FB John L. Williams. QB Dave Krieg was capable, and while WR Steve Largent was in the twilight of his great career, WR Brian Blades was emerging as a star in his second year.

There were 62,353 fans in attendance at the Kingdome. The Broncos started off with a short series and punted. The Seahawks, taking possession at their 35, drove 65 yards in 11 plays. A key play came in converting a fourth-and-one situation at the Denver 45 as Curt Warner took off for a 21-yard gain. Facing third-and-four at the 18, Dave Krieg scrambled and threw to WR Paul Skansi for 17 yards. A run by Warner lost yardage, but John L. Williams ran around left end for a four-yard touchdown. Norm Johnson added the extra point to give the home team a 7-0 advantage.

The teams exchanged punts and a 21-yard kick by Mike Horan of the Broncos gave the Seahawks the ball at the Denver 43. Seattle was unable to take advantage, however, as Warner fumbled two plays later and SS Dennis Smith recovered for the Broncos.

The Seahawks had possession at the end of the opening period and drove 55 yards in eight plays. Krieg completed a pass to Warner for 24 yards and followed up with a toss to Brian Blades for 15 yards to the Denver five. Three plays later, Krieg connected with Williams for a five-yard TD. Johnson again converted and Seattle had a 14-0 lead.

The Broncos had to punt following their next series and Seattle drove into Denver territory. Warner (pictured below) and Williams ran effectively and Krieg passed to WR Louis Clark for 20 yards. The drive stalled at the Denver 18 and the Seahawks came up empty when Johnson’s 36-yard field goal attempt had to be aborted due to a bad snap that hit the holder, QB Jeff Kemp. That was the closest that either team came to scoring during the remainder of the first half and the score remained unchanged heading into the third quarter. Denver had managed just three first downs and 13 rushing yards in the first 30 minutes.

The Seahawks had the first series of the second half and punted. The Broncos put together a drive that was helped along by a 43-yard pass play from John Elway to WR Michael Young that was originally ruled out of bounds but was overturned upon replay review. However, the Broncos also failed to score when, after a short running play, Elway threw an incomplete pass and then was sacked by NT Joe Nash. David Treadwell attempted a 46-yard field goal that sailed wide to the left.

Denver got the ball back three plays later when a Krieg pass was intercepted by CB Tyrone Braxton, who returned it 19 yards to the Seattle 27. Elway threw to WR Mark Jackson for 13 yards and Bobby Humphrey took a pitchout and ran for 12. Facing second-and-goal from the one, and with the home crowd creating a deafening roar, two runs into the line were stopped but, facing fourth down, Humphrey ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Treadwell added the extra point and Seattle’s lead was trimmed to 14-7.

As the game headed into the fourth quarter, and following a punt by the Seahawks, Elway promptly threw long to Jackson for a gain of 49 yards to the Seattle 10. Three plays later, and scrambling away from defenders, Elway connected with TE Clarence Kay for a two-yard TD and, with Treadwell’s kick, the game was tied at 14-14.

Williams fumbled for Seattle on the next series and Dennis Smith recovered for Denver at the Seahawks’ 40. The Broncos weren’t able to advance more than seven yards and punted. Seattle had to punt in turn but Elway fumbled the snap on first down and LB Darren Comeaux recovered for the Seahawks at the Denver 35. Three plays later, Krieg threw to Skansi for a 24-yard touchdown and, with Johnson’s extra point, the home team was back in front by 21-14.

Regaining possession with 5:22 to play in regulation, the Broncos went three-and-out on their next series and punted. The Seahawks were unable to maintain possession and punted it back. With the clock now down to 2:31, Elway rolled to his left and fired a long pass to WR Vance Johnson that went the distance for a 54-yard TD. Treadwell again converted to tie the score once again at 21-21.

It looked as though the Broncos would pull the game out in regulation when, after getting the ball back following a punt by the Seahawks, Elway threw to WR Michael Young for a 47-yard gain to the Seattle nine. But Treadwell was wide on a 27-yard field goal attempt with 19 seconds remaining and the game went into overtime.

Seattle had the ball first and converted two third downs on the way to reaching the Denver 22, but Johnson’s 40-yard field goal try sailed to the left and was unsuccessful. The Broncos had to punt following their series but Krieg’s first down pass was intercepted by Smith and returned 28 yards to the Seattle 10. Treadwell immediately took the field and kicked a 27-yard field goal to give Denver a 24-21 win with 7:14 left in the extra period.

The Broncos had the edge in total yards (371 to 363) although Seattle had more first downs (23 to 15) and dominated time of possession (40:21 to 27:25). The Seahawks also recorded four sacks, to two for Denver. But Seattle turned the ball over four times, to one suffered by the Broncos, although Denver was hurt by 13 penalties, at a cost of 84 yards, to four flags thrown on the Seahawks. Both teams suffered failures on special teams that could have made the difference in the outcome, with David Treadwell missing three of four field goal attempts and Norm Johnson failing on one and having another aborted due to a bad snap.

John Elway completed 18 of 35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns with none intercepted. Mike Young had 6 catches for 137 yards while Mark Jackson and Vance Johnson contributed three apiece, for 74 and 67 yards, respectively, and Johnson scored a TD. The running game was kept in check as Bobby Humphrey gained just 50 yards on 17 carries that included a score.

For the Seahawks, Dave Krieg was successful on 22 of 38 throws for 237 yards and two TDs, but with two interceptions. Curt Warner (pictured at left) ran for 74 yards on 22 attempts and John L. Williams contributed 62 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown while also catching five passes for 28 yards and another score. Brian Blades had 6 pass receptions for 61 yards and Paul Skansi gained 81 yards on five catches that included a score.

The win put Denver three games in the lead in the AFC West and the Broncos remained on top as they coasted to an 11-5 record. They won the AFC Championship before being humiliated by the 49ers in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks won their next game but then dropped four straight on the way to a 7-9 tally and fourth place in the division. It was Seattle’s first losing record in seven seasons under Coach Knox.

“I’m very relieved and very thankful my teammates stayed behind me and gave me another opportunity,” said David Treadwell (pictured at right). “I felt like I let everyone down after the miss (the 27-yard attempt that could have won the game in regulation). I still don’t know what happened.”

Things got better for Treadwell, the first-year placekicker who had hit on 12 of 13 field goal attempts coming into the game at Seattle, as he ended up missing only six field goals all year. He connected on 27 of 33 attempts and was chosen to the Pro Bowl. The 27 field goals led the AFC , as did his 120 points.

1992: Late Elway TD Passes Propel Broncos Past Chiefs

Two AFC Western Division rivals, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, had 3-1 records as they met in Denver on October 4, 1992. The Broncos had won nine consecutive home games against Kansas City and hoped to keep the string going.

Denver was coached by Dan Reeves for the 12^th year and had reached the AFC Championship game in ’91. As he had been for the past decade, QB John Elway (pictured above) was the key to the offense and he had a good group of receivers. The defense was strong at linebacker, led by the aging but effective ILB Karl Mecklenburg, and at safety with FS Steve Atwater and SS Dennis Smith. The Chiefs, under Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, featured a conservative, ball-control offense operated by QB Dave Krieg and a solid defense with noteworthy performers in DE Neil Smith and OLB Derrick Thomas.

There were 75,629 fans in attendance at Mile High Stadium on a sunny afternoon. The teams exchanged punts through a scoreless first quarter. The Chiefs were deep in their own territory at the end of the period but put together a 94-yard drive in eight plays that concluded with Dave Krieg throwing to WR Willie Davis for a 50-yard touchdown. Nick Lowery added the extra point and the visitors held a 7-0 lead.

The Broncos responded with a long scoring drive of 60 yards that took 12 plays. Starting from their 17, RB Gaston Green ran for 11 yards and John Elway threw to WR Mark Jackson (pictured below) for another 12. Three plays later, facing a third-and-five situation, Elway connected with TE Shannon Sharpe for eight yards to keep the series going and another pass to Sharpe gained an additional 14 yards to the Kansas City 33. After a loss, Elway lateraled to RB Reggie Rivers for a pickup of 17 yards. The drive finally stalled at the KC 23 and David Treadwell kicked a 41-yard field goal.

The teams again traded punts. The Chiefs, regaining possession at their 22 with 1:25 left in the first half, moved methodically down the field and were significantly helped along by a 34-yard pass interference penalty. Lowery booted a 44-yard field goal on the final play before halftime to extend Kansas City’s lead to 10-3.

The Chiefs had the first possession of the third quarter and advanced 62 yards in seven plays. Krieg passed to RB Barry Word for a gain of 23 yards and twice to WR J.J. Birden for 19 and 17 yards. Lowery again finished the drive off with a field goal, this time from 36 yards for a 13-3 tally.

Denver went 75 yards in eight plays on its next possession, with Elway completing throws to WR Arthur Marshall for 21 yards and TE Reggie Johnson for 48 yards to the KC 11. The Broncos still couldn’t penetrate the end zone but came away with a 22-yard Treadwell field goal to narrow Kansas City’s lead to 13-6.

The Chiefs again drove into Denver territory as Krieg completed four passes, the longest to Birden covering 19 yards. Facing third-and-ten at the Broncos’ 26, Krieg was sacked by Karl Mecklenburg, thus setting up a long field goal attempt of 49 yards by Lowery that sailed wide to the right.

Getting the ball back with 1:15 remaining in the period, the Broncos immediately moved into scoring territory when Elway passed to Sharpe for a gain of 48 yards to the Kansas City 21. Elway was sacked on the next play by Neil Smith for a loss of nine yards but the Broncos were down to the 19 to start the fourth quarter. Treadwell attempted a 37-yard field goal that was unsuccessful, but the Chiefs were penalized for running into the kicker and it meant another try from five yards closer. This time the kick was blocked by DT Dan Saleaumua.

Kansas City proceeded to put together a 13-play, 60-yard drive that not only led to more points but used up 8:23 off the clock. The Chiefs converted a fourth down and a third down along the way and Lowery kicked a 26-yard field goal to put them ahead by ten points at 16-6 with 6:16 left in regulation.

It got worse for the Broncos on their first play from scrimmage following the kickoff when Elway fumbled while being sacked by Smith, and the defensive end recovered at the Denver 16. Lowery booted a 33-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, shortly thereafter and the visitors were now ahead by 19-6 with the clock down to five minutes remaining. Many of the home fans began to head for the exits.

Elway filled the air with passes on the next series that started from the Denver 20. Eight of them were complete as the drive covered 80 yards in 14 plays, with three of them caught by Jackson. That included the last one that he grabbed in the corner of the end zone and covered 25 yards for a touchdown. Treadwell added the point after and the Broncos were now down by six points at 19-13 with the clock showing less than two minutes to play.

With Denver using two timeouts, the Chiefs ran the ball three times from their five yard line following a short kickoff return and punted. Arthur Marshall came through with a big return of 28 yards to give the Broncos excellent field position at the KC 27. Elway threw to Marshall twice, for 11 and four yards, and then connected with WR Vance Johnson for a 12-yard TD. Treadwell added the all-important extra point and Denver had its first lead of the day with 38 seconds to go. The Chiefs had one last chance but, after reaching midfield, a fourth down pass that came up short effectively ended the game and the Broncos won in dramatic fashion by a final score of 20-19.    

The Chiefs had the edge in total yards (369 to 347) and time of possession (32:24 to 27:36), but were hurt by their inability to score more than one touchdown and thus settling for four field goals. Each team accumulated 20 first downs. Kansas City also accounted for five sacks, to three by the Broncos, and Denver suffered the game’s only turnover.

John Elway completed 23 of 38 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. Shannon Sharpe had 9 catches for 118 yards while Mark Jackson contributed five receptions for 59 yards and a TD. Reggie Rivers was Denver’s leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries and Gaston Green gained 23 yards on his nine attempts.

For the Chiefs, Dave Krieg was successful on 22 of 31 throws for 301 yards and a TD while also not giving up any interceptions. Willie Davis (pictured below) caught 5 passes for 127 yards and the club’s only touchdown. Barry Word ran for 84 yards on 21 carries.

“There’s more to that football team than John Elway, like that defense that kept us without a first down before their final possession,” said Kansas City’s Coach Schottenheimer of the Broncos.

Denver lost badly the next week but then won three of four and had a 7-3 record before losing Elway for four games, all of which were losses. The Broncos finished at 8-8 and third in the AFC West. The Chiefs were ahead of them in second with a 10-6 tally, ending the regular season by pummeling Denver at home. Kansas City qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card and lost to San Diego in the first round.

1988: Bengals Dominate First Half, Defeat Seahawks in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The Cincinnati Bengals were the top-seeded team in the AFC as they hosted the Seattle Seahawks in a Divisional Playoff game on December 31, 1988. The Bengals were 4-11 in 1987 but climbed to the top of the AFC Central with a 12-4 record in ’88. Head Coach Sam Wyche’s team operated a high-powered offense that was the league’s most productive and was directed by QB Boomer Esiason, who received multiple MVP honors but struggled with a sore shoulder late in the season. The running game topped the NFL and featured veteran RB James Brooks plus unheralded rookie FB Ickey Woods (pictured above), who entertained fans with the “Ickey Shuffle” after each of his 15 touchdowns. The defense was less heralded, utilizing a 3-4 alignment anchored by All-Pro NT Tim Krumrie.

Seattle, coached by Chuck Knox, topped the AFC West with a 9-7 record, which reflected the team’s inconsistency. QB Dave Krieg missed time with a shoulder separation and 34-year-old WR Steve Largent had injury problems that limited his effectiveness. The Seahawks were better at running the ball with RB Curt Warner and FB John L. Williams, but the team was typically outgained by its opponents as the defense ranked 24^th in the NFL.

It was a cold and cloudy late afternoon at Riverfront Stadium, where the Bengals had not lost all season, with 58,560 fans in attendance. Cincinnati had the game’s first possession and went 85 yards in 11 plays. Boomer Esiason completed passes to WR Cris Collinsworth for 30 yards and WR Eddie Brown for 23 and Ickey Woods ran effectively. FB Stanley Wilson ran gained the last three yards for a touchdown and Jim Breech added the extra point.

The teams traded punts before a long pass by Dave Krieg was intercepted by CB Eric Thomas. In a series that extended into the second quarter, the Bengals drove 75 yards in 10 plays. Esiason started off with a pass to TE Rodney Holman for 11 yards and James Brooks (pictured below) followed up with a 26-yard run to the Seattle 38. Woods and Brooks ran the ball to the 15, Esiason again connected with Holman for a gain of nine, and two plays later, Wilson ran for another three-yard TD. Breech converted to make the score 14-0.

A short series by the Seahawks that ended with a punt was followed by a five-play, 56-yard Cincinnati possession. Woods took off for 30 yards on the first play, Brooks had a 17-yard carry, and Wilson gained eight to reach the Seattle one. Two plays later, it was Woods reaching the end zone and Breech’s PAT had the Bengals up by a comfortable 21-0 score, and that remained the tally at halftime. Cincinnati had dominated on the ground, rolling up 165 rushing yards in the first thirty minutes, to none for Seattle.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter. Seattle finally put together a promising drive as Krieg completed passes to WR Brian Blades for 13 yards and John L. Williams for 24. A sack by LB Reggie Williams had the Seahawks facing a third-and-21 situation at the Cincinnati 45, but a pass interference penalty erased the deficit and advanced the ball to the 21. Krieg passed the Seahawks to the three, but a fourth-and-two throw was broken up in the end zone by CB Rickey Dixon and the visitors came up empty.

The Bengals responded with a long drive of 95 yards with Woods and Brooks largely carrying the load. Esiason completed three passes, the first to Holman for 24 yards and the last to Brooks for nine yards to set up a fourth-and-two situation at the Seattle three. Woods came up short on the next play and the Seahawks had the ball back on downs, but at their own two with the period almost over.

Two plays into the fourth quarter, a Krieg pass was intercepted to give the Bengals the ball at their own 40, but two plays after that Esiason fumbled while being sacked and NT Joe Nash recovered for Seattle. Krieg threw to Blades for 17 yards and TE John Spagnola for seven to reach the Cincinnati seven, and three plays later the Seahawks finally got on the board on a seven-yard pass to Williams. Norm Johnson added the point after.

A three-and-out series by the Bengals resulted in a punt and the Seahawks drove 69 yards in nine plays. Krieg connected with WR Paul Skansi for 11 yards in a third-and-ten situation and a completion to WR Ray Butler for 32 yards advanced the ball to the Cincinnati 12. Three plays later, Krieg kept the ball himself for a one-yard TD, but, critically, Johnson missed the extra point and Seattle remained behind by eight points with just under six minutes to play.

Another short Cincinnati series resulted in a punt, but this time the Seahawks were unable to move the ball as Krieg threw three incomplete passes and the visitors punted as well. With the help of a 20-yard run by Woods, the Bengals reached the Seattle 44 on their next series before punting and pinning the Seahawks back at their two yard line with 2:40 remaining on the clock. Krieg was able to complete four passes, but not his last three as the drive – and Seattle’s season – ended at the Cincinnati 44. The Bengals won by a final score of 21-13.

Cincinnati had the lead in total yards (345 to 294), with 254 yards of that total coming on the ground as opposed to just 18 rushing yards for the Seahawks. The Bengals also had the edge in first downs (22 to 19) and time of possession (35:19 to 24:41). Seattle turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by Cincinnati.

Ickey Woods gained 126 yards on 23 rushing attempts that included a touchdown and James Brooks added 72 yards on 13 carries. Stanley Wilson contributed 45 yards on 7 rushes that included the two short TDs. Boomer Esiason completed just 7 of 19 passes for 108 yards and no TDs but also gave up no interceptions. Rodney Holman was the only Cincinnati receiver with more than one catch, pulling in three passes for 44 yards.

For the Seahawks, Dave Krieg was successful on 24 of 50 throws for 297 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted twice. John L. Williams (pictured at left), who gained just 10 rushing yards on 7 attempts, caught 11 passes for 137 yards and a TD. Brian Blades contributed 5 catches for 78 yards. Curt Warner was held to 11 yards on 8 carries.

“They (the Bengals) did a good job the first half, we didn’t, and that’s where we lost the game,” summed up Dave Krieg for the Seahawks.

The Bengals won again the next week as they defeated Buffalo for the AFC Championship, but then lost a closely-contested Super Bowl to the 49ers. Seattle dropped to 7-9 in 1989 and didn’t return to the postseason until 1999.

The loss to Cincinnati also was Chuck Knox’s last postseason coaching appearance. His teams (the Rams and Bills in addition to the Seahawks) reached the playoffs a total of eleven times, compiling a 7-11 record (3-4 with Seattle).   

1983: Seahawks Overcome Chiefs in OT to Win Wild Shootout

The Seattle Seahawks were at 6-6 and fighting to remain in contention for a playoff spot as they hosted the Kansas City Chiefs on November 27, 1983. In their first season under Head Coach Chuck Knox, there was a star on offense in rookie RB Curt Warner (pictured above), which was a help to inexperienced QB Dave Krieg, who took the place of long-time starting QB Jim Zorn. WR Steve Largent provided a steady veteran target for Krieg’s passes. The defense had some excellent players in FS Ken Easley and DE Jacob Green, but by and large the unit was not a strong one and gave up too many points.

The Chiefs, who had not been to the postseason in twelve years, also had a new head coach in John Mackovic. The result had seen Kansas City become a pass-oriented club with QB Bill Kenney throwing to a group of wide receivers led by Carlos Carson. However, the tragic drowning death of RB Joe Delaney just prior to training camp left a void in the ground attack. The Chiefs were struggling at 5-7.

Attendance at Seattle’s Kingdome was 56,793. The Chiefs had the game’s first possession and drove 80 yards in nine plays. RB Theotis Brown ran effectively to start things off and RB Ken Thomas took a pitchout and gained 28 yards down the right sideline to the Seattle 33. Three plays netted another six yards before WR Carlos Carson ran for 18 yards on a reverse and, two plays after that, Bill Kenney passed to WR Henry Marshall for 11 yards and a touchdown. Nick Lowery added the extra point.

The teams traded punts before the Seahawks put together a scoring series. Curt Warner ran for a 28-yard TD that capped a methodical 66-yard possession and Norm Johnson tied the score with a successful PAT.

Kansas City was driving into Seattle territory as the first quarter came to an end. Kenney completed three passes for 43 yards and a defensive holding penalty helped the Chiefs out of a second-and-17 jam. Three plays into the second quarter, Kenney threw to WR Stephone Paige for a 17-yard touchdown. Lowery’s successful conversion again made it a seven-point game.

The Seahawks came right back as Warner ran for 25 yards on the next play from scrimmage. Keeping the ball on the ground, Seattle advanced to the KC 30 before Johnson attempted a 49-yard field goal. The kick sailed wide to the left.

Following a punt by the Chiefs, the Seahawks moved backward on their next possession as Krieg was sacked for a loss of 11 yards and an illegal use of hands penalty took the ball back to the Seattle seven. Krieg fumbled while attempting to hand off and DE Mike Bell recovered for the Chiefs at the one yard line. From there, Kenney ran the ball in for a touchdown and the visitors were up by a score of 21-7.

The Seahawks came back with a five-play, 67-yard drive. Krieg (pictured at right) threw to Steve Largent for 24 yards and had back-to-back 18-yard completions to WR Byron Walker, the second of which was good for a TD. Johnson’s extra point narrowed Kansas City’s margin to 21-14.

The Chiefs had to punt with just over a minute remaining in the first half, but got the ball right back when CB Albert Lewis intercepted a Krieg throw and returned it 34 yards to the Seattle 13. Two plays later, Brown ran 13 yards for a touchdown and, with the successful conversion, the Chiefs were ahead by 28-14 at the half.

The Seahawks had the ball first in the third quarter and punted, but they regained possession when Thomas fumbled after catching a short pass and CB Dave Brown recovered for Seattle. It didn’t look like the home team would capitalize when Krieg was sacked and then threw an incomplete pass, but facing third-and-17 he completed a throw over the middle to FB Dan Doornink that went the distance for a 27-yard TD. Johnson added the extra point to again make it a seven-point game.

Seattle got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff when WR Anthony Hancock fumbled when hit by RB Eric Lane and safety Paul Moyer recovered at the Kansas City 18. Four plays later, Warner reached the end zone from a yard out and Johnson’s extra point tied the score at 28-28.

The Chiefs again punted following their next series and, following a 16-yard return by WR Paul Johns, the Seahawks had good starting field position at their own 46. Krieg threw to Largent for 24 yards and the drive reached the KC 25 before stalling. Johnson kicked a 42-yard field goal and Seattle was in the lead at 31-28.

The Chiefs, quiet thus far during the period, responded with a 10-play, 76-yard possession. Thomas started things off with a 14-yard run and Kenney converted a third-and-seven situation with a completion to Marshall for 17 yards. Another Kenney pass, this time to Carson, picked up 28 yards to the Seattle seven and, three plays later, Kenney kept the ball himself on a quarterback sneak for a one-yard touchdown. Lowery added the extra point and the Chiefs were back in front by 35-31.

The Seahawks were driving as the game headed into the fourth quarter, with Krieg having completed a third-and-17 pass to WR Byron Walker for 26 yards to the Kansas City 45. But after short passes complemented by Warner runs got the ball to the KC eight, Krieg fumbled while being sacked by NT Dino Mangiero, who recovered the ball and ran 32 yards to the Kansas City 45. Kenney immediately went to Carson for a gain of 35 yards and, two plays later, he passed to Carson again for an 18-yard touchdown. With Lowery’s conversion, the Chiefs extended their lead to 42-31 with 10:54 left to play in regulation.

Back came the Seahawks, who drove 69 yards in eight plays. Krieg passed to TE Charle Young for 18 yards and, following a run by Warner for seven yards, Johns gained 26 yards on an end-around. The series stalled at the KC 12, but on fourth-and-four Largent took the ball on an end-around and threw it back to Krieg, who gained 11 yards to the one. From there, Warner ran for a TD and, adding the extra point, it was a four-point game.

The Chiefs went three-and-out on their next possession and punted. Taking over at the KC 40, the Seahawks again put together a scoring drive over the course of eight plays. Warner, who had already set a franchise single-game rushing record, added to the total with 15 yards on three attempts and Krieg completed a nine-yard throw to Young. However, two incomplete passes had Seattle facing a fourth-and-six situation at the 14 yard line. Krieg connected with Johns in the end zone for a touchdown and, with the clock down to 2:15, the Seahawks were in the lead by 45-42.

The Chiefs went exclusively to the air in a series that started from their own 20. Facing third-and-four, Kenney passed to Paige for 29 yards and then followed up with a completion to Carson for 24 yards to the Seattle 21. Another pass intended for Carson fell incomplete but Kenney then threw for Theotis Brown in the left corner of the end zone for a 21-yard TD. Lowery’s extra point attempt was no good, but Kansas City was in front by 48-45.

The Seahawks had 1:26 to work with –and thanks to the missed extra point, only a three-point deficit to deal with – as they took possession at their own 17. Krieg passed to Doornink for 18 yards, but two incomplete throws had them facing third-and-ten. Doornink caught another pass for 11 yards and a first down and, two plays later, Krieg connected with Jackson for a 29-yard gain to the KC 25. Two passes into the end zone were incomplete, but Johnson kicked a 42-yard field goal to send the game into overtime at 48-48.

The Seahawks received the kickoff for OT and RB Zachary Dixon returned it 47 yards to the Kansas City 48 yard line. Warner ran the ball three times, the first for a 17-yard gain, and Johnson again came through with a 42-yard field goal to give Seattle a 51-48 win at 1:34 into the extra period. The 99 points were the third most scored in a game in NFL history up to that time.

In a game with plenty of offense on both sides, the Seahawks outgained Kansas City (531 yard to 431), with 280 yards of that total coming on the ground. The teams combined for a league record with 59 first downs (broken many times since), with Seattle again having the edge (33 to 26). The Seahawks turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by the Chiefs, and KC registered six sacks, to one for Seattle.

Curt Warner had the biggest performance on offense for the Seahawks, rushing for 207 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries. Dave Krieg completed 16 of 31 passes for 280 yards and three TDs with one interception, as well as two fumbles. Byron Walker and Steve Largent each had four catches, for 75 and 66 yards, respectively, and Walker also scored a touchdown while Largent had the one pass completion. Zachary Dixon did his part on kickoff returns as he averaged 27.4 yards on five runbacks.

For the Chiefs, Bill Kenney was successful on 21 of 38 throws for 311 yards and four touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. He also ran for two short TDs. Carlos Carson (pictured at right) had 7 pass receptions for 149 yards and a score and Henry Marshall contributed 5 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Theotis Brown ran for 56 yards on 13 attempts that included a TD plus caught two passes for 27 yards and another score. Ken Thomas added 44 yards on 8 carries and gained another 22 yards on three receptions.

The win kept the Seahawks alive for a playoff spot and they won two of their last three games to finish at 9-7, which was good enough for second place in the AFC West and a Wild Card berth. It was the franchise’s first appearance in the postseason and the Seahawks made the most of it by winning two contests and advancing all the way to the AFC Championship game before succumbing to the Raiders. Kansas City ended up at the bottom of the division with a 6-10 record.

Curt Warner led the AFC in rushing with 1449 yards on 335 carries (4.3 avg.). He also caught 42 passes for another 325 yards and scored a total of 14 touchdowns. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl and received AFC Rookie of the Year honors from UPI.

Bill Kenney topped the NFL in pass attempts (603) and completions (346) and paced the AFC with 4348 passing yards. He had 24 TD passes as opposed to 18 interceptions and was also named to the Pro Bowl. Carlos Carson had a breakout season that consisted of 80 catches for 1351 yards (16.9 avg.) and seven touchdowns.

1991: Saints Rally to Beat Seahawks in Fourth Quarter

The New Orleans Saints had a familiar face returning to the quarterback position following a one-year absence as they hosted the Seattle Seahawks in their season-opening game on September 1, 1991. Entering their sixth season under Head Coach Jim Mora, the Saints were coming off a year in ’90 in which their 8-8 record had been enough to qualify them for the playoffs as a Wild Card entry. However, the play of the defense had far more to do with any success the club had than the offense, which dropped from fifth in scoring in 1989 to 25^th in the league. A key factor was the season-long contract holdout by QB Bobby Hebert (pictured above), who had been with the Saints for five years after coming over from the USFL. In addition, the running game was hampered by RB Dalton Hilliard missing 10 games with a knee injury.

Both Hebert and Hilliard were back for 1991. Hebert had beaten out Steve Walsh, the Dallas castoff who had taken over as the starting quarterback in his absence during the ’90 season, in an intense competition during the preseason.

As for the Seahawks, coached by Chuck Knox, they barely missed the postseason in ’90 although they had a 9-7 record. QB Dave Krieg had his limitations but was an outstanding leader and the tough defense stood to benefit from the improvement of second-year DT Cortez Kennedy.

There was a crowd of 68,492 present at the Louisiana Superdome. Following a short Seattle series that ended with a punt, the Saints went 61 yards in four plays for a score. Bobby Hebert threw to RB Gill Fenerty (pictured below) who went all the way for a 50-yard touchdown. That was it for the first quarter scoring as each team turned the ball over once and the Seahawks again had to punt. However, New Orleans was driving as the period ended and early in the second quarter Morten Andersen kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

The home team’s lead became 17-0 in short order when, on Seattle’s first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, Dave Krieg’s pass was intercepted by LB Pat Swilling who proceeded to return it 39 yards for a TD.

Now in a deep hole, Seattle came back with an eight-play, 85-yard drive. Krieg hit on all six of his passes, including a completion to RB John L. Williams that gained 35 yards into New Orleans territory and to WR Brian Blades for a 10-yard touchdown. Rookie John Kasay’s successful extra point made it a 17-7 game.

The Saints came right back as Hebert threw a screen pass to Dalton Hilliard that gained 13 yards and followed up with a 21-yard completion to TE John Tice to get the ball to the Seattle 29. They advanced as far as the six yard line before Hebert was sacked by DE Jacob Green for a seven-yard loss on a third-and-four play and New Orleans settled for a 31-yard field goal by Andersen.

Krieg passed the Seahawks down the field on the ensuing series but, after getting to the New Orleans 14, Blades fumbled when hit after making a catch and the Saints recovered to end the threat. The score stood at 20-7 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Seattle. The Saints had the initial possession of the second half and moved backward from their 21 all the way back to their one yard line. Penalties were the primary reason, including an illegal procedure call that wiped out what would have been a 22-yard gain on a pass play. Backed into a third-and-20 situation, Hebert was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Cortez Kennedy that forced the Saints to punt from their own end zone.

Tommy Barnhardt’s 41-yard kick was returned 17 yards by RB Chris Warren to give the Seahawks outstanding field position at the New Orleans 25. Three plays later – and after LB Sam Mills almost intercepted a pass – Krieg threw to Blades, who caught the ball over his shoulder at the goal line for a 25-yard touchdown. Kasay’s extra point made it a six-point game.

Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, a long Hebert pass was picked off by CB Dwayne Harper and was returned to the New Orleans 42. Once again starting off with good field position, Seattle advanced to the 19 yard line in five plays that ended with Kasay kicking a 37-yard field goal.

With their lead whittled down to 20-17 the Saints made it to midfield on their next series before punting. With the breaks continuing to go Seattle’s way, the punt that was downed at the Seahawks’ 11 had to be kicked over again due to an ineligible man downfield penalty on New Orleans. This time Warren returned the punt 16 yards and, with the help of a facemask penalty, the Seahawks started off at their 30.

Krieg threw to Blades for 18 yards and Seattle advanced into New Orleans territory until RB Derrick Fenner fumbled when hit after catching a pass and FS Gene Atkins recovered for the Saints at his own 35. Once again the home team found itself losing ground due to penalties and, on a third-and-19 play, Hebert’s pass was tipped and intercepted by CB Brian Davis, who returned it 40 yards for a TD. The Seahawks took a 24-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Saints were forced to punt early in the final period but it was Seattle’s turn to run into trouble with penalties. Furthermore, Krieg suffered a broken right thumb while scrambling and, after completing a pass, was replaced by backup QB Jeff Kemp.

The Seahawks punted and New Orleans followed up with a long, 14-play scoring drive that covered 68 yards. Along the way, Hebert converted a third-and-11 situation with a completion to WR Eric Martin for 17 yards to the Seattle 34. The Cajun quarterback also ran for nine yards and, on a third-and-one play, gained two yards on a quarterback sneak and another first down. Finally, facing fourth-and-goal at the 10 yard line, Hebert threw to WR Floyd Turner in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown. It was his fifth completion in eight pass attempts during the series that used up some six minutes. Andersen’s extra point made it a three-point lead for the Saints with the remaining time down to 1:11.

The Seahawks weren’t done, however, and Kemp threw to Blades for a 31-yard gain to the New Orleans 42 with 39 seconds left on the clock. A pass interference call gained another 34 yards for Seattle down to the eight. While a false start moved the ball back five yards, following an incompletion Kemp connected with Blades for nine yards to the four. However, a pass initially caught by WR Tommy Kane in the end zone was ruled out of bounds and the Seahawks were then penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when Krieg strayed too far down the sideline while vehemently protesting the call. Facing a fourth down with 18 seconds remaining, overtime still appeared likely, but Kasay’s 37-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the left. New Orleans came away with a 27-24 win. 

Seattle significantly outgained the Saints (348 yards to 244) and had more first downs (19 to 13). Neither team was able to run effectively, with the Seahawks compiling 46 yards on 15 carries and New Orleans gaining 43 yards on 20 attempts. Seattle also sacked Hebert four times, with Jacob Green accounting for two of them. The Seahawks turned the ball over four times, to three suffered by New Orleans, and both teams hurt themselves with penalties, with 10 called on the Saints at a cost of 85 yards and 9 on Seattle for 66 yards.

Bobby Hebert completed 18 of 29 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns as well as two interceptions, and was at his best in the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Eric Martin and Floyd Turner each caught four passes, for 49 and 37 yards, respectively, although Gill Fenerty, who ran the ball five times for 14 yards had the most receiving yards for the Saints with 66 on his three catches that included a TD. Dalton Hilliard was the team’s top rusher with just 18 yards on 9 attempts.

For the Seahawks, Dave Krieg was successful on 26 of 35 throws for 274 yards and two TDs while also tossing two interceptions before he had to leave. Jeff Kemp completed four of six passes for 53 yards in relief. Brian Blades (pictured at right) had a noteworthy performance as he accumulated 12 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns. John L. Williams was the leading rusher with 22 yards on 6 carries but also caught 8 passes for 80 yards.

The Saints went on to win their first seven games on the way to topping the NFC West with an 11-5 record (the franchise’s first division title). They again failed to win in the postseason. Bobby Hebert’s return to the team paid off, but when he was lost for six weeks with a shoulder injury the Saints slumped. He ended up completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 1676 yards and 9 touchdowns. The running game remained a chronic problem as Dalton Hilliard again struggled with injuries.

Seattle lost three of its first four games and ended up fourth in the AFC West with a disappointing 7-9 record. Dave Krieg missed six weeks due to the injury sustained in the opening contest. Brian Blades went on to catch 70 passes for 1003 yards and John L. Williams had a Pro Bowl year as he rushed for 741 yards and caught 61 passes for 499 more yards. John Kasay recovered from his game-ending missed field goal attempt against the Saints to connect on 80.6 percent of his three-point tries (25 of 31) in his first of four seasons with the Seahawks and 20 in the NFL. 

1981: Largent has Big Day as Seahawks Upset Jets

The New York Jets, after a slow start to the 1981 NFL season, had won five straight games and were 8-4-1 as they faced the Seattle Seahawks on December 6. Granted, Seattle was the last team to have beaten them, but the Jets seemed likely to keep up the momentum. Coached by Walt Michaels, whose job had seemed insecure earlier in the year, they had a productive offense directed by QB Richard Todd, although it was the defense that received most of the publicity – in particular, the line known as “The New York Sack Exchange” that consisted of ends Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko and tackles Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam.

Seattle had gotten off to a disastrous 1-6 start before beating the Jets in New York. Head Coach Jack Patera’s team had won twice more and was playing better but was at 4-9 coming into the rematch. In addition, Dave Krieg, a little-known second-year backup out of tiny Milton College, was filling in at quarterback for the injured Jim Zorn and making his first pro start. He was fortunate in having a dependable target in star WR Steve Largent (pictured above) and, thanks to a midseason trade, the presence of RB Theotis Brown in the backfield.

There were 53,105 fans in attendance at the Kingdome in Seattle. The Seahawks got an early break when the Jets, lined up to punt from their own territory after going three-and-out on the opening possession, had a bad snap get away from punter Chuck Ramsey. Getting the ball at the New York 11, Seattle scored in three plays as Krieg threw to WR Sam McCullum from seven yards out. The extra point attempt failed, however, but the home team was up by 6-0.

That was still the situation in the second quarter when the Jets, getting the ball in Seattle territory after Jeff West’s pass from punt formation fell incomplete, scored a touchdown when Richard Todd passed to RB Scott Dierking from 11 yards out. The game remained tied at 6-6, though, when Pat Leahy slipped while attempting the extra point and his low kick was blocked.

The Seahawks responded by driving into New York territory as Krieg fired a 20-yard completion to Steve Largent and hit TE John Sawyer for 18. But LB Lance Mehl intercepted a Krieg pass at his own 26 to end the threat. The Jets responded in kind, however, as FS John Harris picked off a long throw by Todd at the Seattle 13 and returned it 14 yards. Two plays later, Krieg connected with Largent for a 48-yard gain to the New York 25, and two plays after that Theotis Brown took a pitchout and went 21 yards for a TD. This time the extra point try was successful and the Seahawks were back in front by 13-6.

The Jets used up the remaining 5:15 of the first half with a series that covered 67 yards in 14 plays. Todd completed four passes, including two that converted third downs, and Leahy booted a 26-yard field goal to narrow Seattle’s lead to 13-9 at halftime.

New York had a big defensive play to start the third quarter as CB Jerry Holmes intercepted a Krieg pass at the Seattle 28 on the first play from scrimmage. Five plays later Dierking ran for a 15-yard touchdown and, with Leahy’s successful conversion, a 16-13 lead for the Jets.

Following a short possession by the Seahawks, New York drove into Seattle territory but Leahy’s 50-yard field goal attempt sailed wide. The home team responded by marching 68 yards down the field in 12 plays. Krieg (pictured at left) completed six straight passes, including a third-and-seven toss to Largent for 11 yards, and finished off the drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown. Seattle was back in front by 20-16 heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Jets advanced once again into Seattle territory as Todd completed passes to WR Johnny “Lam” Jones for 30 yards and HB Bruce Harper for 18. The series ended when Todd threw an incompletion in a fourth-and-one situation, but New York regained the ball a play later after Theotis Brown fumbled and Joe Klecko recovered at the Seattle 35. Todd tossed a one-yard scoring pass to RB Kevin Long and New York was ahead by 23-20 with 9:21 left in the game.

It took the Seahawks just two plays from scrimmage to respond. They went 77 yards thanks to a pair of passes to Largent. Largent caught the go-ahead touchdown pass after getting behind safety Jesse Johnson at the 17 yard line and sprinted into the end zone for a 57-yard TD.

The Jets were unable to recover. Following a short series, they punted and the Seahawks put together a long drive that ran over five minutes off the clock. Krieg started it off with a 29-yard bootleg and, grinding along on the ground, Seattle reached the New York 25. While Wilson Alvarez’s 43-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Mark Gastineau, there were less than two minutes on the clock as the Jets took over. They were unable to move the ball, with Todd completing just two of seven passes and the Seahawks held on for a 27-23 win.

The Jets had the edge in total yards (395 to 383) and first downs (23 to 18). In fact, the statistics across the board were as close as the score indicated. Seattle had more rushing yards (127 to 119) while the Jets had the advantage in passing yards (286 to 264). Each team recorded a sack and was penalized six times. The Seahawks turned the ball over four times to New York’s three.

Dave Krieg had a solid performance in his initial start, completing 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns against three interceptions and rushing for 30 yards on five carries. Steve Largent was the receiving star, catching 7 passes for 169 yards and including the game-winning TD. Theotis Brown ran for 73 yards and a touchdown in 18 attempts.

For the Jets, Richard Todd went to the air 51 times and completed 27 of those throws for 286 yards and two touchdowns with two intercepted. Kevin Long was the top runner with 51 yards in 11 carries and Scott Dierking contributed four attempts for 33 yards and a TD and also caught 7 passes for 60 yards and another score. Bruce Harper had 8 pass receptions out of the backfield for 67 yards, both team-leading figures.

“David’s play was outstanding,” said a happy Coach Patera. “I can’t say enough about his performance.”

The loss knocked the Jets out of a first place tie with Miami in the AFC East and temporarily put their playoff chances in doubt, but they won their last two games to finish second in the division with a 10-5-1 record and secured a Wild Card berth in the postseason. They lost their first round game to the division-rival Buffalo Bills, who had come in third. Seattle split its final two contests to end up in the basement of the AFC West at 6-10.

Steve Largent was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his Hall of Fame career as he caught 75 passes for 1224 yards (16.3 avg.) and nine touchdowns. The 169 receiving yards against the Jets were his career high at the time, but he would ultimately exceed that total on two occasions.

Dave Krieg, who had appeared in just one game as an undrafted rookie in 1980 and threw two incomplete passes, made the most of his opportunity in ’81 and showed promise as he completed 64 of 122 throws (57.1 %) for 843 yards and 7 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. It would be two more years before he would take the starting job away from Jim Zorn for good, but he would play a total of 12 seasons in Seattle, through 1991, before moving on to the Chiefs and would be selected to the Pro Bowl after three of those seasons while the Seahawks made it to the playoffs four times.

1985: Krieg to Turner TDs Lead Seahawks Past Chargers

In two seasons under Head Coach Chuck Knox, the Seattle Seahawks had made it into the playoffs for the first time in the young club’s history. They had put together a 12-4 record in 1984, which was all the remarkable since they lost star RB Curt Warner to a season-ending injury in the opening week. Unheralded QB Dave Krieg (pictured at right) developed into a star in his first full year as the starter and had Pro Bowl WR Steve Largent to pass to while the defense was opportunistic, leading the league in interceptions and fumble recoveries. For the ’85 season, they had Warner back in the lineup and won their opening game against Cincinnati.

For Week 2 on September 15, 1985 the Seahawks traveled to San Diego to take on the Chargers. The Chargers, under Head Coach Don Coryell, were coming off a disappointing 7-9 record in ’84. However, they still had a potent passing offense directed by QB Dan Fouts and including wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler, plus all-purpose RB/WR Lionel James. They were still without star TE Kellen Winslow, who had suffered a major knee injury in 1984 (he would return at midseason), and the defense was suspect, but San Diego could not be taken lightly and had won its opening game as well.

It was a clear day at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium with 54,420 in attendance. Midway through the first quarter, the Chargers erupted with a 64-yard scoring drive in four plays. Fouts threw completions on every down, including 25 yards to Chandler and 19 yards to Lionel James, who then hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass.

Following a three-and-out possession by the Seahawks, San Diego put together another series that put points on the board. Fouts again had a hot hand as he completed his first five passes, with Chandler pulling in three of them for 48 yards. But after getting to the Seattle four yard line, the drive stalled and Bob Thomas kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Before the opening period was over, the Seahawks finally put together a scoring drive of six plays that covered 74 yards. Dave Krieg was successful on four passes, the last a 34-yard completion to WR Daryl Turner for a touchdown.

After the Chargers punted early in the second quarter, Seattle, with good field position, scored quickly thanks to three straight carries by Curt Warner (pictured at left), the last for three yards and the go-ahead TD. With the successful extra point, it was 14-10 in favor of the Seahawks.

The teams traded punts before San Diego came back with an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Fouts completed a pass to James for a 22-yard gain in a third-and-22 situation along the way and the series ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Joiner. NT Joe Nash blocked the extra point try, but the Chargers were back in front at 16-14.

The Seahawks moved back into San Diego territory on their next series when Krieg connected with Steve Largent for a 40-yard gain, but they were forced to punt three plays later when Krieg was sacked for an 11-yard loss on third down. The Chargers took just four plays to respond with another 80-yard possession that included James running for 17 yards on an end-around play, Fouts throwing to TE Eric Sievers for 29 yards, and Fouts then completing a 20-yard TD throw to Chandler. That was it for the first half scoring – San Diego had one last shot after a short Seattle series, but a 53-yard field goal attempt by Thomas on the final play before halftime was blocked following a bad snap.

Down 23-14, the Seahawks started off the third quarter with a 75-yard drive in 11 plays, ending with Largent catching a pass from Krieg for a six-yard touchdown. San Diego came right back as Fouts threw to Chandler for a 45-yard gain and, two plays later, to Sievers for 23 yards. He passed again to Sievers for a five-yard touchdown. Thomas missed the extra point attempt, but the Chargers were up by 29-21.

Seattle responded with another scoring drive, this time going 78 yards in six plays. Krieg threw to Largent for 17 yards and WR Byron Franklin for 28 before he connected with Turner for a 15-yard touchdown. With a successful PAT, San Diego’s lead was narrowed to one point at 29-28.

The Chargers were forced to punt on their next possession and the Seahawks scored more points. It took them five plays to cover 80 yards with Warner gaining 21 yards on a third-and-one carry and Krieg throwing to Largent for 20 yards and Turner once again for 30 yards and a touchdown. With the successful extra point, the Seahawks were ahead by the score of 35-29.

Things got worse for San Diego when safety John Harris intercepted a tipped Fouts pass. Helped along by a pass interference penalty, the Seahawks scored in five plays. Warner ran in from a yard out for the TD and it was 42-29 heading into the final period. Seattle had taken control of the game by putting 28 points on the board in the eventful third quarter.

The fourth quarter started off with another turnover by the Chargers as Fouts fumbled while being sacked by DE Jacob Green and LB Greg Gaines recovered. Warner ran the ball three straight times for 35 yards and Krieg threw once more to Turner for a seven-yard touchdown.

That, for all intents, finished off the Chargers. They scored a touchdown on a pass from backup QB Mark Herrmann to Charlie Joiner from a yard out and just 15 seconds remaining. Seattle, thanks to its second half barrage, won by a score of 49-35.

San Diego outgained the Seahawks (557 yards to 489) and had the edge in first downs (32 to 30). However, the Chargers also turned the ball over four times, while Seattle suffered no turnovers.

Dave Krieg completed 22 of 32 passes for 307 yards and five touchdowns with none intercepted – in the big third quarter alone, he was 12 of 14 for 192 yards. Daryl Turner (pictured below) was the receiving star with 7 catches for 121 yards and four of the TDs while Steve Largent contributed 6 receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Curt Warner also had a noteworthy day, rushing for 169 yards and two TDs on 28 carries and pulling in 5 passes for another 34 yards.

For the Chargers, a great day by Dan Fouts went for naught as he was successful on 29 of 43 throws for 440 yards and four touchdowns with one intercepted. Wes Chandler accounted for 243 of those yards on 13 catches that included a TD. Lionel James led the club in rushing with 41 yards on 8 carries, caught 6 passes for 96 yards and a TD, and added 153 combined kick return yards to end up with 290 all-purpose yards.

“Dan Fouts was as hot as a pistol,” said Chuck Knox afterward. “He’s one of the greatest passers, in my opinion, in the history of the game. We just tried to put more pressure on him in the second half.”

Despite the promising beginning, the Seahawks lost their next two games, and that was precisely the pattern they followed for the remainder of their disappointing 8-8 season – the same record that San Diego finished with.

Dave Krieg passed for 3602 yards with 27 touchdown passes. Both he and Dan Fouts, who missed two games due to injury but still threw for 3638 yards, tossed 27 TD passes and 20 interceptions and, tellingly, were each sacked 52 times, which ranked third in the league.

Steve Largent had another Pro Bowl season (his fifth) with 79 catches for 1287 yards (16.3 avg.) and six touchdowns. Daryl Turner caught 34 passes for 670 yards (19.7 avg.) and remained a potent scoring threat, tallying 13 TDs. Curt Warner made a successful comeback as he rushed for 1094 yards and caught 47 passes for 307 more.

Wes Chandler was a Pro Bowl selection (for the fourth time) after catching 67 passes for 1199 yards (17.9 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. Lionel James continued to have big overall yardage totals as he set a new NFL record with 2535 all-purpose yards (516 rushing, 1027 receiving, 213 returning punts, 779 returning kickoffs).