Highlighted Year: Patrick Kerney, 2007

Defensive End, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 31 (Dec. 30)

9^th season in pro football, 1^st with Seahawks

College: Virginia

Height: 6’5”    Weight: 273

Prelude:

Kerney accounted for 24 sacks and 127 tackles in college and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft (30^th overall). He had a quiet rookie season with 2.5 sacks. Kerney moved into the starting lineup in 2000, compiling just another 2.5 sacks in 16 games. He broke out with a team-leading 12 sacks in 2001 and followed up with 10.5 in ’02. Kerney spent five more seasons with Atlanta, achieving Pro Bowl recognition in 2004, before departing to Seattle as a free agent in 2007.

2007 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 14.5 [2, 1^st in NFC]

Most sacks, game – 3 vs. Chicago 11/18, at St. Louis 11/25, vs. Arizona 12/9

Multi-sack games – 3

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 0

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 5

Tackles – 49

Assists – 11

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Seahawks went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC West. Won NFC Wild Card playoff over Washington Redskins (35-14). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Green Bay Packers (42-20).

Aftermath:

Kerney was limited to seven games, and five sacks, in 2008 due to shoulder problems that required surgery. He retired following the 2009 season due to further shoulder issues. Over the course of 11 seasons, Kerney registered 82.5 sacks, 24.5 while with the Seahawks. He received first-team All-NFL recognition once from the Associated Press, and second-team honors once, and was a two-time Pro Bowl choice.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Norm Johnson, 1984

Placekicker, Seattle Seahawks

Age:  24

3^rd season in pro football & with Seahawks

College: UCLA

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 193

Prelude:

Undrafted coming out of college, Johnson signed with the Seahawks and made the club, hitting on 10 of 14 field goal attempts during the strike-shortened 1982 season. He followed up with another solid year in ’83, kicking 18 field goals out of 25 attempts and 49 of his 50 extra point tries for a total of 103 points.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 20 [14, tied with five others]

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. Cleveland 9/3

Field goal attempts – 24

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 vs. Cleveland 9/3

Field goal percentage – 83.3 [3]

PATs – 50 [3]

PAT attempts – 51 [3, tied with Mark Moseley & Neil O’Donoghue]

Longest field goal – 50 yards vs. Cleveland 9/3

Scoring

Field Goals – 20

PATs – 50

Points – 110 [7]

Postseason: 2 G

Field goals – 3

Most field goals, game – 2 vs. LA Raiders, AFC Wild Card playoff

Field goal attempts – 4

Most field goal attempts, game – 2 vs. LA Raiders, AFC Wild Card playoff; at Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

PATs – 2

Most PATs, game – 1 vs. LA Raiders, AFC Wild Card playoff; at Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 44 yards vs. LA Raiders, AFC Wild Card playoff

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Seahawks went 12-4 to finish second in the AFC West and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Los Angeles Raiders (13-7). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Miami Dolphins (31-10).   

Aftermath:

Outstanding at kicking off as well as consistent on field goals, Johnson went on to spend nine seasons with the Seahawks, through 1990. He left as the franchise leader in field goals (159) and scoring (810 points). Johnson went on to spend four years with Atlanta, gaining Pro Bowl recognition in 1993 when he was successful on 26 of 27 field goal attempts for a league-leading percentage of 96.3. Joining Pittsburgh in 1995 he led the NFL with a career-high 34 field goals and the AFC by scoring 141 points. He spent four years with the Steelers and finished his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999 at the age of 39. Over the course of 18 seasons, Johnson kicked 366 field goals in 477 attempts (76.7 %) and 638 PATs for a total of 1736 points, which ranked fourth in NFL history at the time. He added another 20 field goals in 26 postseason attempts, including four in Pittsburgh’s AFC Divisional playoff win over Buffalo following the 1995 season. Johnson received consensus first-team All-NFL honors after one season, some first- and second-team recognition after one other year, and was twice selected to the Pro Bowl.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Matt Hasselbeck, 2005

Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 30 (Sept. 25)

8^th season in pro football (7^th active), 5^th with Seahawks

College: Boston College

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 223

Prelude:

The son of Don Hasselbeck, who played tight end in the NFL, Hasselbeck passed for 4548 yards and 22 touchdowns in college and was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL draft. He spent that year on the practice squad and then saw scant action behind QB Brett Favre in 1999 and 2000. Hasselbeck was traded to the Seahawks in 2001 and was mentored by veteran QB Trent Dilfer while also training under Head Coach Mike Holmgren, formerly of the Packers. With good size and arm strength, if not mobility, he developed into a Pro Bowl quarterback in 2003 when he threw for 3841 yards and 26 TDs and the team improved to 10-6 and reached the postseason. Hasselbeck followed up with a somewhat lesser year in 2004, passing for 3382 yards and 22 touchdowns while playing through injuries, but performed well down the stretch after an inconsistent start and earned a contract extension.

2005 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 449 [14]

Most attempts, game – 42 vs. Dallas 10/23

Completions – 294 [9, tied with Eli Manning]

Most completions, game – 27 at St. Louis 10/9

Yards – 3459 [10]

Most yards, game – 316 at St. Louis 10/9

Completion percentage – 65.5 [6]

Yards per attempt – 7.7 [4]

TD passes – 24 [4, tied with Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees & Eli Manning, 1^st in NFC]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. San Francisco 12/11

Interceptions – 9

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Jacksonville 9/11, vs. Dallas 10/23, vs. St. Louis 11/13

Passer rating – 98.2 [4, 1^st in NFC]

300-yard passing games – 1

200-yard passing games – 11

Rushing

Attempts – 36

Most attempts, game – 6 (for 7 yds.) at San Francisco 11/20

Yards – 124

Most yards, game – 40 yards (on 4 carries) vs. Houston 10/16

Average gain – 3.4

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 3 G

Pass attempts – 103

Most pass attempts, game – 49 vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl

Pass completions – 62

Most pass completions, game – 26 vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl

Passing yardage – 707

Most passing yards, game – 273 vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl

TD passes – 4

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. Carolina, NFC Championship

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 15

Most rushing attempts, game – 6 vs. Washington, NFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 83

Most rushing yards, game – 35 vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl

Average gain rushing – 5.5

Rushing TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Seahawks went 13-3 to finish first in the NFC West while leading the NFL in touchdowns (57) and scoring (452 points) and the conference in total yards (5915). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Washington Redskins (20-10) & NFC Championship over Carolina Panthers (34-14). Lost Super Bowl to Pittsburgh Steelers (21-10).

Aftermath:

Hasselbeck suffered through a rough year in 2006, missing four games due to a knee injury. He bounced back in ’07 in achieving career highs with 562 pass attempts, 352 completions, 3966 yards, and 28 touchdowns and returned to the Pro Bowl. However, he appeared in only seven games in 2008 due to injury and endured lesser years in 2009 and ’10 before moving on to the Tennessee Titans and briefly resurrecting his career as he passed for 3571 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011. Hasselbeck moved into a backup role in 2012 but started five games when second-year QB Jake Locker was injured. Released following the season, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts to provide a veteran backup to QB Andrew Luck and saw little action during the next two years until 2015, when Luck was injured and Hasselbeck started eight games, throwing for 1690 yards and 9 TDs in what proved to be his last season at age 40. Overall, Hasselbeck completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 36,638 yards and 212 touchdowns while giving up 153 interceptions. Of those totals, a team-record 29,434 yards along with 174 TDs and 128 interceptions came with the Seahawks. He added another 2741 yards and 18 touchdowns, with 9 interceptions, in 11 playoff games, all with Seattle. Hasselbeck was a first-team All-NFC selection once and was chosen to three Pro Bowls. His brother Tim also played quarterback in the NFL.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: John Harris, 1981

Safety, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football & with Seahawks

College: Arizona State

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 200

Prelude:

Harris intercepted 12 passes in his last two collegiate seasons and also excelled as a kick returner, garnering All-Western Athletic Conference honors after each. He was chosen by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 1978 NFL draft and moved directly into the starting lineup at free safety. Harris suffered through an injury-plagued ’79 season that limited him to seven games, but bounced back to regain his starting job in 1980, intercepting six passes. 1981 marked the arrival of rookie first draft choice Ken Easley, who moved into the lineup at strong safety and created an effective tandem with Harris.

1981 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 10 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Oakland 9/20, at Green Bay 11/1

Int. return yards – 155 [8, tied with Ken Easley]

Most int. return yards, game – 60 (on 2 int.) at Green Bay 11/1

Int. TDs – 2 [2, tied with Darrol Ray & Cedric Brown]

Fumble recoveries – 3

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Seahawks went 6-10 to finish fifth in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Harris spent another four years with the Seahawks, starting every game as part of a talented overall secondary. Over the course of eight seasons with Seattle, he intercepted 41 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns, recovered 11 fumbles, and appeared in 119 games, 112 of which he started. Harris was traded to Minnesota just prior to the 1986 season and spent the last three years of his career there. He ended up with a total of 50 interceptions and added another five in the postseason, four of them with Seattle and two in the AFC Divisional playoff loss to Miami following the 1984 season.  

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Joey Galloway, 1997

Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 26 (Nov. 20)

3^rd season in pro football & with Seahawks

College: Ohio State

Height: 5’11” Weight: 188

Prelude:

Galloway caught 108 passes for 1894 yards (17.5 avg.) and 19 touchdowns in college. He was chosen by the Seahawks in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft (eighth overall), who were looking to add speed at wide receiver, and moved directly into the starting lineup. Galloway caught 67 passes for 1039 yards (15.5 avg.) and seven TDs as a rookie and also returned 36 punts for a 10.0 average with one touchdown. He followed up with 57 receptions for 987 yards (17.3 avg.) and seven more TDs in 1996.

1997 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 72 [15, tied with Andre Rison & Shannon Sharpe]     

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 75 yds.) at St. Louis 10/19, (for 98 yds.) at Denver 11/2

Yards – 1049 [16]

Most yards, game – 117 (on 7 catches) vs. Oakland 10/26

Average gain – 14.6

TDs – 12 [2, tied with James Jett, Rod Smith & Antonio Freeman, 1^st in AFC]

100-yard receiving games – 3

Rushing

Attempts – 9

Yards – 72

Yards per attempt – 8.0

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 12 [5, tied with four others]

Points – 72

Seahawks went 8-8 to finish third in the AFC West while leading the NFL in passing yards (3959).

Aftermath:

Galloway had another strong year in 1998, catching 65 passes for 1047 yards (16.1 avg.) and 10 touchdowns, but a long contract holdout in ’99 cost him half the season, as well as good will with the organization, and he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2000. A knee injury suffered in the first week cost him the remainder of the season and he had a mediocre year in 2001, averaging a then-career-low 13.4 yards on 52 catches. He bounced back in ’02 with 61 receptions for 908 yards (14.9 avg.) and six TDs and led the NFL by averaging 19.8 yards, although on just 34 catches, in 2003. Traded to Tampa Bay for WR Keyshawn Johnson in ’04, Galloway spent the next five seasons with the Buccaneers and, following an injury-plagued year in which he was limited to ten games, he achieved career highs with 83 receptions for 1287 yards in 2005. It was the first of three straight thousand-yard receiving seasons in his mid-thirties. A foot injury hindered his performance in 2008 and he was released, finishing up with brief stints with New England and Washington in 2009 and ’10. Overall, Galloway caught 701 passes for 10,950 yards (15.6 avg.) and 77 touchdowns, with 283 of those catches for 4457 yards and 37 TDs coming with the Seahawks. He also returned 141 punts for a 9.6-yard average and five TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2006: Seahawks Overwhelm Panthers for NFC Championship

The NFC Championship game on January 22, 2006 featured the Seattle Seahawks, winners of the NFC West and top-seeded team in the conference, hosting the Carolina Panthers, a Wild Card team that finished second in the NFC South.

The Seahawks were coached by Mike Holmgren, who had previously guided the Packers to a NFL Championship, and posted a 13-3 record during the 2005 regular season. RB Shaun Alexander (pictured above) topped the league in rushing (1880 yards) and scoring (168 points) while setting a new NFL record for touchdowns (28, which was broken the next year) and QB Matt Hasselbeck achieved career highs in completion percentage (65.5), yards per attempt (7.7), and passer rating (98.2). The defense was unspectacular but effective and benefited from the addition of rookie MLB Lofa Tatupu. Seattle, which was in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, defeated the Redskins in the Divisional round to advance to its first conference title game since 1983, when the Seahawks were in the AFC (they moved to the NFC as part of the 2002 reorganization). If there was a major concern coming into the game, it was that Alexander had suffered a concussion the previous week.

Carolina, coached by John Fox, was two years removed from a losing Super Bowl appearance and, after dipping to 7-9 in 2004, had bounced back to 11-5 in ’05. Key players on offense were Pro Bowl QB Jake Delhomme and WR Steve Smith, who was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection after catching 103 passes for 1563 yards (15.2 avg.) and 12 TDs. However, the running game struggled due to injuries and RBs Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster were both out for the NFC title contest. The defense had trouble against the run, having lost DT Kris Jenkins to injury for virtually the entire season, although there were capable pass rushers in ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker. The Panthers shut out the Giants in the Wild Card playoff round and then defeated the Bears at the Divisional level.

There were 67,837 fans in attendance at Qwest Field. The teams traded punts until the Seahawks, gaining the advantage in field position, put together a 57-yard drive in five plays. The last two were the biggest as Matt Hasselbeck threw to QB/WR Seneca Wallace for 28 yards and then connected with a wide-open TE Jerramy Stevens for a 17-yard touchdown. Josh Brown added the extra point.

Seattle got the ball back on the next series when Lofa Tatupu intercepted a Jake Delhomme pass that was thrown into coverage and returned it 21 yards to the Carolina 20. The Seahawks weren’t able to reach the end zone again, but Brown kicked a 24-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.

With time running down in the opening period, the Seahawks again took advantage of a turnover as FS Marquand Manuel picked off a throw by Delhomme and ran it back 32 yards to the Carolina 17. Shaun Alexander had a 15-yard run on the last play of the first quarter and, two plays later it was Alexander running for a one-yard TD. Brown’s conversion put the home team up by 17-0.

The Panthers, who had lost yet another running back in Nick Goings during the first quarter, fought back as Delhomme completed a pass to WR Drew Carter for 41 yards to the Seattle 26, but a holding penalty backed the visitors up and a sack by DT Rocky Bernard took them out of field goal range, forcing a punt. A short Seattle possession also resulted in a punt and Steve Smith returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. While a penalty flag was thrown during the return, a conference by the officials led to no infraction being called and, when John Kasay kicked the point after, the Seahawks’ lead was narrowed to 17-7.

Seattle responded by advancing to another score. Hasselbeck (pictured below) completed three passes, all to WR Darrell Jackson, and Alexander had back-to-back carries of 11 and 18 yards. A 15-yard penalty for an illegal crackback block blunted the drive, but Brown booted a 39-yard field goal to make it a 20-7 game. Following a punt by the Panthers, the Seahawks had an opportunity to add to their margin with 33 seconds remaining in the first half, but Brown missed a field goal try from 49 yards. Thus far the Seahawks had been dominant on defense, holding Carolina to three first downs and 62 total yards in the first thirty minutes.

Seattle took the second half kickoff and drove 65 yards in eight plays, essentially putting the game out of reach for Carolina. Alexander again ran effectively, with a 16-yard gain along the way, and Hasselbeck had three completions, the last to Jackson for a 20-yard TD. Brown’s extra point had the Seahawks up by an imposing 27-7.

Seattle’s defense kept the Panthers in check as their next two possessions went three-and-out, resulting in punts, and the third ended with a Delhomme pass being intercepted by SS Michael Boulware. An exchange of punts led to the last score for the Seahawks on a one-yard carry by Alexander. Carolina responded with one last hurrah, a Delhomme throw to WR Drew Carter for a 47-yard touchdown, but with six minutes remaining in the contest, the outcome was not in doubt. The Seahawks won convincingly by a final score of 34-14.

The statistics reflected Seattle’s dominance. The Seahawks had big leads in total yards (393 to 212), first downs (27 to 11), and time of possession (41:51 to 18:09). In addition, Carolina turned the ball over four times, to none suffered by Seattle.

Matt Hasselbeck completed 20 of 28 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns with none intercepted. Shaun Alexander, showing no ill effects from his concussion the week before, rushed for 132 yards on 34 carries that included the two short TDs. Darrell Jackson and Jerramy Stevens each accounted for a team-leading six pass receptions, for 75 and 66 yards, respectively, and scored a touchdown apiece. On defense, Rocky Bernard was credited with both of Seattle’s sacks.

For the Panthers, Jake Delhomme was successful on only 15 of 35 throws for 196 yards and a TD while giving up three interceptions. RB Jamal Robertson, forced into action due to the attrition at running back, led the club in pass receiving with 37 yards on five catches and in rushing with only 19 yards on four attempts. Steve Smith, who was well bottled up by the defense, also had five pass receptions, gaining 33 yards, but he provided one of Carolina’s few highlights with his lone punt return for a 59-yard TD.

“I don’t know if we ran out of gas,” said Carolina’s Coach Fox from the losing team’s perspective. “I’m not too sure what the problem was. Their defense played tremendous. We know we’d have our hands full with their offense.”

The Seahawks lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. They topped the NFC West with a lesser record in 2006 but lost in overtime to the Bears at the Divisional level in the postseason. Carolina dropped to 8-8 and missed the playoffs in ’06, next appearing in the postseason in 2008.

Highlighted Year: Derrick Fenner, 1990

Running Back, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Seahawks

College: North Carolina

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 229

Prelude:

Fenner performed well in college, including an ACC-record 328-yard rushing game against Virginia in 1986. However, there were off-field problems and Fenner was jailed on a murder charge that was eventually dropped, although he received probation for drug possession. It effectively ended his college playing career and Fenner, while cleared to enter the 1989 NFL draft, was avoided until taken by the Seahawks in the tenth round. He saw little action as a rookie, running for just 41 yards and catching three passes, but the departure of RB Curt Warner provided an opening in ‘90.

1990 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 215 [12]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 144 yds.) at Denver 9/23

Yards – 859 [12]

Most yards, game – 144 yards (on 22 carries) at Denver 9/23

Average gain – 4.0

TDs – 14 [1, tied with Cleveland Gary]

100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 17      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 85 yds.) at LA Raiders 10/14

Yards – 143

Most yards, game – 85 (on 5 catches) at LA Raiders 10/14

Average gain – 8.4

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 15 [2, tied with Cleveland Gary; 1^st in AFC]

Points – 90 [18, tied with Cleveland Gary]

Seahawks went 9-7 to finish third in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Fenner had a disappointing year in 1991, rushing for 267 yards while averaging 2.9 yards-per-carry, and departed to the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in ’92. As backup to RB Harold Green, he rushed for 500 yards and seven TDs. An upright runner with good power, he was not used much as a pass receiver in his first four seasons but caught a career-high 48 passes for 427 yards in 1993 while running for 482 yards in a limited role. After a similar season in ’94 he was signed by the Raiders to play fullback and Fenner spent three years with them, carrying the ball occasionally and catching passes. Overall, at the end of his career in 1997, he had rushed for 2996 yards on 804 carries (3.7 avg.) and caught 202 passes for another 1578 yards, scoring a total of 42 touchdowns. Of that, 1167 rushing yards and 20 TDs came with the Seahawks.   

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

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.

1978: Packers Ride 28-Point First Quarter to Win Over Seahawks

The Green Bay Packers were off to a 5-1 start as they played the Seattle Seahawks in Milwaukee on October 15, 1978. For a team that had endured five straight losing seasons, the last three under Head Coach Bart Starr, it was a tremendous turnaround. Second-year QB David Whitehurst was playing very well in place of the injured Lynn Dickey, RB Terdell Middleton (pictured at right) was spearheading the ground game, and rookie WR James Lofton showed flashes of the ability that made him a first-round draft choice. The defensive line had fine pass rushers in ends Ezra Johnson and Mike Butler, and CB Willie Buchanon was an established star in the backfield.

Seattle, coached by Jack Patera, was 3-3 and coming off of an upset of the Vikings. QB Jim Zorn, a mobile lefthander, provided plenty of excitement and WR Steve Largent was highly reliable. FB Sherman Smith and HB David Sims were capable runners. The Seahawks, in their third year of existence, were an opponent to take seriously.

There were 52,712 fans in attendance at County Stadium, where there was a chilly light rain falling. Things started off quickly for the Packers when WR Steve Odom returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Chester Marcol added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead. Two plays following the ensuing kickoff, Jim Zorn fumbled and Green Bay recovered at the Seattle 35. It took just two plays for the Packers to capitalize as Terdell Middleton ran for 11 yards and David Whitehurst (pictured below) threw to James Lofton for a 24-yard TD. Marcol again kicked the point after and, with the game less than three minutes old, the home team held a 14-0 advantage.

The contest settled into an exchange of punts until HB Rufus Crawford of the Seahawks muffed a David Beverly kick and DB Estus Hood recovered for the Packers at the Seattle 20. Four plays later Middleton ran for a five-yard touchdown, Marcol converted, and the Green Bay lead was up to 21-0.

There was 2:36 remaining in the opening period as the Seahawks took over on offense, but Sherman Smith fumbled on first down and Ezra Johnson fell on it for the Packers at the Seattle 30. Whitehurst threw to TE Rich McGeorge for seven yards, FB Barty Smith ran up the middle for nine more, and Middleton carried for a 14-yard TD. Marcol added the PAT and Green Bay held a 28-0 advantage after a quarter of action.

The Seahawks fought back gamely in the second quarter. A seven-play, 72-yard series that featured a Zorn pass to TE Ron Howard for 42 yards concluded with the quarterback scrambling around right end for a 12-yard touchdown. Efren Herrera kicked the extra point. A successful onside kick allowed Seattle to retain possession, but the resulting series ended with Zorn fumbling the ball away. However, Whitehurst, throwing long from the Seattle 37, was picked off by SS Autry Beamon and on the next play Zorn connected with Steve Largent for a 48-yard TD. Herrera’s extra point made it 28-14 and less than four minutes had been used up in the period.

The Packers put together an eight-play, 58-yard drive in response that featured a Whitehurst screen pass to FB Jim Culbreath that picked up 17 yards. An apparent touchdown pass to Lofton in the end zone was nullified by offensive pass interference, but the Packers picked up another three points when Marcol booted a 22-yard field goal.

The next few short possessions resulted in punts, fumbles, or interceptions, but no points, and the score remained unchanged at 31-14 after Herrera’s 45-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half sailed wide to the left.

The Seahawks quickly ran into more trouble on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter when Zorn fumbled and LB Mike Hunt recovered for the Packers at the Seattle 37. Five plays later, and after a Whitehurst pass to Lofton picked up 19 yards, Middleton ran for a two-yard TD, Marcol converted, and Green Bay was up by 38-14.

Seattle responded with a 75-yard drive in six plays that included a Zorn pass to Largent for 24 yards and concluded with Sherman Smith running for a nine-yard touchdown. But the Packers came right back with another scoring series of 65 yards in eight plays. Whitehurst completed passes to Lofton for 16 yards and Barty Smith for 19 and Middleton ran for a nine-yard TD, his fourth of the day. The Seahawks managed one more score early in the fourth quarter when David Sims ran for a two-yard touchdown, but Green Bay’s third quarter scores had extinguished any hopes for a Seattle comeback. The Packers won by a final tally of 45-28.  

The point total was the highest for the Packers in nine years. Seattle, playing catch-up throughout the game, led in total yards (483 to 369) and first downs (23 to 20). Both teams did well running the ball, with the Seahawks edging Green Bay by 194 yards to 190. However, Seattle also turned the ball over seven times, to devastating effect, and with three of them coming in the first quarter. The Packers had three turnovers. They also accounted for the game’s three sacks, two of them (unofficially) by Ezra Johnson. The Seahawks were penalized 9 times, at a cost of 65 yards, to six penalties for 50 yards on Green Bay.

Terdell Middleton had a big day as he rushed for 121 yards on 23 carries and scored four touchdowns. David Whitehurst completed 12 of 19 passes for 179 yards and a TD while giving up one interception. James Lofton had 5 catches for 98 yards and a score. In addition to his touchdown on the kickoff return, Steve Odom returned a punt 48 yards.

For the Seahawks, Jim Zorn was successful on 17 of 31 throws for 308 yards and a touchdown, but gave up two interceptions. He also ran for 28 yards and a TD on five carries. Steve Largent (pictured at right) caught 6 passes for 127 yards and a TD. David Sims rushed for 104 yards on 22 attempts that included a score and Sherman Smith contributed 12 carries for 62 yards and a score.

“We just didn’t play a very solid game,” summed up Seattle’s Coach Patera. “When you’re down 28 points, people start pressing a little. You just have to play hard and hope the breaks change and come your way. They didn’t today.”

The win marked the season’s high water mark for the Packers. They lost to Minnesota the next week and, with the offensive productivity dropping off, won just two more games the rest of the way, finishing at 8-7-1 and second to the Vikings in the NFC Central. Seattle recovered to win six of the remaining nine games and end up at 9-7, the franchise’s first winning record, placing third in the very competitive AFC West.

David Whitehurst passed for 2093 yards with 10 touchdowns but also 17 interceptions, and while he showed poise and promise, he ultimately became a career backup. Terdell Middleton rushed for 1116 yards and 11 TDs, receiving Pro Bowl recognition in what was easily the most productive season of his career. James Lofton, whose career track would be far more impressive, also was chosen to the Pro Bowl after catching 46 passes for 818 yards (17.8 avg.) and six touchdowns.

Jim Zorn led the AFC with 248 completions and 3283 yards, although he was also sacked a league-high 44 times. Steve Largent topped the conference with 71 pass receptions and his 1168 yards ranked second in the NFL. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first of an eventual seven times.

Highlighted Year: Bobby Joe Edmonds, 1986

Running Back/Kick Returner, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 22 (Sept. 26)

1^st season in pro football

College: Arkansas

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175

Prelude:

Edmonds, who also played baseball, was used as a wide receiver and running back in college, gaining 1481 yards from scrimmage (755 rushing, 726 pass receiving) and averaging 10.3 yards on 93 punt returns. He was chosen by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL draft with the hope that, with his speed and sure-handedness, he would provide an upgrade to the team’s kick return game.

1986 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 34 [8]

Yards – 764 [8]

Most yards, game – 107 (on 6 ret.) at New England 9/21

Average per return – 22.5 [10]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 46 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 34 [10, tied with Willie Drewrey]

Yards – 419 [6]

Most yards, game – 103 (on 4 ret.) vs. Philadelphia 11/23

Average per return – 12.3 [1]

TDs – 1 [2, tied with eleven others]

Longest return – 75 yards

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – -11

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Seahawks went 10-6 to finish third in the AFC West while leading the conference in punt return average (11.7).

Aftermath:

Edmonds was near the top with a 12.6-yard average on 20 punt returns during the strike-interrupted 1987 season and followed up with a punt return average of 9.7 yards in ’88 along with 22.5 yards on 40 kickoff returns. He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions in 1989 and also tried his hand at baseball during the Spring with the Class AA Reading Phillies. Shifted to wide receiver and a poor fit in Detroit’s new run-and-shoot offense, he was cut in the preseason, signed with the Raiders, and appeared in seven games, averaging 10.5 yards on 16 punt returns and 19.4 yards returning 14 kickoffs, but a broken ankle finished his season and he was released afterward. It brought an end initially to his NFL career due to off-field problems and concerns about his injury, but he returned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 at age 31 and averaged 10.1 yards on 29 punt returns and 19.8 yards running back 58 kickoffs. Overall, Edmonds averaged 11.0 yards on 134 punt returns and 21.1 yards on 173 kickoff returns, with 89 punt returns for an 11.3-yard average and 101 kickoff returns for a 22.1-yard average coming with the Seahawks.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970