Denver Defense Supplies Offense : Overtime Theft Sets Up Field Goal to Beat Seattle, 13-10

When the offense deserted in the second half, the Denver Broncos won the way they usually do--with defense.

Rich Karlis kicked the game-winning 24-yard field goal at 9:17 of overtime Sunday, but it was the defense that gave the Broncos a 13-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Denver (5-2) remained tied with the Raiders for the AFC West lead, while the Seahawks (4-3) slipped to third place.

Daniel Hunter’s 20-yard interception return of a Dave Krieg pass set up the Broncos at the Seattle 15, and four plays later Karlis kicked the winning field goal.

“It was a tremendous effort by our defense today,” said Denver Coach Dan Reeves, who saw his team come up with five turnovers and limit Krieg to nine completions in 32 tries.

“This was probably as big an effort as I’ve seen since I’ve been here. When the offense plays as poorly as it did in the second half, I have to step up and take the blame. But the defense bailed us out with a great effort.”

Denver scored on its first possession, marching 80 yards to a touchdown on a 36-yard run by Sammy Winder. The Broncos moved in front, 10-0, on a 45-yard field goal by Karlis four minutes into the third period.

Steve Largent scored for Seattle with 1:46 left in the third period on a nine-yard pass from Krieg and Norm Johnson’s 39-yard field goal tied the score with 5:46 left in the fourth period.

The victory was the seventh in nine overtime games for Denver since sudden death was instituted in the 1974 regular season. Seattle is 1-2 in overtime and has played fewer such games than any NFL team.

Seattle had a chance to win the game in regulation when it moved the ball to its own 46-yard line with two minutes left. But an interception by Mike Harden ended that threat.

Despite dominating the first half, the Broncos could manage only a 7-0 lead after two quarters. Denver had the ball for 33 plays to just 10 for Seattle in the second quarter, but could not add to its lead.

The Broncos held the ball for almost seven minutes of the second period, driving from their own 37 to the Seahawk 16 only to have a 33-yard field-goal try blocked by Jeff Bryant.

Another time-consuming march from the Broncos’ 16 to Seattle’s 35 ended in another missed field goal by Karlis, who made just two of five attempts.

Although they produced only one sizeable gain in the second quarter, the Seahawks still had a chance to score late in the period when they reached Denver’s 38 on a 26-yard throw from Krieg to Paul Skansi.

But on third and 10, with the Seahawks in the shotgun formation, the ball was snapped when Krieg was not ready and it hit him in the chest. Denver recovered to prevent even a desperation try at the end zone.