Seattle Defense Tosses Raiders, Quarterbacks and All, Into 37-0 Sack

The Raiders thought they’d had troubles in the Doomdome? They hadn’t seen nothin’ until the Monday Night Massacre, a nationally televised humiliation the Seattle Seahawks were happy to host for them.

Unlike last week’s fiasco against the Philadelphia Eagles, this one can’t be pinned on a coach’s decision. For the Raiders, it was far worse.

The Seahawks beat them up like some high school team and won, 37-0, before 62,923 in the Kingdome, who had been privileged to watch the worst Raider beating in 24 years. Had they known what was coming, they would have been proud to pay twice the price of their tickets.

Next step, Christmas in front of the fireplace with the wife and kiddies? The Raiders are suddenly a game behind the Cincinnati Bengals for the second wild-card spot. If the Bengals win both of their remaining games, the Raiders are out no matter what they do.

It was the first time the Raiders had ever been shut out on Monday night, the first time they had been shut out since 1981.

“A very humbling experience,” Coach Tom Flores called it.

“In high school,” said Rod Martin, a 10-year Raider. “That’s the last time I went through something like this.”

Was one of these teams the owner of a 24-3-1 Monday night record? Was one of them 8-4 two weeks ago, with a duck-soup schedule and the wise guys saying look for them in the Super Bowl?

Yeah, and it wasn’t the Seahawks in either case. But a lot has happened in two weeks.

Suddenly the Raider offensive line can’t block anyone. The Seahawks, who had had 32 sacks all season, got 11 Monday night, one less than the NFL record. Actually, there’s nothing sudden about it. The Raiders have allowed 60 sacks this season, second worst in the NFL.

How did the line run-block? The Raider running backs got 24 yards all night.

Suddenly, the Raider secondary can’t defend against the pass. Dave Krieg, the Seahawks’ streaky little wonder, hit them for 179 yards in the first half--on 11 throws, of which he completed 8. A week ago, the two star cornerbacks coughed up three touchdown passes to the Eagles’ Mike Quick, leaving Al Davis reportedly fit to be tied. Imagine his delight today.

The game was a rout from the first play, when Jim Plunkett went back to pass on play-action at his 20. This was intended as a surprise, but then the Raiders have opened several other games this season with their pet first-play long strike. This time, three unsurprised Seahawks blew in, led by linebacker Greg Gaines, who got the sack. For the silver and black, it was an ominous sign.

There were a lot of other ominous signs out there. Plunkett was sacked three times in his first five pass attempts, an astounding number.

OK, the Raider offense was off slowly. Surely the stalwart Raider defense could rise to the occasion?

Uh, not exactly.

The first time the Seahawks got their hands on the ball, they zipped 74 yards for a touchdown, the big play being Krieg’s third-down pass to Byron Franklin, who beat James Davis for 47 yards. On third and 10 at the 10, Steve Largent ran a quick post on Stacey Toran and Krieg hit Largent at the goal line. The Seahawks led, 7-0.

The second time the Seahawks got their hands on the ball, they went 63 yards. It took all of four plays, including Krieg’s 28-yard pass to Largent, running a crossing pattern with James Davis far behind him. Curt Warner ran the last five yards for the touchdown and it was about to be 14-0. And it was still the first quarter.

Midway through the second period, the Seahawks got off a baby drive, a 45-yarder that stalled at the Raider 29. So Norm Johnson, the ex-Bruin, kicked a 46-yard field goal and it was 17-0.

By now, Plunkett was gone and Marc Wilson was already up to two sacks.

Time for the Seahawks to get in some work on their two-minute drill. They went 62 yards in the closing seconds of the half, the last 57 in three straight plays: Krieg’s 15-yard pass to Largent in front of Lester Hayes; a 30-yarder to Paul Skansi who beat Sam Seale; and the touchdown pass, a 12-yarder to Raymond Butler, the ex-Trojan, who beat Stefon Adams on an out pattern. Johnson’s kick made it 24-0.

For the Raiders, it never got any better. At halftime, Martin was heard angrily addressing his teammates, reminding them of the ’81 game here, when the Raiders trailed, 24-3, at the half and rallied to win.

Before the second-half kickoff Monday night, Marcus Allen went out onto the field with the special teams and exhorted them on.

The Seahawks then finished kicking the living daylights out of the Raiders.

“In the beginning of the year,” Martin said, “Al and everybody was saying this was a rebuilding year. A lot of guys on our team felt we had the people to get back to the Super Bowl.

“We’ve still got possibilities. We still have a chance at the playoffs, even if it isn’t that good.”

Late in the game, the crowd started chanting: “Raiders, go home!”

The Raiders wouldn’t have to be asked twice.

Raider Notes The Raiders have lost five straight here, four regular-season and one playoff game, since 1981. . . . Jim Plunkett left the game in the second period with a strained right arch but returned in the third period. . . . Did the Raiders claim crowd noise as a disadvantage? Not this time. Coach Tom Flores: “We knew that. It’s no mystery. It’s always noisy here, always loud. That wasn’t the reason. You still have to block.” . . . And Marcus Allen: “You play well, you shut the crowd up. If you don’t play well . . . draw your own conclusions.” . . . Meet at the Raider quarterback: Plunkett was sacked six times, Marc Wilson four and Rusty Hilger one. For the Seahawks, Sam Merriman, Greg Gaines and Joe Nash had two sacks apiece. Many others had one. . . . Todd Christensen’s first pass reception of the night made him the first NFL player to catch 80 passes in four straight seasons. . . . The Raiders finish their season with home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals play at home against the Cleveland Browns, then finish with a road game against the New York Jets. Should the Raiders win their last two and the Bengals go 1-1, the Raiders will make the playoffs.