Krieg Keeps Seattle Playoff Hopes Alive, 34-24 : Quarterback Passes for Four Scores Against Defenseless Charger Secondary

The Seattle Seahawks have a chance to reach the playoffs if you factor in a combination of scenarios. The Seahawks (9-6) won their fourth straight game, defeating the Chargers, 34-24, Sunday before a San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium crowd of 47,096.

The Seahawks’ playoff chances are predicated on beating Denver this Saturday. If Cincinnati and Kansas City lose next week, the Seahawks would be an AFC wild-card team.

If New England loses and Seattle wins, and either Kansas City or Cincinnati loses, the Seahawks would make the playoffs as a wild card.

On Sunday, there were times--too many times--when it appeared the Charger defensive backs were too confused.

“The Chargers are hurting in the secondary with injuries and we were able to take advantage,” said Seattle receiver Steve Largent, who caught 6 passes for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.

San Diego defensive coordinator Ron Lynn said he suffered flashbacks to the secondary’s play in the early season after watching Seattle quarterback Dave Krieg capitalize on repeated blown assignments.

“We beat ourselves defensively,” Lynn said. “We had foul-ups and didn’t make the right adjustments. I had hoped we were past all that.”

Typical was a 72-yard touchdown pass to Daryl Turner, who burned cornerback Ken Taylor. He scored 4 times in a game a year ago, so there has been some improvement.

“You could look at it and hope for a poltergeist and just hope the ball would fall to the ground,” Lynn said.

Not many Krieg passes fell to the ground.

He hit 15 of 21 passes, including 10 for 10 in the second half, good for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns.

“I think he’s throwing as well right now as he ever has,” Largent said.

“He was playing out of his living mind,” said Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow, who had 8 catches for 105 yards and 1 touchdown.

Running back Curt Warner took some of the pressure off the passing game by rushing 28 times for 93 yards.

“If they get in the playoffs, I am sure they will go a long way,” Charger Coach Al Saunders said. “They controlled the ball in the third quarter for 13 minutes and did a great job of converting third downs. They played the way you have to in order to win.”

The Chargers, who had won two straight games and three out of five, regarded the Seahawks as the league’s hottest team, and they were not disappointed.

But the Seahawks did not allow their recent success to affect their play Sunday.

“My left eye was on the scoreboard all day,” safety Paul Moyer said. “Everyone else in the league seemed to be doing what we wanted them to do. And we knew we just had to win. Now we can look forward to our game against Denver next Saturday.”

To keep his team alive for a playoff berth, Krieg threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Seahawks won their fourth straight game.

A 14-yard catch by Ray Butler with 2:23 remaining secured the win.

“It was a corner route out of an inside position,” Butler said. “I was man-to-man and I gave him a move inside. When he went outside, I got wide open and Dave threw a perfect pass.”

The Seahawks took a 27-17 lead on a 23-yard catch by Largent.

In the course of a 96-yard drive, Largent made 3 catches for 65 yards.

He became the third player in National Football League history to surpass 11,000 yards in career receiving.

“He made some spectacular catches,” said San Diego safety Vencie Glenn, one of a trio of defensive backs whose practice time had been limited by injuries, perhaps contributing to some of the poor play.

San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts (21 of 38, 237 yards) moved into second place in NFL history with 40,287 career yards. He trails only Fran Tarkenton with 47,003 yards.

He also became the second most prolific passer in attempts. With 5,212 attempts, he trails Tarkenton (6,467).

The Seahawks overcame a bizarre second-and-53 on the first series of the second half.

Two holding calls and a personal foul hit the Seahawks after they drove to the San Diego nine-yard line.

The penalties left Seattle facing first and 44 from the San Diego 44. Then a sack by Lee Williams put the Seahawks into a most unusual second and 53 position.

They got out of it on a 21-yard pass to Butler coupled with a personal foul on Williams for an automatic first down.

The Seahawks went on to score and take a 20-17 lead on a 25-yard Norm Johnson field goal.

“When they did that, it set the tone for the whole second half” Winslow said.

The Chargers, whose first score came on a short run by Spencer, got a little closer with a 23-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke after a lengthy second-period drive.

They went 76 yards in 16 plays, consuming 8:57, a textbook example of Saunders’ ball control offense that has replaced the fireworks of Air Coryell.

They tied the game, 17-17, just before the half on a 14-yard scoring pass to Winslow.