PRO FOOTBALL : With Krieg Clicking, Seahawks Roll, 24-3

With two of New England’s starting defensive backs sidelined, Dave Krieg threw three touchdown passes in the last 8:15 of the first half, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 24-3 victory Sunday.

The swift attack turned a 3-0 New England lead into a 21-3 Seahawk halftime advantage.

Both teams are now 1-2.

A 27-yard pass play touchdown to Louis Clark gave Seattle a 7-3 lead. Strong safety Jim Bowman, starting because Roland James had a groin injury, ran toward Clark on the left side of the field, where the receiver already was well covered by cornerback Raymond Clayborn. Bowman couldn’t recover when Clark cut across the middle.

Seattle scored again with 1:43 left in the half on Krieg’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Paul Skansi.

Rookie cornerback Maurice Hurst, playing because of a season-ending Achilles’ tendon injury to Ronnie Lippett, left Skansi alone in the left corner of the end zone, and Krieg, scrambling out of trouble, easily found the wide-open receiver.

Krieg’s third touchdown pass was a 10-yard play to John L. Williams’ with 35 seconds left in the half. Williams took a pass in the right flat and dove into the end zone after being hit at the one-yard line.

Seattle scored on its fourth consecutive possession on a 23-yard field goal by Norm Johnson 6:57 into the third quarter.

Fumble recoveries set up the touchdowns by Clark and Williams.

“The defense gave us a boost and the three touchdowns did, too,” said Krieg, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 177 yards with no interceptions.