Seahawks, Johnson Get Back on Track Against Chiefs, 19-7 : AFC: Seattle stops Kansas City with outstanding defense against the rush and four field goals from its maligned kicker.

Kicker Norm Johnson returned to form and the Seattle Seahawks’ defense displayed its finest form Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Johnson, who has struggled this season, kicked four field goals and the Seahawks limited Christian Okoye and Barry Word to a combined 66 yards rushing for a 19-7 victory.

The 260-pound Okoye, last year’s NFL rushing champion, was held to 31 yards in 11 carries and the 240-pound Word, who set a Kansas City single-game rushing record with 200 yards last week, was limited to 35 yards in seven carries.

“Give the Seahawks some credit,” said Okoye, who rushed for 156 and 126 yards in victories over Seattle last season. “They tried hard to shut down our running game. They had great penetration.”

Seahawk quarterback Dave Krieg threw four interceptions, but Seattle recovered three Kansas City fumbles.

Rufus Porter sacked Chief quarterback Steve DeBerg and recovered DeBerg’s fumble on the Kansas City 11 to set up a clinching four-yard touchdown run by John L. Williams with 1:54 left.

“It’s one of our best defensive games and, like they say, the best is yet to come,” Porter said.

Johnson, who was seven of 12 on field-goal attempts going into the game, converted from 39, 27, 39 and 43 yards against the Chiefs.

His success may help quiet the barrage of criticism he has endured in Seattle.

Seahawk Coach Chuck Knox brought in free-agent kicker Rich Karlis for a tryout two weeks ago.

“The criticism has toughened me up,” Johnson said. “People talk about having stress on the job. But I don’t think people can know what stress is until they’ve been in my shoes.”

The Chiefs (4-3) led, 7-3, at halftime after DeBerg connected with J.J Birden on a 33-yard touchdown pass play with 58 seconds left in the second quarter. It was Birden’s first career NFL touchdown.

After the Chiefs’ score, the Seahawks went 54 yards in six plays and Johnson made his first 39-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

The Seahawks (3-4) cut the lead to 7-6 when Johnson kicked his second field goal after a Seattle drive was stopped at the Kansas City nine.

The Seahawks went 56 yards--from their 23 to the Kansas City 21--in 11 plays to position Johnson for his third field goal to gave Seattle the lead for good with 9:25 left. The drive was highlighted by a nine-yard pass from Krieg to Jeff Chadwick on fourth down.

Johnson increased the margin to 12-7 with his 43-yarder with three minutes left.

“We made some positive plays but we didn’t make enough of them,” Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

Krieg completed 13 of 35 passes for 132 yards. DeBerg completed 23 of 34 for 213 yards.

Kevin Ross intercepted two passes for the Chiefs and Jeff Donaldson and Albert Lewis each intercepted one.

Donaldson picked off Krieg’s pass with 1:22 left in the first quarter after the ball bounced off Ron Heller at the goal line.

In the second quarter, Ross intercepted a pass at the Kansas City five and Lewis stole another at the Chiefs’ nine. Lewis’ interception set up a 91-yard drive that led to the Chiefs’ only touchdown.

Ross intercepted another pass in the third quarter.