Kemp Starts Up the Seahawks’ Offense, 20-13

With quarterback Dave Krieg out with a broken right thumb, Jeff Kemp made the most of his opportunity to start again for the Seattle Seahawks.

Kemp, starting his first game in three seasons, passed for two touchdowns in the third quarter Sunday as the Seahawks beat the New York Jets, 20-13.

“You need to be ready every day,” said Kemp, who last started Sept. 25, 1988, in a 38-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. “But I didn’t know I’d have to wait a couple of years to get my next start. I’m just pleased we got a win.”

Kemp, who didn’t throw a pass in 1989 or 1990, completed 17 of 28 passes for 182 yards, including touchdowns of 12 yards to tight end Travis McNeal and 15 yards to wide receiver Tommy Kane that gave the Seahawks (1-1) a 20-3 lead after three quarters.

Kemp got the start after Krieg was injured in the Seahawks’ regular-season opener at New Orleans. Krieg will be out for five to seven weeks.

Kemp also had two 18-yard runs and finished as Seattle’s leading rusher with 36 yards in five carries.

The Seahawks’ defense, led by 293-pound tackle Cortez Kennedy, limited the Jets (1-1) to field goals of 29 and 30 yards by Pat Leahy until Troy Taylor threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Rob Moore with 1:14 left in the game.

Kennedy sacked Jet quarterback Ken O’Brien twice for 18 yards in losses. O’Brien, who completed 13 of 29 passes for 128 yards, left the game in the fourth quarter with a twisted ankle after he was sacked by Rufus Porter. The Seahawks broke a 3-3 tie in the third quarter with a 34-yard field goal by rookie John Kasay and Kemp’s touchdown passes to McNeal and Kane.

Seattle cornerback Dwayne Harper intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter.

The Jets lost running back Blair Thomas because of a back injury. The Seahawks lost defensive tackle Eric Hayes because of a knee injury.