PRO FOOTBALL : Seahawks Sweep Up a Victory : AFC: Seattle scores go-ahead touchdown in 19-10 victory after Cincinnati fumbles on sweep in its end zone.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ most surprising call of the game didn’t fool linebacker Kevin Murphy. He looked over their offense and had a hunch about what was coming.

Murphy’s hunch paid off when he caused a game-turning fumble.

The Bengals tried to protect a fourth-quarter lead Sunday by running a sweep out of their end zone. Murphy stripped Harold Green of the ball, and Rod Stephens fell on it for a touchdown with 4:26 remaining to give Seattle the go-ahead points in its 19-10 victory over the winless Bengals.

“That’s a game that makes old men of coaches,” said Seattle’s Tom Flores. “But you have to find ways to win. Our defense came up with a great play.”

The Bengals (0-4) had taken their first lead midway through the fourth quarter behind Jay Schroeder, who replaced the injured David Klingler. Schroeder completed three consecutive passes covering 85 yards, the last a 21-yarder to Carl Pickens to give Cincinnati a 10-9 lead.

Cincinnati got the ball back at its four-yard line after a punt. Instead of running straight ahead, the Bengals took the gamble that gave Seattle (2-2) a chance.

Schroeder, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 183 yards, handed to Green near the goal line for a sweep to the left--an unusual call for a team at that spot. Plus, the play hadn’t worked all game. Green carried 13 times for only 16 yards.

Everyone, including Green, was a little surprised at the call.

“All day it’s been difficult for us to perfect that play,” Green said. “It’s a difficult play.”

Especially when someone on the other team sees it coming.

“When they came out in that formation, I had a feeling they were going to try to run a sweep to my side,” Murphy said. “So I got off quick, he came out and I got a hold of him. He twisted and the ball came out.”

Bengal Coach Dave Shula didn’t give much of an explanation for the call that will be the most widely second-guessed of his two-year career.

“It hadn’t worked all day and it certainly didn’t work that time,” Shula said.

The defense preserved the lead by causing Schroeder to fumble on fourth and six at the Cincinnati 25-yard line. John Kasay kicked a 35-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, to clinch it.