Seahawks Rally Past Broncos : AFC: Denver races to 20-3 halftime lead, but Seattle charges back, 31-27, to remain in playoff contention.

The game was slipping away, and along with it the Seattle Seahawks’ slim playoff hopes. They had to do something, and fast.

Safety Robert Blackmon blitzed and blindsided Denver quarterback John Elway, who fumbled. Defensive end Antonio Edwards picked up the ball and ran 83 yards for a touchdown, triggering a second-half rally that carried the Seahawks to a 31-27 victory Sunday.

The key turnover came after Denver had reached the Seattle five-yard line early in the second half. Already leading, 20-3, the Broncos stood poised to make it even more one-sided. Instead, the scoreboard read 20-10.

Backup quarterback John Friesz threw two touchdown passes in the final 4:10 to complete the rally, which overshadowed an NFL record by Denver’s Glyn Milburn, who had 404 all-purpose yards.

“We called the blitz,” Seattle Coach Dennis Erickson said. “We had to try to make something happen. They’re driving down to put the game away. I mean, that thing was about over with. I thought that was the turning point in the game. We’ve never come back to win like that before.”

Erickson has a limited perspective, of course, since he’s a first-year coach in Seattle. But some Seattle veterans agreed.

Asked if it was the biggest victory he had experienced as a Seahawk, Chris Warren, in his sixth season, said, “I would say so--coming at the time it did with us in the playoff hunt.”

Friesz, who replaced Rick Mirer late in the first half when the latter suffered a slightly separated left shoulder, led the Seahawks to scores on their first three possessions of the fourth quarter.

Seattle (7-7) began its final-quarter blitz with an interception by safety Eugene Robinson--the fourth of five Denver turnovers. The Seahawks marched 87 yards, capped by Warren’s 24-yard burst up the middle, to cut the deficit to 20-17 with 11:06 left.

The Broncos (7-7), who saw their playoff chances fade with the loss since their final two games are on the road against Kansas City and Oakland, countered four minutes later. Milburn’s 45-yard kickoff return got Denver started at its 46 and, after a 21-yard pass-interference penalty against Selvyn Jones, Elway sneaked one yard for the touchdown and a 27-17 lead with 7:16 to go.

Seattle then went 76 yards in nine plays to cut the Bronco lead to 27-24.

After Denver couldn’t manage a first down, Seattle took over after a punt at its 44. Friesz led the Seahawks down the field, then connected with Warren on a 20-yard scoring play with 49 seconds remaining.