Seahawks Pull Off Their Own Robbery

The Seattle Seahawks were still smarting from last week’s “blown call” loss to the New York Jets, and they took it out on the San Diego Chargers.

The Seahawks intercepted a franchise-record seven passes--two apiece by Shawn Springs, Darryl Williams and Jay Bellamy--and beat the Chargers, 38-17, on Sunday to keep their remote playoff hopes alive.

Seattle (7-7), which lost last week when the officials incorrectly ruled that the Jets’ Vinny Testaverde scored a touchdown in the closing seconds, returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns to set an NFL record for most touchdowns (12) off turnovers in a season.

“That loss [to the Jets] sticks forever,” said Coach Dennis Erickson, who is expected to be fired if the Seahawks miss the playoffs. “But today was a nice win for us, particularly after what happened last week.”

The Seahawks intercepted five passes by Charger starting quarterback Craig Whelihan and two by rookie Ryan Leaf, who played for the first time in five games.

“We were happy when he [Leaf] came onto the field,” said Bellamy, Seattle’s strong safety. “He looked kind of scared and he threw some balls that weren’t even professional. I’m not trying to be cruel, I’m just trying to be honest.”

Whelihan completed only eight of 28 passes for 142 yards. Leaf, who entered the game with the NFL’s worst quarterback rating, was nine for 14 for 93 yards.

Whelihan left the dressing room before reporters got there, but Leaf stayed and answered questions.

“It’s going to be tough now to look our defenders in the eye after the way the quarterbacks played,” Leaf said.

The Chargers (5-9) lost their third in a row despite holding Seattle to 238 yards.

Cortez Kennedy, Seattle’s six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, got his first career touchdown when he picked up a fumble by Leaf--after it was stripped by Matt LaBounty--and returned it 39 yards to the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

The Seahawks also got a touchdown on a 43-yard interception return by Terry McDaniel that put them ahead for good at 14-7 late in the first quarter.

It was San Diego’s first game since interim Coach June Jones announced he was leaving at the end of the season to become the coach at the University of Hawaii.