Some Life Shown After Elimination

The Seattle Seahawks found out early in the day that they had been eliminated from the playoffs.

Even so, they rallied in the fourth quarter on touchdowns by Ricky Watters and Shawn Springs to beat the Indianapolis Colts, 27-23, on Sunday.

The Seahawks (8-7) learned they had been eliminated from the playoffs for the 10th year in a row in the first quarter when New England beat San Francisco, 24-21.

That is expected to cost Coach Dennis Erickson his job after the season ends next Sunday in Denver. Former San Francisco 49er coach George Seifert has been rumored to be Erickson’s replacement.

“When you put it in somebody else’s hands, that’s how it is,” Erickson said of his team’s playoff elimination. “There’s not much I can do about that.”

Watters, who set a career high with 178 yards in 32 carries, scored on a 33-yard run with 9:19 to go to make it 23-17. Then the Seahawks used their defense to get their winning touchdown.

On a first-down play from the Colt 26, Phillip Daniels caused Marshall Faulk to fumble and Springs picked up the bouncing ball and ran 14 yards into the end zone. Spring’s touchdown extended the Seahawks’ NFL record for most return touchdowns in a season with 13.

Todd Peterson, who missed two long field-goal attempts for the Seahawks in the third quarter, added a 30-yard field goal with 1:57 left to finish the scoring.

The Colts (3-12) had a chance to win the game after a 27-yard pass interference penalty against the Seahawks’ Terry McDaniel gave them the ball on the Seattle seven with 56 seconds to go. But Indianapolis rookie Peyton Manning threw four consecutive incompletions.

Manning was 23 for 39 for 335 yards with one interception. He threw one touchdown pass and set up another with a long pass for the Colts.

“A loss means the same thing,” Manning said. “Being close, there’s no excuse for it. Losing 44-6 or 27-23. There’s no difference. We lost the game.”

Indianapolis had taken a 20-10 lead in the third quarter when Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 48-yard field goal--his third of the game--and Manning threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Pollard.

Peterson missed field goals of 53 and 52 yards in the third quarter.

Seattle contained Faulk. He finished with 19 yards in 13 carries. He caught four passes for 16 yards and needs 122 yards receiving in the season finale against Carolina to become the second player in NFL history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and receiving.