Reeling Seahawks Left Devastated

DENVER — Reduced to the role of spoiler, the Denver Broncos played the part perfectly, with plenty of drama at the end.

After the Seattle Seahawks scored 10 points in the final 54 seconds to produce a tie in regulation, the Broncos prevailed, 36-30, on linebacker Glenn Cadrez’s 37-yard fumble return 2:43 into overtime Sunday.

On third and four from the Denver 47-yard line, cornerback Ray Crockett came in on a blitz and hit Seattle quarterback Jon Kitna, forcing a fumble that Cadrez scooped up for the winning score.

It was only the second overtime game in NFL history to be decided by a fumble return for a touchdown. The other occurred in 1983 when Baltimore beat New England.

Denver, the winner of the last two Super Bowls, was eliminated from playoff contention last week. But the Broncos (5-9) handed the Seahawks (8-6) their fourth consecutive loss and dropped them one game behind first-place Kansas City in the AFC West. The Seahawks and Chiefs play next Sunday at Seattle.

“It’s a very, very tough pill to swallow,” Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren said. “I don’t know where [Crockett] came from or what happened. I know they hit it just right and Jon was not looking in that direction.

“The season is not over, but bouncing back from a loss like this is a challenge. It is sudden death now in our game next week with Kansas City, but it would have been regardless of which way this one ended. Next week’s game, I would say, is for the division.”

Kitna called it “the hardest way to lose. I was just getting ready to throw to Mike Pritchard when I got hit. Obviously, I didn’t see him [Crockett].”

Denver rookie Olandis Gary ran for a career-high 183 yards, including a momentum-turning 71-yard gain with three minutes left. Gary’s long run set up Brian Griese’s nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dwayne Carswell to give the Broncos a seemingly secure 30-20 lead with 1:47 left in regulation.

But Kitna threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mayes with 54 seconds left and Seattle’s Kerry Joseph recovered the ensuing onside kick, setting up Todd Peterson’s 45-yard field goal with nine seconds to go that forced the overtime.