Watters Doesn’t Miss Step as Seahawks Prevail

Ricky Watters taught his young counterpart a thing or two about running, winning and consistency.

Watters gained 100 yards or more for the 31st time to lead the Seattle Seahawks over Ricky Williams and the New Orleans Saints, 20-10.

Watters, 31, gained 105 yards in 22 carries and scored a touchdown in his 100th consecutive start. The only running back in NFL history with more consecutive starts was Walter Payton, with 170.

“Ricky has been unbelievable,” Seahawk quarterback Jon Kitna said. “People say that he’s lost a step, but I haven’t seen it.”

Watters, who hasn’t missed a start since Christmas 1993 when he was with the San Francisco 49ers, is supposed to be in the twilight of his career in Seattle, which made running back Shaun Alexander of Alabama its top draft choice.

Alexander had five carries for 19 yards and was in the same backfield with Watters a couple of times.

With the score tied, 10-10, Kitna hit tight end Itula Mili for a one-yard touchdown pass with about nine minutes to play. Kris Heppner added his second field goal of the game, a 45-yarder, about five minutes later for the final margin.

Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas who came to the Saints at the heavy price of eight draft choices, gained 107 yards in 23 carries despite playing with a broken bone in his left foot--sustained in the opener. It was his third career 100-yard rushing game.

“What I want to do is win games,” Williams said. “The number of yards I get is not that important. It was frustrating just watching the second half because we didn’t get on the field much.”

Both teams are 1-2.