Game-Winning Field Goal Is Hard to Watch

On their third try for a game-winner, the Seattle Seahawks made sure they got close enough for Rian Lindell.

Lindell, who missed two field goals in the final five minutes of regulation, made a 24-yarder with 8:37 left in overtime to give the Seahawks a 13-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

“I couldn’t look at that one,” Seahawk Coach Mike Holmgren said. “He made it, bless his heart.”

Lindell was wide left with a 48-yard attempt as time ran out and was wide right with a 43-yard try with 4:25 remaining. He missed field goals of 28 and 35 yards in a 24-20 loss at home to Miami on Oct. 28.

But when it mattered most Sunday, Lindell made sure his kick was good, as he did last season against the Chargers at Husky Stadium when he made one from 48 yards as time expired for a 17-15 victory.

“He’s won some games for us before and he’ll do it again,” center Robbie Tobeck said.

The Seahawks end a seven-game overtime losing streak, dating to 1992, and extended to eight the Chargers’ losing streak in overtime, going back to 1990.

Despite Lindell’s problems, the Seahawks will probably finish their season with him.

Lindell left the locker room after the game without speaking to reporters.

“At this stage of the season, it’s pretty hard to do anything. Those were long field goals. They were not easy field goals he missed,” Holmgren said.

The Seahawks (6-5) received the kickoff in overtime and went 62 yards in 11 plays to get into good position for Lindell, who also made a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter.

“I was surprised they were able to move the ball down the field,” San Diego Coach Mike Riley said. “Besides the first drive they had for a score, until the end of the ballgame I thought our defense had a very good day.”

Seattle beat the Chargers for the third consecutive time and did it without cornerback Shawn Springs, suspended by the NFL last week for violating its policy on the use of anabolic steroids.

The Chargers (5-7) lost their fifth game in a row and were beaten by a field goal for the second straight week.

Shaun Alexander, who finished with 87 yards in 29 carries and one touchdown, gained 29 yards in six carries in Seattle’s overtime drive that began with an 18-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to rookie Koren Robinson.

Hasselbeck also directed Seattle on a 72-yard touchdown drive on its first possession, with Alexander scoring on a one-yard run. Hasselbeck finished 19 for 35 for 202 yards, with no interceptions and no touchdowns.

The Chargers lost starting cornerback Tay Cody on the first play of the second half with a sprained right ankle, but their defense held the Seahawks to one touchdown.