Seahawks Get Big Kick Out of Lindell

Rian Lindell had his kickoff tee in hand, ready to go in case the Seattle Seahawks lost the overtime coin toss.

Turns out he didn’t need it. Lindell kicked a career-best 54-yard field goal as time expired, and the Seattle Seahawks, behind three touchdown passes from Trent Dilfer, beat the San Diego Chargers, 25-22, Sunday to keep their longshot playoff hopes alive.

While the Seahawks mobbed Lindell, Charger Coach Mike Riley walked dejectedly across the field to congratulate Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren. Riley is expected to get fired, and Sunday’s loss was one of the hardest in the season-ending nine-game losing streak for the Chargers (5-11).

“Finally, I got a nice, solid hit,” Lindell said. “Finally, I stepped up and helped this team. All year, I’ve been a cancer to this team.”

Because of his kick, the Seahawks (8-7)--winning for the first time in four road games--can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Kansas City next Sunday and a loss by the New York Jets or Baltimore Ravens.

Lindell, a second-year pro from Washington State, had missed 11 of 30 field-goal attempts this season, including a 48-yarder with 2:37 left.

The game appeared to be going to overtime after Steve Christie’s fifth field goal of the game, from 36 yards with 16 seconds left.

But Charlie Rogers returned the kickoff 64 yards to the San Diego 36 with six seconds left. Lindell’s kick went right down the middle.

It was his fourth career game-winner and third against the Chargers, including a 24-yarder in overtime in Seattle on Dec. 2 that gave the Seahawks a 13-10 victory.

Both quarterbacks played well. Dilfer, starting in place of the injured Matt Hasselbeck, was 14 for 23 for 267 yards with no interceptions. San Diego’s Doug Flutie completed 34 of 53 passes for a career-high 377 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.