Backup Plan Is a Winner

Trent Dilfer is making it tough on Mike Holmgren to return him to the bench.

Dilfer, playing for the second straight week in place of Matt Hasselbeck, made it 13 consecutive victories as a starting quarterback as the Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos, 34-21, Sunday.

Holmgren, Seattle’s third-year coach, reiterated that he’s going back to Hasselbeck when Hasselbeck is completely recovered from a pulled left groin muscle. But Holmgren admitted it was getting harder to explain his position to fans.

“I’ll leave that up to you guys,” he told reporters. “They seem to listen to you more than me, that’s for sure. I will try to explain it the best way I can to you fellows and if you can help me a little bit, I think they will get the message.”

Dilfer, the starter for the Baltimore Ravens in their Super Bowl win over the New York Giants in January, had a modest day statistically, but he didn’t commit a turnover as the Seahawks (3-2) ended a three-game losing streak against the Broncos (3-2). Denver had won nine of 10 against Seattle.

Dilfer, signed by the Seahawks as a free agent in August, completed 12 of 18 passes for 110 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Hasselbeck replaced Dilfer with Seattle ahead, 34-14, with 6:53 left because Dilfer suffered a groin injury in the second quarter and could barely run.

Hasselbeck, who has made two career starts to Dilfer’s 86, is expected to reclaim his starting job when the Seahawks play Miami at home Oct. 28 after a bye week.

“That’s my role and I promised Mike Holmgren that I would do whatever role he asked me,” Dilfer said. “I’m doing what I can to help this team win as a No. 2 or No. 3 or whatever it is.”

The Seahawks got a 60-yard touchdown run from Shaun Alexander--his first of two scores--on the game’s sixth play. He finished with 142 yards in 33 carries.

Seattle extended the lead with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown by strong safety Reggie Tongue in the second quarter and got a special-teams touchdown in the third quarter when Alex Bannister blocked a punt by Tom Rouen before returning it nine yards for a touchdown.

The Seahawk defense, led by tackle John Randle and linebacker Chad Brown, stymied running back Mike Anderson, who rushed for 195 and 131 yards in victories against Seattle last season. Anderson was held to 51 yards in 17 carries.

Brian Griese, the Bronco starting quarterback who threw only four interceptions last season, was intercepted three times, twice by Tongue. He passed to Eddie Kennison and Rod Smith for touchdowns in the second quarter.

Denver’s Deltha O’Neal returned a punt 86 yards for the game’s final score.