Reflective Colts No Match for Alexander, Seahawks

SEATTLE — A team in mourning was no match for one with so much to gain.

Seattle’s Shaun Alexander ran for 139 yards and scored three touchdowns -- including a rare scoring reception -- to tie Priest Holmes’ NFL record of 27 touchdowns in a season. That helped the Seahawks clinch NFC home-field advantage Saturday with a 28-13 victory over the injured, resting and reflective Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts, who already own home field in the AFC playoffs, were without Coach Tony Dungy. Dungy is in Tampa, Fla., where his son died Thursday in an apparent suicide.

“I think everyone had Coach Dungy and his family on our minds,” Colt quarterback Peyton Manning said. “Our prayers are with him. But when you are out there playing, then you are out there trying to do your job.”

Alexander, the NFL rushing leader, became the 16th NFL player to eclipse 1,800 yards rushing in a season while leading the Seahawks to their first-ever postseason top seeding.

“Every flight is going to be at least three hours,” Alexander said of Seattle’s playoff foes next month. “Now every team has to take that trip to us. You don’t feel the same after flying on a plane all day.

“We’re all just kind of in the groove, and no one wants to get off anything right now.”

The Seahawks’ 11th straight victory came against a depleted Indianapolis team without Pro Bowlers Marvin Harrison, Cato June and Bob Sanders -- and with Manning playing just one quarter.

The Colts also rested Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney. He did not start and played little.

The Seahawks (13-2) set a franchise record for wins in a season.

Meanwhile, the Colts (13-2) set off for Tampa to rejoin Dungy for Tuesday’s funeral. Their coach has been there since Thursday, hours after his 18-year-old son James was found dead. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Colts wore on their helmets a white decal with a black horseshoe with the letters JD inside. First-year assistant head coach Jim Caldwell is filling in for Dungy indefinitely.

Alexander’s first score came on Seattle’s first possession after Indianapolis had taken a 3-0 lead. Alexander bowled through Jason David on an 18-yard run to the Colts’ two-yard line. Then he jogged untouched into the end zone.

Alexander tied the record with a one-yard run with 3:58 remaining.

Manning played the first quarter before yielding to backup Jim Sorgi.

A capacity crowd of approximately 67,000 observed a moment of silence for the Dungy family before the game.