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Franchise back Alexander sets Seahawks' records vs. Raiders
SEATTLE (AP) - In just his sixth career start, Shaun Alexander turned in the kind of record-setting performance the Seattle Seahawks need for a run at the postseason. Alexander came close to surpassing Walter Payton, O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon with a franchise-record 266 yards rushing in Seattle's 34-27 win against Oakland on Sunday night. "I don't know if that was Alexander or Jim Brown," Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said. "You're asking me if he's good. He's real good, man. Real good." In Seattle, the fans can start calling him Alexander the Great. He had the best day by an NFL running back since Dillon ran for 278 yards on Oct. 22, 2000, against the Denver Broncos to set the all-time single-game rushing record. Payton had 275 for the Chicago Bears on Nov. 20, 1977, against Minnesota, and Simpson rushed for 273 for the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 25, 1976, against Detroit.
"I dream so big. I think big with everything," Alexander said. "When I got to the game, I was just feeling like it was going to be a good one. I was so pumped up early and I kept wanting the ball." Alexander's big game included an 88-yard touchdown sprint in the third quarter that broke a 20-20 tie for the Seahawks (4-4) against the AFC West-leading Raiders (6-2), who had a five-game winning streak broken. His 266 yards broke the team single-game record of 207 yards set by Curt Warner at Kansas City in overtime Nov. 27, 1983. And his 88-yard TD run was the longest in team history, bettering the mark of 86 yards on a reverse for a touchdown by receiver Joey Galloway on Nov. 12, 1995, against Jacksonville. Alexander, who is the all-time rushing leader at Alabama, wasn't supposed to be starting this season. He got his chance only because Ricky Watters injured his shoulder in Seattle's third game and will be out 6-8 weeks. Except for one game when he started in the same backfield with Watters last season, Alexander spent much of his rookie year watching from the sideline. Head coach Mike Holmgren expects to have Watters back in three weeks, in time for the final five games and the playoffs if the Seahawks can qualify. But it sounds as if Alexander has won the starting job. "I just want Shaun to keep playing the way he is playing," Holmgren said. "But it's important to have them both. It's good to have Shaun, obviously." Alexander wasn't supposed to be this good. At Alabama, the 5-foot-11, 220-pounder rushed for 3,565 yards in four seasons and had 15 100-yard rushing games. The Seahawks got him with the 19th pick in the 2000 draft, the fourth running back chosen after Jamal Lewis was picked fifth by Baltimore, Thomas Jones seventh by Arizona and Ron Dayne 11th by the New York Giants. In his five starts in Watters' place this season, Alexander has three games of 100-plus yards. The easy-going Alexander is an interesting contrast to the intense Watters. Watters sometimes yells at his Seahawks teammates. Alexander goes out of his way to make friends. The Seahawks' offensive line was especially motivated against the Raiders. "It's great because you know you're a part of that," center Robbie Tobeck said. "Shaun is so great about coming around and slapping us fives and telling us we did a great job. It just feels good to look up and see a guy cut off your block and run down the field." Alexander showed surprising speed on his 88-yard run. He's an evasive runner who is big and durable, but doesn't always look like a scatback. Looks can be deceiving. The Raiders couldn't catch him. "The biggest thing I've learned is to just trust my speed," Alexander said.
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