Unbelievably undefeated
Seattle off to 3-0 start after 24-14 win over Redskins
Posted: Sunday September 20, 1998 11:56 PM
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Opening act: Broussard returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score AP |
SEATTLE (AP) -- Steve
Broussard got the unbeaten Seattle Seahawks off to
a perfect start. Then their defense kept their record perfect against the
winless Washington
Redskins.
Broussard ran back the game's opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and
the Seahawks ran their record to 3-0 -- their first since 1986 -- with a
24-14 victory over the Redskins on Sunday.
"It was blocked perfectly," Broussard said. "I ran through a hole as big
as a truck."
The Seahawks also took advantage of three turnovers on a day when their
offense came up short statistically.
"Our goal every game is to get three turnovers," safety Jay Bellamy said. "There's
nothing like taking the ball away to deflate your opponent."
Ricky Watters had his
second straight 100-yard rushing game and scored his first touchdown for
the Seahawks, who also got Warren Moon's sixth TD pass
of the season.
The Redskins (0-3) are off to their worst start since 1981, when they
dropped their first five games.
"There's no question our team is as frustrated as you can be," downcast
Redskins coach Norv Turner said. "When you start the game out with a kick
return for a touchdown, that really hurts."
Said Washington linebacker Ken Harvey: "It would be
easy to give up. But we have 13 games left and we have to believe we can
win all 13 games."
Washington lost despite getting a 300-yard passing game from Trent Green. Green was
27-of-54 for 383 yards and two touchdowns. The Redskins had 27 first downs
to Seattle's 16 and 465 yards to the Seahawks' 299.
"Stats are stats," Seattle coach Dennis Erickson said. "But the scoreboard
is the scoreboard. That's what it's all about."
"We had a lot of good performances, but we still didn't win," said Green,
Washington's starter the past two weeks.
Watters ran 24 times for 146 yards and one touchdown, while Moon was
16-for-33 for 141 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
The Seahawks intercepted two passes by Green and also recovered a fumble
that cost the Redskins a chance for a second touchdown.
Westbrook caught both of the Redskins' two touchdowns in his seven-reception, 132-yard game AP | |
Seattle's defense had three sacks, giving it 19 in three games. The
Seahawks have outscored their first three opponents 95-28.
Broussard, 31, gave the Seahawks a 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the game when
he took David Akers' kickoff at the 10 and sprinted 90 yards untouched for
a touchdown.
Leading 10-7 at halftime, the Seahawks scored two touchdowns in the third
quarter to take a 24-7 lead.
Watters scored on a 13-yard run with 2:22 gone in the second half after Darrin Smith intercepted a
pass by Green on the Washington 19.
Moon fooled the Redskins badly on a misdirection play for Seattle's second
touchdown of the quarter.
After a 37-yard run by Watters on a splendid spin move, Moon had the
Redskins' defense guessing wrong. On first-and-10 from the 21, Washington
thought Watters had the ball and followed him on a sweep. But Moon kept it
and found Mike
Pritchard wide open for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 8:12 left in the
third quarter.
The Redskins then drove from their own 14 to the Seattle 14, but Darryl Williams forced Terry Allen to fumble the
ball, and Jay Bellamy recovered.
The Redskins got their second TD on a 26-yard pass from Green to Michael Westbrook with 31
seconds left.
After Broussard's TD, the Redskins tied the score on Green's 36-yard
touchdown pass to Westbrook with 6:09 left in the first quarter.
Westbrook caught seven passes for a career-high 132 yards and two
touchdowns.
Todd Peterson gave the
Seahawks their halftime lead with a 32-yard field goal with 1:11 left
before halftime. He missed a 52-yard attempt with 5:02 gone in the second
period.
The Redskins brought in Akers as their kicker this week after cutting Scott Blanton after he
missed two field goal attempts against San Francisco Monday night. Akers
missed 49- and 47-yard attempts in the second quarter.
"Our kicker just didn't work out," Turner said. "We still have to solve
our kicking problems." Extra points
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue attended Sunday's game. He said he was in
Seattle to get updated over the plans for the team's new outdoor, stadium.
...Seahawks wide receiver Joey Galloway sprained an
ankle, while linebacker Chad Brown and defensive
end Phillip Daniels had
concussions. Erickson said he expected all three to play in Seattle's next
game at Pittsburgh next Sunday. ... The Redskins' Twan Russell suffered a
sprained toe in his left foot. Washington guard Joe Patton and safety
safety Jesse Campbell
had sprained right knees. ... Top draft choice Anthony Simmons made his
debut with the Seahawks at outside linebacker after Brown went out with his
concussion in the third quarter. ... The Seahawks are a plus-8 in turnover
ratio, while the Redskins are minus-8. ... Moon hasn't thrown an
interception this year.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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