Hawks Must Win, Then Pray Chief Obstacle Is K.C., But Seattle Needs Help

As all the varied and complex playoff permutations have fallen aside, it’s come down to this:

The Seattle Seahawks have two chances to reach their first playoff berth since 1988.

No, it’s not “slim and none.”

They must defeat Kansas City today to move their record to 9-7 and St. Louis must upset Miami to leave the Dolphins at 8-8.

But as the history of the competition between these teams shows, there’s nothing simple about Seattle beating the Chiefs - it’s only happened once in the last 13 meetings in Arrowhead Stadium.

Further, although the 12-3 Chiefs have the AFC West division title wrapped up and a ticket to the playoffs in hand, they need a win or a Pittsburgh loss to guarantee home-field advantage through the playoffs.

For the Seahawks, through a scheduling quirk, this game provides an interesting yardstick.

They started the season with the Chiefs (a 34-10 loss in Seattle) and now they get to finish at K.C. - with the outcome being a measure of how much they have improved.

The growth of the Seahawks - from a team that was confused and routed in the opener to the team that is challenging for a wild card berth - has been stunning by any measure.

“It’s as dramatic a change as any I’ve ever seen in my coaching career,” Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “They’re averaging over 30 points a game in the last seven games, they’re 6-1, they have the best rushing attack in the NFL and arguably one of the best, if not the best, rushing back in the league.

“And what’s most impressive to me, as I watched them play Philadelphia and the Raiders, is they’re knocking the devil out of everybody.”

Surprising Seattle is seen as one of the hottest teams in the AFC, having won six of the last seven games after a 2-6 start.

Comparing those half-seasons, the Hawks have upped their scoring average from 18.1 to 30.7 and trimmed their points allowed from 24.4 to 20.7.

The biggest difference, though, has come in turnovers, where they were minus-13 in the first eight games and plus-7 in the last seven games.

Seattle’s 6-1 second half is second in the AFC to only Pittsburgh’s 7-0 mark.

“Part of (the slow start) has to do with any new system,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s difficult for talented players to just react and do things because they’re still in the process of trying to make sure they’re doing the right thing. You don’t play naturally and instinctively.”

Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson spent some time this week studying the films of that dismal season opener - his NFL debut. It was a game in which repeated missed assignments opened up the way for Willie Davis to catch five passes for 155 yards, and Greg Hill to rush for 109.

“Watching us play in that game and watching us playing right now, there’s a great deal of difference,” Erickson said. “Mostly in the discipline aspect of playing defense, covering gaps and making coverages - mostly doing your responsibilities mentally. Now, we’re mentally in position to make the play.”

They’d better be.

Aside from not giving up the big play, they must not relinquish the ball, as has been their habit against K.C. Since Schottenheimer took over

the Chiefs in 1989, the team is plus-28 in turnovers against Seattle (39 takes, 11 gives).

“They win because they force turnovers,” Erickson said. “We can’t allow them to do that.”

Good luck. In the 1990s, the Chiefs are an NFL-best plus-90, while the next closest teams (Pittsburgh and the Giants) are merely plus-45.

But Schottenheimer comes into this one with one overriding concern: finding a way to throttle the Hawks’ rushing attack - No. 1 in the NFL.

“Chris Warren is one of the two or three best runners in the league,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s got tremendous power and tremendous burst in acceleration. He’s got tailback ability in a fullback’s body.

“I’ll never forget, as long as I’m alive, the (154-yard) performance he put on us (in 1992). We did everything we could to stop him and nothing worked.”

Warren’s 1,339 rushing yards, according to Chiefs defensive tackle Dan Saleaumua, are the result of good blocking.

“The thing that really impresses me about them is how the offensive line is blowing people off the line of scrimmage,” Saleaumua said.

The desire to land home-field advantage is a strong one for the Chiefs. Statistically, the team benefiting from that advantage has won 18 of the last 20 divisional playoff games. Only the 1993 Chiefs and 1992 Bills have advanced to the conference championship game by virtue of a divisional playoff win on the road.

And for the Chiefs, the home-field advantage might be even more critical, considering that since 1992, K.C. has the best home-game winning percentage in the NFL (.839).

“It’s not an easy place to play,” Erickson said. “It’s a hostile environment, but we’re at the point where we’ve got nothing to lose.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Hawks vs. Chiefs The game: 10 a.m. (PST) at K.C.’s Arrowhead Stadium. Coaches: Seattle - Dennis Erickson, 8-7, first season. K.C. - Marty Schottenheimer, 115-66-1, 15th season. The records: Seattle 8-7. K.C. 12-3. The series: K.C. leads 21-13, having won 12 of the last 13. Last week: Seattle blasted Oakland 44-10 in the Kingdome, while the Chiefs topped Denver 20-17 to improve their record to 12-3. The line: K.C. by 7. On the air Television: NBC with Jim Lampley and Bob Golic. Radio: KXLY (920 AM) with Steve Thomas and Steve Raible.