In The Running Seahawks Can Make Move On Playoffs With Win Over Raiders

There’s a big game in Seattle. And for a change, it doesn’t involve the Huskies, Sonics or Mariners.

It involves the Seahawks. Remember them? They’re the ones who, in their last so-called big game, were bombed by the Jets 41-3 in the season-opener.

But Seattle has won four of its last five to stir some commotion for today’s Kingdome date with Oakland. Since the Raiders are just 3-4, it’s probably a stretch to call it a big game. Being that it is the hated Raiders, however, feel free to call it almost big.

A crowd of 60,000-plus is expected. The TV blackout in the Seattle area has been lifted because two companies bought the remaining 3,400 tickets. The last Seahawks’ home game to be televised in Seattle was against Green Bay last year.

“I told our guys we have the home-field advantage for a change,” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. “That (Dome) can be pretty noisy. Our players are excited about the opportunity to have a lot of people in the stands.

“We’re finally in a position, at 4-3, to have a meaningful game in Seattle and put ourselves in a decent position at the halfway point.”

A victory makes Seattle 5-3, and five of its final eight opponents would have losing records. That would be San Diego, New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore and Oakland.

Nap time

Oakland’s Napoleon Kaufman apparently leads all NFL running backs/ordained ministers with 784 yards.

Kaufman’s story is remarkably similar to the Seahawks’ Steve Broussard. The 5-foot-9 Kaufman went to the University of Washington, partied heavily in college and early on in the pros, and was deemed too small to absorb the pounding of an every-down NFL back - roughly mirroring the 5-7 Broussard’s circumstances, except he starred at Washington State.

But Broussard and Kaufman recently found religion and are changed men. Kaufman was ordained on July 18 at a church in Sacramento.

“Sometimes I get excited and fired up and sometimes it’s not as much shouting but just getting into the word of God,” Kaufman said of his preaching style.

On the field, Kaufman has 140 of Oakland’s 173 rushing attempts. Broussard will start today, but he has only 29 carries this season, well behind injured Lamar Smith’s 60 and Chris Warren’s 65.

Kaufman has six runs of 40 yards or more and a 70-yard reception.

“If you are a straight-up runner, you’ll get killed, but Nap gets by because of his shiftiness,” Raiders coach Joe Bugel said. “There’s a place for those kinds of backs.”

Especially with strong-armed Jeff George at quarterback.

“I’ve never been blessed with a running game,” George said. “I’ve always had to go in having to throw for 300-plus yards and score 28-35 points to win.”

George, but not Washington

You’ll recall George turned down Seattle’s six-year, $30-million offer last year. It worked out for George, who has 16 TDs and only four interceptions in his first year with Oakland. It worked out for Seattle, too, as Warren Moon has passed for 1,607 yards and is 4-2 as a starter.

“The thing about (Seattle) last year is it happened so early,” George said. “I wasn’t ready to make a decision the next day after I was released (by Atlanta). The timing was all wrong.”

George and the Raiders go hand-in-hand. He has a reputation as a malcontent and the Raiders have a reputation for restoring bruised reputations.

“We didn’t have to worry if he had any quirks because this is the place where we try to rebuild people,” Bugel crowed.

Said George: “Growing up, I watched the Steelers, Cowboys and Raiders and I always wanted to be the leader of the Raiders.”

Say what?

Rick Mirer’s father, Ken, lashed out at Chicago coaches after his son’s demotion.

“He has no one,” Ken Mirer was quoted as saying. “He can’t trust his coaches. He can’t trust people around him. It has been a tough situation because he never has been in that position before in his life. Even in Seattle, I don’t think he felt as betrayed as he has felt in Chicago.”

Meanwhile, back here on earth…

The series: Raiders lead 21-17.

The line: Seattle by 2.

On the air

TV: NBC, with Don Criqui and Jim Mora.

Radio: KXLY (920 AM) with Steve Thomas and Steve Raible.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Hawks vs. Raiders The game: 1 p.m. at Kingdome, Seattle. Coaches: Seattle - Dennis Erickson, 19-20, third season. Oakland - Joe Bugel, 3-4, first season; 23-47, fifth season overall. The records: Seattle is 4-3, Oakland is 3-4.