Debacle In The Dome Jets Skyrocket By Seahawks As Play Begins
The race for biggest indignity suffered by the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday ended in a tie.
The failure to score in four tries from New York’s 1-yard line, Bennie Blades butchering a certain fumble recovery and booting the ball out of bounds, the gobs of damaging penalties and the Mitsubishi big screen wishing Michael Sinclair happy birthday minutes after he limped to the sidelines with a back injury. Oh yeah, he was hit by a teammate.
Wait, late entry: At one point, Seattle had one first down to New York’s 16.
In perhaps the darkest day for the franchise since moving vans merged onto I-5 South 18 months ago, Seattle was humbled by the Jets 41-3 in the season opener before a stunned gathering of 53,893 at the Kingdome. Maybe 15,000 remained at the conclusion.
“I’m the most shocked person in the world and so is that team in (the locker room),” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. He concluded his press conference thusly: “I apologize to everybody for that performance, but it’s going to get straightened out, believe me.”
Only Stephen King could have dreamed up a more wretched Sunday. Quarterback John Friesz broke his thumb just before half and will miss an estimated 6-8 weeks. A promising off-season stoked by the arrival of high-priced free agents and first-round draft picks Walter Jones and Shawn Springs was overshadowed by one of the most inept performances in franchise history. It was Seattle’s second worst setback, behind a 51-7 Thanksgiving Day massacre at Dallas in 1980, and it came to a Jets team that was 1-15 last season.
“Well, I couldn’t hope for anything better than that,” said new Jets coach Bill Parcells, who may be given the key to New York City upon the Jets’ return.
Seattle had virtually no hope by early in the second quarter. The Jets scored on their first five possessions.
Seattle cornerback Fred Thomas was beaten on two touchdown passes and Reggie Brown’s false-start penalty led to John Hall’s 55-yard field goal.
New York converted on fourth down at the 1 when Neil O’Donnell hit uncovered tight end Kyle Brady in the end zone. A pass interference penalty continued a Jets’ drive that ended with Hall’s second field goal.
It was 27-0 with 8:31 left in the second quarter. Booing by restless fans had begun long before.
Seattle managed a field goal just before half, but even that came with a price. On the previous play, Friesz’s passing hand hit the helmet of a blitzing Jet as he completed his throwing motion. He suffered a broken bone at the base of the thumb. He wasn’t certain if the helmet or his ensuing fall caused it.
The bludgeoning continued in the second half.
New York’s Wayne Chrebet zipped past cornerback Willie Williams in one-on-one coverage for a 31-yard TD reception 2:35 into the third quarter. Jeff Graham beat Williams on the next series and his 47-yard scoring catch made it 41-3 midway through the third.
“A lot of us could be jobless if we keep playing like this,” Blades said.
Warren Moon, Friesz’s replacement, drove Seattle to New York’s 1, but the Seahawks came away empty after sandwiching two incompletions around two no-gain rushes by Chris Warren.
Seattle’s defense fared no better than the offense, yielding 434 yards.
O’Donnell was 18 of 26 for 270 yards and five TDs. Adrian Murrell raced through what was supposed to be an improved Seattle rush defense for 131 yards. The Jets’ first punt came with 9:40 left in the game.
“I wish I had an answer, but I don’t,” Erickson said. “You name it, it went wrong.”
Very, very wrong.
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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: JETS 41 SEAHAWKS 3 Key stat: The Jets outgained Seattle 434-247. Where Seahawks stand: Seattle is 0-1. Next Sunday: vs. Denver, 1 p.m. at Kingdome.