Second half collapse leads to overtime loss

CLEVELAND – His face dripped with frustration as Rob Sims held both hands in front of his body, no more than six inches apart. The Seattle Seahawks’ offensive lineman was demonstrating just how close his team was to completing a fourth down in overtime, unable to fathom that the Seahawks had come up short.

“We’re talking about this much,” Sims said after a 33-30 overtime loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night. “And we didn’t get it.”

Sims’s hands lingered in the air, showing just how close Seattle was to getting the last shot at victory. But the distance that separates the NFC West leaders – yes, Seattle (4-4) is somehow still alone in first, despite losses in three of its past four games – is much greater than anyone’s reach can show.

The first half of Seattle’s season has been all too familiar on several different levels, many of which were on display again Sunday. The offense continues to struggle running the football, the defense has trouble sustaining a pass rush and containing big receivers, and the team is about as consistent as the weather of a Pacific Northwest autumn.

This time around, the Seahawks displayed both their Jeckylls and Hydes. Seattle played a convincing first half that saw its lead swell to as many as 15 points, only to fall apart under the weight of unresolved issues.

The most obvious culprit, again, was the running game, most notably on the final offensive snap of the game. After a controversial replay challenge left Matt Hasselbeck inches short ona third-down quarterback scramble, backup running back Maurice Morris – Shaun Alexander was sidelined with knee and ankle injuries – got stopped shy of the marker on fourth-and-inches. That ended Seattle’s lone overtime drive, and the opportunistic Browns marched down the field for their third consecutive scoring drive to win in the end.

Phil Dawson’s 25-yard field goal with 9:17 left in OT sent the Seahawks back to Seattle in a foul mood.

“It’s a long flight home,” Hasselbeck said, “and this makes it tough.”

Part of the pain was in Seattle’s lost chance to win another one-sided game. Just like they had in victories over San Francisco and St. Louis, the Seahawks got off to a quick start and led most of the way. Nate Burleson’s 94-yard punt return for a touchdown gave Seattle a 21-6 lead late in the second quarter, and the Seahawks continued to hold the Browns at arm’s length for most of the second half.

But Cleveland’s offense, which had come alive after halftime, eventually proved too much for the Seahawks. Big tight end Kellen Winslow did most of the damage, with 11 receptions for 125 yards, while veteran running back Jamal Lewis scored three of his four Sunday touchdowns in the second half. His TD with 2:17 left in regulation, followed by a two-point conversion by ex-Seahawk Joe Jurevicius, gave Cleveland its first lead of the game, at 30-27, with 2:17 left in regulation.

But the Seahawks responded, marching 67 yards in 13 plays over the final 2:17 to tie the score on Josh Brown’s 22-yard field goal at the end of regulation.

Browns 33, Seahawks 30

Sea—Engram 5 pass from Hasselbeck (J.Brown kick)

Cle—J.Lewis 2 run (kick failed)

Sea—Hackett 6 pass from Hasselbeck (J.Brown kick)

Sea—Burleson 94 punt return (J.Brown kick)

Cle—FG Dawson 19

Cle—J.Lewis 1 run (Dawson kick)

Sea—FG J.Brown 39

Cle—J.Lewis 2 run (pass failed)

Sea—FG J.Brown 26,

Cle—J.Lewis 1 run (Jurevicius pass from Anderson)

Sea—FG J.Brown 22

Cle—FG Dawson 25

A—72,927.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Seattle, Morris 9-55, Alexander 14-32, Hasselbeck 4-17, Weaver 1-1. Cleveland, J.Lewis 20-37, Anderson 2-21, J.Wright 3-6.

PASSING—Seattle, Hasselbeck 30-47-1-318. Cleveland, Anderson 29-48-1-364.

RECEIVING—Seattle, Engram 14-139, Hackett 6-58, Burleson 4-59, Morris 2-43, Weaver 2-11, Obomanu 1-7, Alexander 1-1. Cleveland, Winslow 11-125, Edwards 5-67, Jurevicius 4-69, J.Lewis 4-67, Vickers 3-17, J.Wright 1-13, Heiden 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.