Phenomenal finale

SEATTLE – The first person he met, as fate would have it, was Brett Favre.

Coach and player stood near the 50-yard line, surrounded by cameras, as they shared another of their on-field farewell conversations late Sunday afternoon, seconds after time ran out on the Seattle Seahawks’ 13-3 win over Favre and the New York Jets.

Mike Holmgren, in his final home game as Seahawks coach, exchanged a few words with his most famous pupil, then continued his walk along the white field at the team’s downtown stadium. He embraced family members at the 20-yard line, continued toward the south end zone, then slowly took a lap around the circumference of Qwest Field’s playing surface.

With fans chanting his name, ovations following his path and a few joyous snowballs sent from the stands, Holmgren made his way around the stadium with hand raised.

This was just the way the Seahawks wanted to send him out.

“We wanted to give coach Holmgren back what he’s given so many of us,” said cornerback Josh Wilson, who had two interceptions in the win. “This was his last opportunity to win at Qwest Field, so we wanted to play big for him.”

The Seahawks, who have spent most of the 2008 season playing below expectations, rose up in the snow and 31-degree temperatures at Qwest Field on Sunday and gave their coach an afternoon he might not forget.

In front an inspired crowd that included signs like one that simply read “Thank you, Mike,” the Seahawks sent off their coach in style. Seattle snapped a six-game home losing streak in what is expected to be the final home game of Holmgren’s career as Seahawks head coach.

“We had things in perspective,” middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. “We know how much he’s done for this city and this organization, and we wanted to send him out the way he came in. He made winners out of Seattle.”

The 2008 Seahawks (4-11) were rare winners on Sunday, taking advantage of inclement conditions, a strong defensive performance and one of those rare games in which Jets quarterback Brett Favre looked his age.

The 39-year-old, future Hall of Famer completed 18 of 31 passes for just 187 yards and the two interceptions, including one on the Jets’ final drive. Wilson celebrated that pick by diving into a snow bank behind the south end zone.

“I was just playing in the snow, going back to the old days,” said Wilson, a 23-year-old Maryland native who intercepted Favre’s final pass with 1:16 remaining. “It’s Christmas, baby.”

The Jets finished with just 265 yards of offense, the second-lowest total the Seahawks have allowed all season. New York (9-6) kicked a field goal on their opening drive but had six punts, a turnover on downs and two interceptions the rest of the way. The Jets’ three points marked the fewest points allowed by Seattle since beating San Francisco 23-3 on Sept. 30, 2007.

“It didn’t go as planned for the whole season, but toward the end of the year we started doing a better job of getting off the field,” linebacker Julian Peterson said.

Seattle’s offense, which was missing all five projected starters on the line as well as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, did just enough to give the home fans a rare victory. Quarterback Seneca Wallace threw a touchdown pass to tight end John Carlson just before halftime, then set up a pair of third-quarter field goals by going 4-for-4 passing on a 13-play drive.

Seattle’s final points came after cornerback Kelly Jennings broke up a fourth-down pass to set up the game-clinching field goal with 1:52 remaining.

Soon thereafter, the celebration began.

Wide receiver Bobby Engram jumped on top of a trainers table and started waving his arms to the crowd. Tatupu and wide receiver Deion Branch exchanged hugs with Holmgren on the sideline.

And while Holmgren took his victory lap, several players and members of the Seahawks’ front office looked on with unabashed pride.

Team CEO Tod Leweike stood near the north end zone, alone, and watched as Holmgren circled the stadium with security and cameras in tow. The gregarious Leweike was for, what may be the first time in his life, unable to find the right words for the moment.

“All I can say,” he said, “is that I have a tear in my eye.”

And Leweike wasn’t the only one.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of big things, and this is one that was up there,” said Branch, who won two Super Bowls while playing for the New England Patriots. I was just happy to be a part of it.

“I could see guys keeping their jerseys. We’ve still got another game, but I saw guys putting their jerseys in their bags. That’s a little different.”