Will Seahawks Vanish Into Thin Air? Season On Line, They Face Elway’s Mile High Magic

One of the common statements used to analyze an NFL team’s status this time of year opens with the phrase “If the playoffs began today …”

Well, for the Seattle Seahawks, they do.

In a manner, at least, since any loss in a final three-game set of contests against old AFC West foes means that even a remote opportunity of reaching the post-season has withered.

“Every game is do-or-die if we want any chance to do anything,” Hawks coach Dennis Erickson said heading into today’s game against the 7-6 Broncos. “It’s simple. For us to have any ray of hope, every game is a playoff game for us the rest of the season.”

That ray of hope is a slender beam at best, a frail and flickering candle, as the Hawks (6-7) have lost nine of their last 10 at Mile High Stadium. And on the docket after this game is a home contest against Oakland (8-5) and a season-ending trip to Kansas City (11-2).

But consecutive games in which the Seahawks have reached their nadir (16-10 loss to the Jets) and zenith (26-14 win over Philadelphia), leave Erickson unwilling to discount any possibility.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at anything,” Erickson said. “Whoever wanted parity (in the NFL) got it.”

Still, there may not be enough parity to save the Seahawks. In addition to a sweep of the final three games, the Seahawks would probably need the collapse of several other clubs, since their 3-6 record in the conference is the worst of the wildcard contenders.

And yes, anytime the Hawks face Denver, the theme of the week is: How Do We Stop John Elway?

The veteran quarterback is enjoying one of his best seasons, having thrown 22 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions. He’s also edged past the 40,000-yard career passing barrier.

“You watch the films of him and your jaw just drops,” Seahawks cornerback Carlton Gray said of Elway. “He’s the best I’ve ever seen at that position.”

Erickson agrees. “He made a couple throws against Jacksonville that were incredible,” Erickson said. “When he lets it go, it gets to where he’s throwing it in a real hurry.”

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who was offensive coordinator during the years when Elway took Denver to three Super Bowls, doesn’t see much diminution in the quarterback’s abilities.

“One throw he had against Jacksonville, I’m not sure a guy can throw the ball better than that,” Shanahan said. “(It was) 50 yards on a rope, over one defender and with a guy on his back.”

Elway said a growing familiarity with Shanahan’s offense has been a key to Denver’s success. But he also credits a retooled offensive line as a key.

“I’ve had by far the lowest sacks this year that I’ve ever had,” Elway said.

“Last year we had 55 sacks; right now we have 17,” Shanahan said. “So, we’re protecting John better and the system allows him to dump the ball off better than what they had been doing.”

In Seattle’s 27-10 win over Denver in the Kingdome on Oct. 1, Elway was without injured receiver Anthony Miller, while other wideout Mike Pritchard was slowed by injury.

Those two are at full speed, but tight ends Shannon Sharpe (eye socket injury) and Jerry Evans (knee) are out, leaving Dwayne Carswell (no catches this year) to start.

The real key to the Broncos’ offensive surge this season - they’re second in the NFL with 380 yards per game - is that Elway finally has a ground game to complement his arm.

And the reason for that is the surprising performance by rookie running back Terrell Davis (1,077 yards).

Davis, a sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia, is the lowest-drafted rookie ever to crack 1,000 yards.

“Terrell is playing with an awful lot of confidence, and that’s been a real key to success lately,” Elway said.

Shanahan said he wished he could have predicted Davis’ success, but “when you pick a guy in the sixth round, you don’t foresee him having that kind of impact.”

Davis didn’t foresee it, either. “If I hadn’t gotten drafted, I probably wouldn’t have tried to play anywhere because football didn’t interest me that much,” he said.

As a senior at Georgia, he rushed for a pedestrian 445 yards. In high school in San Diego, he played football for only two seasons - one of those at nose guard.

But he doesn’t run like a nose guard.

“He has great running instincts, great hands and can block,” Shanahan said. “And he has a maturity level of a guy who’s been in the league five, six, or seven years. He’s got a real head on his shoulders.”

Davis protests any suggestion that he is in the same category of Seattle’s Chris Warren (1,133 yards).

“Compare myself to him? I can’t do that,” Davis said. “He’s been to the Pro Bowl what, two or three times? I’m not that quick and not that fast. I just get in and out of the holes between tackles pretty well.”

Seattle comes into the game well in terms of injuries, but not in terms of health.

Erickson said that at least 10 Seahawks had come down with cases of the flu this week, including Warren and quarterback Rick Mirer.

Even more of a concern, though, is having to play at Mile High, where the Broncos are 6-1 this season.

The biggest element in that homefield advantage, Erickson said, is crowd noise.

“It’s such a factor as far as getting plays in and audibilizing,” Erickson said.

Elway also wanted to pass along the reminder to Seattle’s All-Pro defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy that the air is thin in Denver.

“Make sure to tell Cortez that there’s about 90 percent less oxygen here than anywhere else,” Elway said during a conference call with the media this week. “Make sure he’s thinking about that.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HAWKS VS. BRONCOS The game: 1 p.m. (Pacific) at Denver’s Mile High Stadium. Coaches: Seattle - Dennis Erickson, 6-7, first season. Denver - Mike Shanahan, 15-18, third season. The records: Seattle 6-7. Denver 7-6. The series: Denver leads 22-14, having won nine of the last 10 meetings. Last week: Powered by four Todd Peterson field goals, the Seahawks upset Philadelphia 26-14. Denver defeated Jacksonville 31-23. The line: Broncos by 7.

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