Seahawks Lose Cool And Game Penalties, Ejections Too Much For Seattle To Overcome In Loss To Chiefs

The Seahawks showed Thursday night that they can put up a good fight against the Kansas City Chiefs. But they also showed that they still can’t play a good game against the Chiefs.

In one of the ugliest, most undisciplined games in recent memories, the Seahawks lost their composure and a 34-16 brawl to the Chiefs before 76,057 Arrowhead Stadium crazies. The Seahawks have now lost 14 of their past 15 games in Kansas City.

“What’s the old line?” Seahawks left guard Pete Kendall said, “I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out. That game should have been held under control.”

Only the National Guard could have officiated this game. Referee Bernie Kukar wasn’t enough. Three plays into the game, Seahawks cornerback Corey Harris slammed Chiefs halfback Marcus Allen after he ran out of bounds. A riot erupted along the Seahawks’ sideline once Allen came out swinging, and his teammates jumped to his defense.

After that ugly scene, things went downhill.

Overall, there were seven different fights, 22 penalties, two Seahawks ejections and a lot of bad feelings. Kukar responded by throwing yellow flags. When that didn’t work, he started thumbing out Seahawk linebackers.

While the fights might have been even, the game wasn’t. The defense played as though it were punch-drunk, making mental mistake after mental mistake. The offense, directed by quarterback John Friesz, fell behind 17-0 by the second quarter and couldn’t even think about a game plan.

“It got ridiculous,” cornerback Carlton Gray said. “It got to the point where after every play something was going on.”

The defense gave the Chiefs 103 yards on 10 penalties. Seahawk penalties accounted for seven Chiefs first downs. Defensive linemen were caught offside five times. Four different defenders were called for personal fouls. Linebackers Dean Wells and Winston Moss were ejected. Cornerback Carlton Gray was called twice for interference.

Overall, the Seahawks had 13 penalties for 118 yards. That didn’t come close to the team record of 17 penalties set in 1984 and 145 yards set in 1979 but they embarrassed themselves before a national television audience while dropping their record to 2-5.

“It was an emotional game,” said Wells, who, along with Moss, will receive an automatic $5,000 fine. “Part of it might have been frustration, but at times, part of it is self defense, too.”

There was no defense for the dumb penalties on defense. Moss might have slugged it out with wide receiver Chris Penn after Penn tried to take a potential career-ending block into his knee. That’s self-defense.

Five defensive offside penalties are just dumb.

“That’s inexcusable,” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. “That many penalties that kept drives alive are inexcusable.”

In the first half alone, Seahawk defenders were flagged seven times for 52 yards, making it easy for the Chiefs to carry a 20-3 lead into the half.

The most embarrassing series came during the second quarter. Three different defensive linemen - Michael Sinclair, Phillip Daniels and Glenn Montgomery - were flagged for jumping offsides. Two of those offside calls turned third-downs into first downs, allowing the Chiefs to move the ball 81 yards in 13 plays and eat up 8 minutes on the clock.

Chiefs 34, Seahawks 16

Seattle 0 3 7 6 - 16

Kansas City 10 10 7 7 - 34

First quarter KC-FG Stoyanovich 45, 4:32.

KC-Anders 15 run (Stoyanovich kick), 11:19. Second quarter KC-Allen 1 run (Stoyanovich kick), 11:13.

Sea-FG Peterson 24, 14:34.

KC-FG Stoyanovich 43, 15:00.

Third quarter Sea-Warren 50 run (Peterson kick), 3:54.

KC-Allen 1 run (Stoyanovich kick), 14:39. Fourth quarter KC-Bono 4 pass to LaChapelle (Stoyanovich kick), 8:20.

Sea-Friesz 16 pass to Galloway (run failed), 13:59.

A-76,057.

Sea KC First downs 18 27 Rushes-yards 20-110 39-146 Passing 213 194 Punt Returns 1-12 3-28 Kickoff Returns 6-112 3-86 Interceptions Ret. 0-00 1-30 Comp-Att-Int 20-34-1 17-26-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-25 0-0 Punts 5-35.0 3-36.7 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 130118 9-70 Time of Possession 24:47 35:13 Individual statistics RUSHINGSeattle, Warren 14-81, Smith 4-24, Galloway 1-4, Friesz 1-1. Kansas City, Allen 14-39, Anders 4-38, Bennett 10-32, Hill 7-27, Bono 4-10.

PASSINGSeattle, Friesz 20-34-1-238. Kansas City, Bono 17-26-0-194.

RECEIVINGSeattle, Warren 6-59, Galloway 3-65, Krumpler 3-47, Blades 3-25, Pritchard 2-28, Fauria 2-20, Broussard 1-(minus 6). Kansas City, Penn 5-69, Anders 4-21, Johnson 2-27, LaChapelle 2-22, McNair 1-29, Vanover 1-14, Bennett 1-7, Cash 1-5.

MISSED FIELD GOALSNone.