The Seahawks were favored going into Sunday's game against the Vikings. They were 4-1 and going into Qwest Field, where the fans are so loud the New York Giants accused the team of piping in extra noise, and where the Hawks had a 12 game winning streak.
But it wasn't to be.
The Vikings took an early lead with a 33-yard field goal, which the Hawks quickly bounced back with a 72-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Jackson. Add a Josh Brown field goal and the 'Hawks were up 10-3. The Vikings came back with a 40 yard pass to Marcus Robinson for a TD and the game was tied at the half.
Three plays into the third quarter, things got bad for Seattle. After an incomplete pass, Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson rolled into Matt Hasselbeck's right leg, taking him out of the game (and at least the next three games) with a strained ligament in the right knee.
The Vikings offense then poured it on with a 15 yard TD pass to Jermaine Wiggins, a 95-yard run for a TD by Chester Taylor, and a Seahawks fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown by Kevin Williams.
Seahawks backup quarterback Seneca Wallace only got the Hawks close enough for one more field goal.
In a press conference by the Seahawks on Monday, coach Mike Holmgren announced that Hasselbeck will be out about three games and the team will rally around Wallace.
The Hawks are still without 2005 league MVP Shaun Alexander due to a broken bone in his foot, and wide receiver Bobby Engram is out with a thyroid condition.
The Hawks are now tied for first in the NFC West with St. Louis, and the Vikings are in 2nd behind the undefeated Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
Next week the Hawks (4-2) take on the Kansas City Chiefs (3-3).
Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
Ouch! Injuries are certainly taking their toll on last year's NFC champs...
2 - Buck
Woah - The Hawks are in trouble without Engram and Shaun.
3 - Douglas Mays
Buck, I'm not too worried about things at this point. The Hawks should take it all the way this season.
4 - Buck
Douglas, I wouldn't be so overly confident. The 2006 Hawks are not the same team that went to the Superbowl after the '05 season.