2005 Seattle Seahawks season
Encyclopedia
The 2005
Seattle Seahawks
season saw them advance to the Super Bowl
for the first time in the team's history. They were the NFC
representative in Super Bowl XL
, a game they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers
. The Seahawks compiled a 13-3 record in the regular season, easily winning the NFC West
and winning the NFC top seed, thus clinching home field advantage in the NFC playoffs
. There, they beat the Washington Redskins
and Carolina Panthers
to win the George Halas Trophy, and advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. The 2005 team is widely considered the best team in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. The 2005 season was the team's 30th season in the National Football League
.
and the start of the 2005 was marked by major changes for the Seahawks, starting with the front office. Team owner Paul Allen
fired 8 year incumbent General Manager Bob Whitsitt
on January 14, the same day that Vice President of Football Operations Ted Thompson
was hired away by the Green Bay Packers
to be their General Manager. Rumors had been floating that Whitsitt's relationship with coach Mike Holmgren
(and almost everyone else) was strained and Holmgren later admitted that he had thought about leaving the team after a 2004 season that was personally draining. At the time of Whitsitt's firing the Seahawks salary cap situation was in extreme flux with 16 unsigned free agents on the roster including their 3 biggest stars Matt Hasselbeck
, Shaun Alexander
and Walter Jones. On February 3 Mike Reinfeldt
, who had previously been pushed out of the Seahawks organization by Whitsitt, was hired back as a consultant to try to sort out the mess. Reinfeldt was able to sign Jones and Hasselbeck to long term deals and put the Franchise Tag
on Alexander, setting the stage for the rest of the offseason.
After a careful executive search the Seahawks settled on highly regarded personnel man Tim Ruskell
as the new President of Football Operations on February 23, 2005. As a part of his roster overhall, Ruskell subsequently released or neglected to resign 6 players (Anthony Simmons, Chad Brown, Orlando Huff
, Chike Okeafor
, Rashad Moore
and Cedric Woodard
) who were starters on an underperforming defense during the 2004 season. Over the rest of the offseason and into training camp Ruskell signed a raft of free agents to replace departed players on both sides of the ball, emphasizing character and work ethic in his evaluations.
In the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft
the Seahawks traded down from pick 23 to pick 26 to select center Chris Spencer
from the University of Mississippi
and acquire an extra 4th round pick. They then gave up 2 fourth round picks to trade up in the second round and selected USC
linebacker Lofa Tatupu
who would start every game of the 2005 season and go to the Pro Bowl
as a rookie.
. Seattle outgained Atlanta 428-223, and the game remained close until the final drive. On Atlanta's last drive Bryce Fisher
sacked Michael Vick
on third down, and on the next play, Andre Dyson
knocked down Matt Schaub
's 4th down pass. Shaun Alexander rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown. All of Seattle's points were scored in the second quarter.
37-12. Shaun Alexander rushed for 140 yards and four touchdowns. The Seahawks' defense forced its first turnover of the season, including a fumble recovery following a sack of Josh McCown by Michael Boulware at the Arizona 1. The Seahawks capitalized, with Shaun Alexander scoring on the next play.
. Kicker Josh Brown missed a what would've game-winning field goal attempt late in regulation. The game went into overtime and the Seahawks lost 20-17 after a 39 yard field goal by Redskins kicker Nick Novak
.
to face their division-rival, the St. Louis Rams
. It was their first meeting since the 2004 playoff game
. The Rams returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Led by Joe Jurevicius
's 9 receptions for 137 yards and 1 touchdown, Matt Hasselbeck
's 27 completions for 316 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, and Shaun Alexander
's 119 yards and 2 touchdowns, Seattle racked up 433 yards of total offense. The defense recorded 2 takeaways in the second half, an interception by Lofa Tatupu
and a fumble recovery on a punt by J. P. Darche with 2:51 left in the game. The Seahawks ended a 4-game losing streak to the Rams, and received their first win in St. Louis since 1997.
against the Houston Texans
. The Seahawks easily won, led by Shaun Alexander
's 144 yards and four touchdowns, winning by a score of 42-10. Seattle set a team record with 320 yards rushing. This was the first ever meeting of these two teams.
. The key play occurred when second-year defensive back Jordan Babineaux
intercepted opposing quarterback Drew Bledsoe
's pass, the second interception of the day, and returned it 25 yards, setting the stage for kicker Josh Brown's game-winning 50-yard field goal as time expired. The Seahawks won 13-10.
and completed a season sweep of the Cardinals
by a score of 33-19. The defense recorded four sacks and three interceptions of quarterback Kurt Warner
. Shaun Alexander tied his own team record with an 88-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter and finished the day with 173 yards and two touchdowns.
to take on the division rival San Francisco 49ers
. The Seahawks led 27-12 going into the fourth quarter, but the comfortable lead would not last. In the final seconds, the 49ers got within two points with a 1-yard touchdown run by Maurice Hicks
. The 49ers failed the two point conversation, and Seattle held on for the win by a score of 27-25.
. With the score tied 21-21, opposing kicker Jay Feely
missed three chances for a winning field goal (one as time expired in regulation and two in overtime). The Seahawks won on a 36-yard Josh Brown field goal and the Seahawks won by a final score of 24-21. Seahawks gunslinger Matt Hasselbeck threw for 249 yards and two TDs in Seattle's 24-21 overtime victory over the New York Giants. This game is also remembered for the racous noise inside Qwest Field which caused 11 false start penalties against the Giants.
, the Seahawks shut out the Philadelphia Eagles 42-0 with three defensive touchdowns (two interceptions, one fumble return) to tie the then-largest margin of victory mark in Monday Night Football
history and set the mark for the greatest margin of victory in a Monday Night shutout, as well as setting the NFL record for scoring the most points with under 200 yards of offense. A fourth interception return by Michael Boulware
fell just short of tying another Seahawks NFL record of four defensive scores in a single game, set during a 45-0 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs
in 1984. The defeat was the Eagles third worst in team history.
or AFC West
. Against the Eagles and 49ers, Seattle won by a combined score of 83-3. They outgained the 49er's 438-113 in total yards. Matt Hasselbeck has his best game of the season, with 21 completions for 226 yards and a season high four touchdown passes.
to face the Tennessee Titans
. Coming into the second half, the score was tied at 14. After the third quarter, the Seahawks trailed 24-21. Matt Hasselbeck
completed the fourth quarter comeback, throwing a game-winning 2-yard pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson
. The Seahawks won 28-24. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck went 21-of-27 for 287 yards with 2 TDs and a passer rating of 147.7. Running back Shaun Alexander rushed for 172 yards on 26 carries. Titans signal-caller Steve McNair threw for 310 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort.
, the Seahawks beat the Colts 28-13 setting the franchise record for the most wins in one season with 13. Shaun Alexander scored three touchdowns in the game and tied Priest Holmes
for the NFL record for touchdowns in a season with 27. The victory also clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs for the Seahawks assuring them of a home playoff game during the weekend of January 14–15, 2006 against the lowest remaining NFC seed (which turned out to be the Washington Redskins
). The Colts-Seahawks matchup featured interesting storylines even before the kickoff. The game featured the highest scoring and winningest teams against each other, and each looking to set a franchise record for most wins in a season. Both teams were also the #1 seeds in the NFC and AFC playoffs. In addition, the schedule makers set a record with the first regular season game where the teams combined for at least 25 victories. After the Colts took the lead with a field goal, a kickoff return by Josh Scobey
set up the Seahawks' first score, a 2-yard run by Alexander. Matt Hasselbeck
threw a touchdown to tight-end Jerramy Stevens
for a 14-3 Seahawks lead. After a field goal cut the lead to 14-6, Seattle put the game out of reach. First, Hasselbeck connected with Alexander for a 21-6 lead. Then, Alexander scored again to put the game away, 28-6. The Colts scored on a 6-yard pass from Jim Sorgi
to Troy Walters
to cut the lead to 28-13, but Scobey recovered the ensuing onside kick
and Seattle ran out the clock to hold on for a 28-13 win.
‡
23-17, Shaun Alexander
broke Priest Holmes
's record for most touchdowns in a single season, with his 28th touchdown coming in the 2nd quarter of the game. He ended the season with the league's most rushing yards for the season with 1,880 yards, and led the league in points scored (168 points). Four days later, he was named the 2005 NFL MVP. For the season, the Seahawks as a team led the league with most points scored that season (452), as well as the most sacks with 50.
in the Divisional Playoffs. Shaun Alexander
suffered a concussion in the first quarter, but the Seahawks managed to prevail by a final score of 20-10. The win ended the franchise's 21-year playoff victory drought. Matt Hasselbeck led the way completing a 16 of 26 passes for 215 yards and 1 TD, while running for another, a 6 yard scamper in the 3rd quarter. Mack Strong's career high 38 yard run set up the game clincher, a 31-yard field goal by Josh Brown giving Seattle a 20-10 victory with just under 3 minutes left in the game.
On January 22, 2006, the team clinched its first Super Bowl
berth in franchise history, with a dominating 34-14 win over the Carolina Panthers
. Seattle completely dominated the game from start to finish, racking up 393 total yards to Carolina's 212, and out-rushing Carolina 190 - 36. Seattle's defense intercepted Jake Delhomme 3 times, and DT Rocky Benard recorded 2 sacks. Shaun Alexander rushed for 134 yards on 34 attempts and 2 TD's. Matt Hasselbeck went 20 out of 28 for 219 yards and 2 TD's. The Seahawks stormed out to a 17-0 lead before the Panthers' Steve Smith returned a punt 59 yards for a TD, making the score 17 -7. Entering the third quarter with 20- 7 lead, Seattle took the opening possession of the 2nd half and scored on a Matt Hasselbeck to Darrell Jackson TD pass. Midway through the 4th quarter Shaun Alexander added a 1 yard TD run to make it 34 - 7, putting the game away. With this win, Seattle finished the season a perfect 10 - 0 at home.
at Super Bowl XL
in Detroit, Michigan
on February 5, 2006 by a score of 21-10. Although the Seahawks outgained the Steelers, 396 yards to 339, Pittsburgh won on the strength of three big plays converted for touchdowns. Seattle, on the other hand, seemed unable to convert on many of their offensive opportunities, and many feel that several controversial calls by the officials during the game wrongfully nullified several key plays made by the Seahawks that some feel could have changed the outcome of the game.
The several controversial calls made during Super Bowl XL were met with criticism from both fans and members of the media, as many suggested that the officials had wrongly overturned several key plays made by the Seattle offense. Jason Whitlock
, writing for the Kansas City Star, encapsulated many views when he wrote the day after the game, "Leavy and his crew ruined Super Bowl XL. Am I the only one who would like to hear them defend their incompetence?" http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/13801313.htm In response to the criticisms, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement, "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials." http://www.seattlepi.com/football/258739_nfln08.html The game ended a playoffs season that was plagued by complaints about officiating.http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5251620
On August 6, 2010, while visiting the Seahawks' preseason training camp for an annual rules interpretation session with the Seattle media, head official Bill Leavy
brought up Super Bowl XL without being asked, while admitting to having blown calls:
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
season saw them advance to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
for the first time in the team's history. They were the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
representative in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, a game they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. The Seahawks compiled a 13-3 record in the regular season, easily winning the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
and winning the NFC top seed, thus clinching home field advantage in the NFC playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2005-06
The National Football League playoffs for the 2005 season began on January 7, 2006 and led up to Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan....
. There, they beat the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
to win the George Halas Trophy, and advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. The 2005 team is widely considered the best team in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. The 2005 season was the team's 30th season in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Offseason
The period between the disappointing 2004 season2004 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2004 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 29th season with the National Football League. Seahawks Stadium was renamed Qwest Field when Qwest bought the naming rights on June 2, 2004.-2004 NFL Draft:-Regular season:-Playoffs:-External links:...
and the start of the 2005 was marked by major changes for the Seahawks, starting with the front office. Team owner Paul Allen
Paul Allen
Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates...
fired 8 year incumbent General Manager Bob Whitsitt
Bob Whitsitt
Bob Whitsitt is a former sports executive in both the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. He has served as the general manager for three teams: the Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, and the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL...
on January 14, the same day that Vice President of Football Operations Ted Thompson
Ted Thompson
Ted Thompson is the current general manager of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Thompson was named to the post on January 14, 2005, by Packers president and CEO Bob Harlan. Thompson took over the general manager duties from Mike Sherman, who had been serving as both head coach and general manager...
was hired away by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
to be their General Manager. Rumors had been floating that Whitsitt's relationship with coach Mike Holmgren
Mike Holmgren
Michael George Holmgren is a former professional football coach and current President of the Cleveland Browns. He served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008...
(and almost everyone else) was strained and Holmgren later admitted that he had thought about leaving the team after a 2004 season that was personally draining. At the time of Whitsitt's firing the Seahawks salary cap situation was in extreme flux with 16 unsigned free agents on the roster including their 3 biggest stars Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
, Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
and Walter Jones. On February 3 Mike Reinfeldt
Mike Reinfeldt
Michael Ray Reinfeldt is a former American football safety who played 8 seasons in the National Football League. Reinfeldt attended UWM, and was the captain of the football team in 1974, the last year the school fielded a football team...
, who had previously been pushed out of the Seahawks organization by Whitsitt, was hired back as a consultant to try to sort out the mess. Reinfeldt was able to sign Jones and Hasselbeck to long term deals and put the Franchise Tag
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
on Alexander, setting the stage for the rest of the offseason.
After a careful executive search the Seahawks settled on highly regarded personnel man Tim Ruskell
Tim Ruskell
Tim Ruskell is a current assistant general manager for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.Ruskell was born in Sagamiono, Japan where his father was stationed in the United States Army but spent his high school and college years in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and graduated with a...
as the new President of Football Operations on February 23, 2005. As a part of his roster overhall, Ruskell subsequently released or neglected to resign 6 players (Anthony Simmons, Chad Brown, Orlando Huff
Orlando Huff
Orlando Huff is an American Football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, Chike Okeafor
Chike Okeafor
Chikezie Russell Okeafor is a professional American football player. During his National Football League career from 1999 to 2009, he played defensive end and linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals....
, Rashad Moore
Rashad Moore
Glenn Rashad Moore is an American football defensive tackle who's currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
and Cedric Woodard
Cedric Woodard
Cedric Darnell Woodard is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas.Woodards cousin, Quentin Jammer, plays cornerback for the San Diego Chargers....
) who were starters on an underperforming defense during the 2004 season. Over the rest of the offseason and into training camp Ruskell signed a raft of free agents to replace departed players on both sides of the ball, emphasizing character and work ethic in his evaluations.
In the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
the Seahawks traded down from pick 23 to pick 26 to select center Chris Spencer
Chris Spencer (American football)
-Seattle Seahawks:In his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, he played 7 games. In the 2006 season, he played in all 16 games for Seattle, starting 13 of them, most at the guard position, next to longtime Seattle center Robbie Tobeck...
from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
and acquire an extra 4th round pick. They then gave up 2 fourth round picks to trade up in the second round and selected USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
linebacker Lofa Tatupu
Lofa Tatupu
-Seattle Seahawks:Tatupu quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league as a rookie in 2005, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, while leading the NFC Champion Seahawks in tackles, with 104, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history...
who would start every game of the 2005 season and go to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
as a rookie.
2005 NFL Draft
| Round/Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/26 | Chris Spencer Chris Spencer (American football) -Seattle Seahawks:In his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, he played 7 games. In the 2006 season, he played in all 16 games for Seattle, starting 13 of them, most at the guard position, next to longtime Seattle center Robbie Tobeck... |
Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Mississippi University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the... |
| 2/45 | Lofa Tatupu Lofa Tatupu -Seattle Seahawks:Tatupu quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league as a rookie in 2005, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, while leading the NFC Champion Seahawks in tackles, with 104, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
USC University of Southern California The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university... |
| 3/85 | David Greene | Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Georgia University of Georgia The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States... |
| 3/98 | Leroy Hill Leroy Hill Leroy Hill, Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. He played high school football in Milledgeville, GA for the Baldwin High School Braves... |
Linebacker | Clemson Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
| 4/105 | Ray Willis Ray Willis Ray Willis is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 4th round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
Offensive Tackle | Florida State Florida State University The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation... |
| 5/159 | Jeb Huckeba Jeb Huckeba Jeb Allen Huckeba is an American football defensive end. He played in the first ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl on December 30, 2000.-References:*... |
Defensive End Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
Arkansas University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in... |
| 6/196 | Tony Jackson | Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Iowa University of Iowa The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... |
| 7/235 | Cornelius Wortham Cornelius Wortham Cornelius Wortham is an American football linebacker. He played for Seattle Seahawks of the NFL before getting cut prior the 2006 season. He attended the University of Alabama.... |
Linebacker | Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
| 7/254 | Doug Nienhuis Doug Nienhuis Doug Nienhuis is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
Offensive Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Oregon State Oregon State University Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the... |
Regular season
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Record | Recap | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 11, 2005 | at Jacksonville Jaguars 2005 Jacksonville Jaguars season After a 9–7 season in 2004 the Jaguars came out of the gates prepared to become a dominant force in the AFC. They achieved that task, going 12–4 in the regular season, but did not manage to win their own division, getting swept by the Indianapolis Colts as they went 14–2... |
L 26-14 | ALLTEL Stadium | 0-1 | Recap | 65,204 | ||
| 2 | September 18, 2005 | Atlanta Falcons 2005 Atlanta Falcons season -Roster:-Preseason:-Regular season:-Awards and honors:* Michael Vick, Pro Bowl selection-References:... |
W 21-18 | Qwest Field | 1-1 | Recap | 66,030 | ||
| 3 | September 25, 2005 | Arizona Cardinals 2005 Arizona Cardinals season The 2005 Arizona Cardinals season was the team's 86th in the NFL. The team was unable to improve upon their previous season's output of 6-10, and failed to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.... |
W 37-12 | Qwest Field | 2-1 | Recap | 64,843 | ||
| 4 | October 2, 2005 | at Washington Redskins 2005 Washington Redskins season The 2005 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 6-10 record from 2004. The Redskins placed 2nd in the NFC East. Washington earned their first playoff berth since 1999.-Offseason:... |
L 20-17 (OT) | FedEx Field | 2-2 | Recap | 90,215 | ||
| 5 | October 9, 2005 | at St. Louis Rams 2005 St. Louis Rams season The 2005 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 68th year with the National Football League and the 11th season in St. Louis.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
W 37-31 | Edward Jones Dome Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was... |
3-2 | Recap | 65,707 | ||
| 6 | October 16, 2005 | Houston Texans 2005 Houston Texans season The 2005 Houston Texans season was the fourth season in franchise history. The Texans completed the season with the worst record in both the NFL and in franchise history... |
W 42-10 | Qwest Field | 4-2 | Recap | 66,196 | ||
| 7 | October 23, 2005 | Dallas Cowboys 2005 Dallas Cowboys season The 2005 Dallas Cowboys season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2004. Despite a 7–3 start, the Cowboys ended the season with a 9–7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs.-Offseason:... |
W 13-10 | Qwest Field | 5-2 | Recap | 67,046 | ||
| 8 | Bye | ||||||||
| 9 | November 6, 2005 | at Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 33-19 | Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass... |
6-2 | Recap | 43,542 | ||
| 10 | November 13, 2005 | St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 31-16 | Qwest Field | 7-2 | Recap | 67,192 | ||
| 11 | November 20, 2005 | at San Francisco 49ers 2005 San Francisco 49ers season The 2005 season was the 60th for the Niners overall, and 56th in the NFL. They were trying to improve on their 2-14 record from 2004. Head Coach Dennis Erickson had been fired just after the end of the 2004 season, and Mike Nolan, son of former head coach Dick Nolan, was at the reins.-Week 1: vs. St... |
W 27-25 | Monster Park | 8-2 | Recap | 63,590 | ||
| 12 | November 27, 2005 | New York Giants 2005 New York Giants season -Offseason:In the 2005 off–season the Giants acquired former Steelers' wide receiver Plaxico Burress as a free agent. Also, during the 2005 Draft, the Giants used their first pick on Louisiana St. Cornerback Corey Webster. They then used their next pick on Notre Dame Defensive End Justin Tuck. ... |
W 24-21 (OT) | Qwest Field | 9-2 | Recap | 67,102 | ||
| 13 | December 5, 2005 | at Philadelphia Eagles 2005 Philadelphia Eagles season -Schedule:-Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons:at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Eagles' 2005 season-opener on Monday Night Football was more famous for what happened before the game, when Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was ejected for a scuffle near mid-field during pre-game warmups... |
W 42-0 | Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex... |
10-2 | Recap | 67,637 | ||
| 14 | December 11, 2005 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 41-3 | Qwest Field | 11-2 | Recap | 66,690 | ||
| 15 | December 18, 2005 | at Tennessee Titans 2005 Tennessee Titans season The 2005 Tennessee Titans season was the 46th season the team was with the league. The team attempted to improve upon their previous output of 5–11, but was only able to win four games in 2005. The Titans' games were often high-scoring, with 8 of their 16 games accumulating in excess of 50 points... |
W 28-24 | The Coliseum LP Field LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.... |
12-2 | Recap | 69,149 | ||
| 16 | December 24, 2005 | Indianapolis Colts 2005 Indianapolis Colts season The 2005 Indianapolis Colts season was the 53rd season for the team in the National Football League and 22nd in Indianapolis. The 2005 Colts season began with the team trying to improve on their 12–4 record from 2004 and to advance further into the playoffs... |
W 28-13 | Qwest Field | 13-2 | Recap | 67,855 | ||
| 17 | January 1, 2006 | at Green Bay Packers 2005 Green Bay Packers season The 2005 Green Bay Packers season marked their worst record since their 1991 season. The Packers suffered injuries to wide receivers Javon Walker and Robert Ferguson and running backs Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, Tony Fisher, and Samkon Gado... |
L 23-17 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
13-3 | Recap | 69,928 | ||
Postseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Recap | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional NFL playoffs, 2005-06 The National Football League playoffs for the 2005 season began on January 7, 2006 and led up to Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.... |
January 14, 2006 | Washington Redskins 2005 Washington Redskins season The 2005 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 6-10 record from 2004. The Redskins placed 2nd in the NFC East. Washington earned their first playoff berth since 1999.-Offseason:... |
W 20-10 | Qwest Field Qwest Field CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer... |
Recap | 67,551 |
| NFC Championship NFL playoffs, 2005-06 The National Football League playoffs for the 2005 season began on January 7, 2006 and led up to Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.... |
January 22, 2006 | Carolina Panthers 2005 Carolina Panthers season -Regular season:-Postseason:-Wild Card playoffs:The Panthers forced five turnovers, limited the Giants to only 109 yards of total offense, and became the first club to shut out a home playoff team since the Los Angeles Rams shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1980 NFC Championship Game... |
W 34-14 | Qwest Field | Recap | 67,837 |
| SB XL Super Bowl XL Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season... |
February 5, 2006 | Pittsburgh Steelers 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 15–1 record from 2004 in which they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. The Steelers, with the sixth and final seed to the playoffs, became just the second team ever to win... |
L 21-10 | Ford Field Ford Field Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for... |
Recap | 68,206 |
Regular season
- The Seahawks got off to a rocky start on their 2005 (30th Anniversary) campaign but it would end with their first Super Bowl appearance.
- When the St. Louis Rams lost on December 4, 2005, the Seahawks clinched their second straight NFC West title after playing only 11 games.
- At the end of the regular season, the Seahawks' use of the 12th man12th Man (football)The 12th man or 12th player is a term used to describe the fans within a stadium during association football or American football games. This term has a different meaning in cricket, referring to the first substitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured...
was challenged by Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, who holds a trademarkTrademarkA trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of the phrase. The dispute was settled out of court on May 8, 2006 with an agreement that the Seahawks be permitted to continue use of the slogan with acknowledgment to Texas A&M.
Week 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville's defense forced the Seahawks into five turnovers, including three interceptions of Hasselbeck, en route to a 26-14 victory. The Jaguars held Shaun Alexander to 73 yards on 14 attempts and no touchdowns.Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons
For their home opener, the Seahawks faced the same team they beat in the last game of the 2004 regular season, the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Seattle outgained Atlanta 428-223, and the game remained close until the final drive. On Atlanta's last drive Bryce Fisher
Bryce Fisher
Bryce Alexander Fisher is a former American football defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 7th round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Air Force.-High school years:...
sacked Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
on third down, and on the next play, Andre Dyson
Andre Dyson
Andre Dyson is a former American football cornerback. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Utah. Currently, he coaches cornerbacks at Weber State, in Ogden, Utah.He is the younger brother of former NFL wide...
knocked down Matt Schaub
Matt Schaub
Matthew Rutledge Schaub is the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-College career:...
's 4th down pass. Shaun Alexander rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown. All of Seattle's points were scored in the second quarter.
Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals
In week three, Seattle defeated the division rival Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
37-12. Shaun Alexander rushed for 140 yards and four touchdowns. The Seahawks' defense forced its first turnover of the season, including a fumble recovery following a sack of Josh McCown by Michael Boulware at the Arizona 1. The Seahawks capitalized, with Shaun Alexander scoring on the next play.
Week 4: at Washington Redskins
The following week, the Seahawks were on the road against the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. Kicker Josh Brown missed a what would've game-winning field goal attempt late in regulation. The game went into overtime and the Seahawks lost 20-17 after a 39 yard field goal by Redskins kicker Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
.
Week 5: at St. Louis Rams
The Seahawks went to the Edward Jones DomeEdward Jones Dome
The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was...
to face their division-rival, the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. It was their first meeting since the 2004 playoff game
NFL playoffs, 2004-05
The NFL playoffs following the 2004 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXIX.-NFC: St. Louis Rams 27, Seattle Seahawks 20:Although the Rams barely made the playoffs with an 8–8 record, two of their regular season wins were against Seattle...
. The Rams returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Led by Joe Jurevicius
Joe Jurevicius
Joseph Michael Jurevicius is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State....
's 9 receptions for 137 yards and 1 touchdown, Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
's 27 completions for 316 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, and Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
's 119 yards and 2 touchdowns, Seattle racked up 433 yards of total offense. The defense recorded 2 takeaways in the second half, an interception by Lofa Tatupu
Lofa Tatupu
-Seattle Seahawks:Tatupu quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league as a rookie in 2005, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, while leading the NFC Champion Seahawks in tackles, with 104, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history...
and a fumble recovery on a punt by J. P. Darche with 2:51 left in the game. The Seahawks ended a 4-game losing streak to the Rams, and received their first win in St. Louis since 1997.
Week 6: vs. Houston Texans
The Seahawks returned home for a Sunday night gameESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....
against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Seahawks easily won, led by Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
's 144 yards and four touchdowns, winning by a score of 42-10. Seattle set a team record with 320 yards rushing. This was the first ever meeting of these two teams.
Week 7: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Seahawk defense had an exceptional game, recording five sacks and two interceptions against the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. The key play occurred when second-year defensive back Jordan Babineaux
Jordan Babineaux
Jordan Jude Babineaux is an American football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2004 out of Southern Arkansas University....
intercepted opposing quarterback Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
's pass, the second interception of the day, and returned it 25 yards, setting the stage for kicker Josh Brown's game-winning 50-yard field goal as time expired. The Seahawks won 13-10.
Week 9: at Arizona Cardinals
After their Week 8 bye, the Seahawks traveled to Sun Devil StadiumSun Devil Stadium
Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass...
and completed a season sweep of the Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
by a score of 33-19. The defense recorded four sacks and three interceptions of quarterback Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
. Shaun Alexander tied his own team record with an 88-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter and finished the day with 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Rams
The Seahawks returned home and finished off a season sweep of the Rams for the first time since the 2002 realignment, with a 31-16 victory. The Rams had a 3-0 lead early, when on fourth down they went for a fake field goal, but was unsuccessful. The Seahawks proceeded to put together an 87 yard drive that ended in a touchdown for a 7-3 lead. From that point the Seahawks went on to outgain the Rams 281-46, building a 24-6 lead. The Rams narrowed it to 24-16, but led by Shaun Alexander's 165 yards and three touchdowns, the game was put away with his 17-yard touchdown burst with 1:12 left. Matt Hasselbeck contributed with 17 completions, 243 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Seattle made 10 out of 15 third down conversions.Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
The Seahawks went to Monster ParkMonster Park
Candlestick Park is an outdoor sports and entertainment stadium located in San Francisco, California, in the Bayview Heights area. The stadium was originally built as the home of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, who played there from 1960 until moving into Pacific Bell Park in 2000...
to take on the division rival San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. The Seahawks led 27-12 going into the fourth quarter, but the comfortable lead would not last. In the final seconds, the 49ers got within two points with a 1-yard touchdown run by Maurice Hicks
Maurice Hicks
Maurice Hicks is an American football running back for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was originally signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
. The 49ers failed the two point conversation, and Seattle held on for the win by a score of 27-25.
Week 12: vs. New York Giants
The Seahawks returned home and played eventual NFC East champion New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. With the score tied 21-21, opposing kicker Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
missed three chances for a winning field goal (one as time expired in regulation and two in overtime). The Seahawks won on a 36-yard Josh Brown field goal and the Seahawks won by a final score of 24-21. Seahawks gunslinger Matt Hasselbeck threw for 249 yards and two TDs in Seattle's 24-21 overtime victory over the New York Giants. This game is also remembered for the racous noise inside Qwest Field which caused 11 false start penalties against the Giants.
Week 13: at Philadelphia Eagles
On December 5, 2005, dubbed "The Monday Night Massacre" by NFL FilmsNFL Films
NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
, the Seahawks shut out the Philadelphia Eagles 42-0 with three defensive touchdowns (two interceptions, one fumble return) to tie the then-largest margin of victory mark in Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
history and set the mark for the greatest margin of victory in a Monday Night shutout, as well as setting the NFL record for scoring the most points with under 200 yards of offense. A fourth interception return by Michael Boulware
Michael Boulware
Michael Boulware is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.Boulware has also played for the Houston Texans in his career...
fell just short of tying another Seahawks NFL record of four defensive scores in a single game, set during a 45-0 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in 1984. The defeat was the Eagles third worst in team history.
Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers
A week after their rout of the Eagles in Philadelphia, the Seahawks came home and routed the 49ers 41-3 to complete their first ever division sweep of either the NFCNFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
or AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...
. Against the Eagles and 49ers, Seattle won by a combined score of 83-3. They outgained the 49er's 438-113 in total yards. Matt Hasselbeck has his best game of the season, with 21 completions for 226 yards and a season high four touchdown passes.
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans
After their rout of the 49ers, the Seahawks traveled to The ColiseumLP Field
LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
to face the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. Coming into the second half, the score was tied at 14. After the third quarter, the Seahawks trailed 24-21. Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
completed the fourth quarter comeback, throwing a game-winning 2-yard pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson
Darrell Jackson
Darrell Lamont Jackson is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for nine seasons...
. The Seahawks won 28-24. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck went 21-of-27 for 287 yards with 2 TDs and a passer rating of 147.7. Running back Shaun Alexander rushed for 172 yards on 26 carries. Titans signal-caller Steve McNair threw for 310 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort.
Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts
On Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, the Seahawks beat the Colts 28-13 setting the franchise record for the most wins in one season with 13. Shaun Alexander scored three touchdowns in the game and tied Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
for the NFL record for touchdowns in a season with 27. The victory also clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs for the Seahawks assuring them of a home playoff game during the weekend of January 14–15, 2006 against the lowest remaining NFC seed (which turned out to be the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
). The Colts-Seahawks matchup featured interesting storylines even before the kickoff. The game featured the highest scoring and winningest teams against each other, and each looking to set a franchise record for most wins in a season. Both teams were also the #1 seeds in the NFC and AFC playoffs. In addition, the schedule makers set a record with the first regular season game where the teams combined for at least 25 victories. After the Colts took the lead with a field goal, a kickoff return by Josh Scobey
Josh Scobey
Joshua Payne Scobey is an American football running back and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State...
set up the Seahawks' first score, a 2-yard run by Alexander. Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
threw a touchdown to tight-end Jerramy Stevens
Jerramy Stevens
Jerramy Stevens is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks 28th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington.-Early years:...
for a 14-3 Seahawks lead. After a field goal cut the lead to 14-6, Seattle put the game out of reach. First, Hasselbeck connected with Alexander for a 21-6 lead. Then, Alexander scored again to put the game away, 28-6. The Colts scored on a 6-yard pass from Jim Sorgi
Jim Sorgi
James Joseph "Jim" Sorgi, Jr. is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
to Troy Walters
Troy Walters
Troy McHenry Walters is a retired American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League. He was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Stanford University by the Minnesota Vikings. He has also played for the...
to cut the lead to 28-13, but Scobey recovered the ensuing onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
and Seattle ran out the clock to hold on for a 28-13 win.
‡
Week 17: at Green Bay Packers
On January 1, 2006, despite losing to the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
23-17, Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
broke Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
's record for most touchdowns in a single season, with his 28th touchdown coming in the 2nd quarter of the game. He ended the season with the league's most rushing yards for the season with 1,880 yards, and led the league in points scored (168 points). Four days later, he was named the 2005 NFL MVP. For the season, the Seahawks as a team led the league with most points scored that season (452), as well as the most sacks with 50.
Divisional playoffs: vs. Washington Redskins
After having a first round bye in the playoffs, the Seahawks hosted the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the Divisional Playoffs. Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
suffered a concussion in the first quarter, but the Seahawks managed to prevail by a final score of 20-10. The win ended the franchise's 21-year playoff victory drought. Matt Hasselbeck led the way completing a 16 of 26 passes for 215 yards and 1 TD, while running for another, a 6 yard scamper in the 3rd quarter. Mack Strong's career high 38 yard run set up the game clincher, a 31-yard field goal by Josh Brown giving Seattle a 20-10 victory with just under 3 minutes left in the game.
NFC Championship Game: vs. Carolina Panthers
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
berth in franchise history, with a dominating 34-14 win over the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. Seattle completely dominated the game from start to finish, racking up 393 total yards to Carolina's 212, and out-rushing Carolina 190 - 36. Seattle's defense intercepted Jake Delhomme 3 times, and DT Rocky Benard recorded 2 sacks. Shaun Alexander rushed for 134 yards on 34 attempts and 2 TD's. Matt Hasselbeck went 20 out of 28 for 219 yards and 2 TD's. The Seahawks stormed out to a 17-0 lead before the Panthers' Steve Smith returned a punt 59 yards for a TD, making the score 17 -7. Entering the third quarter with 20- 7 lead, Seattle took the opening possession of the 2nd half and scored on a Matt Hasselbeck to Darrell Jackson TD pass. Midway through the 4th quarter Shaun Alexander added a 1 yard TD run to make it 34 - 7, putting the game away. With this win, Seattle finished the season a perfect 10 - 0 at home.
Super Bowl XL: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle fell short in its bid for its first NFL title, losing to the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
at Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
on February 5, 2006 by a score of 21-10. Although the Seahawks outgained the Steelers, 396 yards to 339, Pittsburgh won on the strength of three big plays converted for touchdowns. Seattle, on the other hand, seemed unable to convert on many of their offensive opportunities, and many feel that several controversial calls by the officials during the game wrongfully nullified several key plays made by the Seahawks that some feel could have changed the outcome of the game.
The several controversial calls made during Super Bowl XL were met with criticism from both fans and members of the media, as many suggested that the officials had wrongly overturned several key plays made by the Seattle offense. Jason Whitlock
Jason Whitlock
Jason Lee Whitlock is a sportswriter for Foxsports.com, as well as a former columnist at the Kansas City Star, AOL Sports writer, contributor to ESPN, and radio personality for WHB and KCSP sports stations in the Kansas City area.-College and sports:Whitlock was an all-state offensive lineman at...
, writing for the Kansas City Star, encapsulated many views when he wrote the day after the game, "Leavy and his crew ruined Super Bowl XL. Am I the only one who would like to hear them defend their incompetence?" http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/13801313.htm In response to the criticisms, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement, "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials." http://www.seattlepi.com/football/258739_nfln08.html The game ended a playoffs season that was plagued by complaints about officiating.http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5251620
On August 6, 2010, while visiting the Seahawks' preseason training camp for an annual rules interpretation session with the Seattle media, head official Bill Leavy
Bill Leavy
Bill Leavy is an American football official in the National Football League since 1995 and is a retired San Jose, California Police Officer and Firefighter, serving for 27 years. As of the 2006 NFL season, Leavy has been assigned to nine playoff games and two Super Bowls in his NFL officiating...
brought up Super Bowl XL without being asked, while admitting to having blown calls:
Roster
- (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 2006 Pro Bowl2006 Pro BowlThe 2006 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 12, 2006 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. It marked the 27th consecutive time that the National Football League's all-star game was held in Honolulu...
. The Seahawks had seven players selected, tying a franchise record set in 1984 - (†) Denotes players selected as replacement players for the 2006 Pro Bowl. C Robbie TobeckRobbie TobeckRobert Lee Tobeck is a former National Football League center who last played for the Seattle Seahawks. Tobeck played 6 seasons for Seattle after being acquired as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons after signing as a rookie in 1993....
and rookie MLB Lofa TatupuLofa Tatupu-Seattle Seahawks:Tatupu quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league as a rookie in 2005, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, while leading the NFC Champion Seahawks in tackles, with 104, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history...
were added to the Roster after injuries to Chicago's Brian UrlacherBrian UrlacherBrian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...
and Olin KreutzOlin KreutzOlin George Kreutz is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football for Washington.Kreutz has also played for the New Orleans Saints....
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