03-19-2024  2:52 am   •   PDX and SEA Weather
Monica Foster of The Skanner
Published: 29 November 2006


It was a rare scene for all to see, not being able to see the field. People may have thought the game was in Green Bay the way the snow came down at a white-covered Qwest Field in front of a record crowd of 68,256 to see the Seattle Seahawks' 34-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers on nationally televised "Monday Night Football."
In just his second game back after missing six games due to a cracked bone in his left foot, running back league-reigning MVP Shaun Alexander carried a career-high 40 times for 201 yards and left the game to chats of "M-V-P!" from the crowd.
"I'm tired, but I feel good," Alexander said. "Our line played well and I got into an early groove."
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, in his first return from a knee sprain in four games, appeared to struggle at first; he threw three first-half interceptions, including one on the second play of the game and fumbled the ball that was returned for a 29-yard Packer touchdown.
"I think it was the fact he hasn't played; he was a little rusty," Coach Mike Holmgren said of Hasselbeck's interceptions.
The Packers led at halftime 14-12 and had a 21-12 lead in the third quarter when the Seahawks fought back.
Hasselbeck eventually found his rhythm: He completed three second-half touchdown passes, including a four-yard pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson who completed an amazing catch between two defenders in the right corner of the end zone giving the Seahawks a 27-21 lead in the fourth quarter.
"I tried to give all I could today," Hasselbeck said. "You've just got to stay positive and that's what I tried to do."
Hasselbeck also completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver D.J. Hackett in the third quarter and a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerramy Stevens with six minutes left in the game. Jackson finished the game with two passes for 20 yards including one touchdown and Hackett finished with five passes for 67 yards with one touchdown.
Hasselbeck finished with 17 completions in 36 attempts for 157 yards.
"We were a little careless with the ball in the first half, usually when you have five turnovers you don't have a chance to win but I'm very, very pleased with our second half and how we bounced back," Holmgren said. "It was a great win for us."
The defense came up with big plays with Seahawks cornerbacks Kelly Herndon, Marcus Trufant and Kelly Jennings each coming away with interceptions from Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre. Herndon's came in the first quarter, denying Packers tight end Bubba Franks a touchdown; Trufant intercepted Favre's first pass in the fourth quarter after a Seahawks touchdown; and Jennings was in the fourth quarter as well, sealing the game.
"It feels pretty good, especially with it being Monday Night against Brett Favre, it makes it even better," the rookie Jennings said of his first NFL interception. "I just basically looked at the quarterback and saw what he was doing and it worked out," Jennings said.
Josh Brown continues to be a sure thing with four first-half field goals of 45, 41, 37 and 28 yards.
The Seahawks are now 7-4 and with a two-game lead in the NFC West. They travel to Denver Sunday to face the Broncos who are also 7-4.

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