Fighting adverse situations all game long, the Broncos’ defense spent the final 11 minutes, 37 seconds fighting their emotions.
They were playing for Al Wilson.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t pull it out for him,” Broncos safety John Lynch said. “That’s what we were doing. We were playing for Al.”
In the most surreal moment of the season, Wilson – the Broncos’ defensive captain and heart and soul – was carted off on a stretcher after a collision with teammate Gerard Warren. The injury occurred on a Seattle punt from field-goal formation on a trick play. Team officials said after the game that Wilson had a strained neck and was able to move his extremities. He was taken to Sky Ridge Hospital as a precaution Sunday night, and was released.
“It was hard seeing Al, but we knew we needed to move on with the game,” said Keith Burns, who replaced Wilson at middle linebacker. “We just couldn’t get it done for him.”
In a major bounce-back game from two disappointing games, Denver’s defense overall was outstanding Sunday night against a confused Seattle offense. However, five Broncos turnovers and the strong leg of Seahawks kicker Josh Brown proved too much in Seattle’s 23-20 victory.
Brown ended a late Seattle drive with a 50-yard field goal with five seconds remaining, as the Broncos dropped to 7-5 and lost its third consecutive game.
Seattle scored 16 points in the final 8:13, but started two of those drives in Broncos territory because of turnovers.
The Seahawks drove 54 yards in 2:32 to set up Brown’s final field goal.
“It just wasn’t good enough,” Broncos defensive end Kenard Lang said. “We were good for most of the game, but we couldn’t close it out.”
After their second straight loss at Kansas City on Thanksgiving night, several Broncos defensive players challenged themselves. Lynch said the unit was letting down the team and it was a shame that unit was suddenly struggling. Cornerback Darrent Williams said the defense needed to show it cared.
The defense that was so dominant the first six games of the season was struggling mightily.
“It’s very hard it lose a game like that,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said, “where you play exceptionally on defense throughout the game.”
Until the fourth quarter, the defense kept Denver ahead. Seattle’s only points were on a 25-yard interception of an errant Cutler pass. Seattle star running back Shaun Alexander, the reigning NFL MVP, and standout quarterback Matt Hasselbeck were struggling in the first three quarters. Seattle managed only 132 yards of offense before the fourth quarter.
That’s when Seattle came up with a big drive to get things going. Hasselbeck completed huge passes to Darrel Jackson on back-to-back plays. They covered 27 and 33 yards and set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Alexander with 8:13 remaining to give the Seahawks a 14-13 lead.
“We gave up two big plays,” Lynch said. “That hurt.”
After Brian Clark lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Seattle managed a 44-yard field goal by Brown. But the Broncos’ defense was stout after Clark’s fumble gave Seattle the ball in Denver territory. The Broncos appeared to have forced Seattle to punt but defensive holding on defensive tackle Demetrin Veal gave the Seahawks new life and it allowed Brown’s field goal to give the Seahawks a 17-13 lead with 4:08 remaining in the game.
Thus, other than two plays, Denver’s defense was outstanding.
It was a major departure from the past two games, when star running backs LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego and Larry Johnson of Kansas City ran right past the Broncos. The two combined for 262 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
With Alexander, who had 201 yards rushing last Monday night against Green Bay, coming in, the Broncos looked like prime pickings. However, the defense was more like the first six games than the past two.
“We just have to find a way to finish, that’s all,” Lang said.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
