Groz’s 2005 Seahawks Rewind: Breakthrough vs Rams starts Super Bowl run

Oct 7, 2021, 6:35 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2021, 2:20 am

Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks argues after he was sacked by Damione Lewis of the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 9, 2005 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 37-31. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BY DAVE GROSBY

Seattle Sports Host Emeritus

With Mike Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck going into the Seahawks Ring of Honor this year, we look back at their finest hour: the 2005 Super Bowl season.

The 2005 Seahawks season had hit an early crossroads.

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The 2-2 Seahawks had sputtered out of the gate, and for Week 5 they had to head to St. Louis where the Rams had gone 40-10 since 1999, and where the Seahawks had not won since joining the NFC West in 2002. In fact, the Rams had taken four straight from the Seahawks, including a first-round playoff game the previous season. And just for good measure, Seattle would be without its top two receivers as both Bobby Engram and Darrell Jackson were out.

The Rams were just 2-2 as well, with their defense surrendering a combined 81 points the previous two games.

It looked bleak for Seattle early when Chris Johnson returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. You could almost feel the season slipping away. But Matt Hasselbeck was having none of that.

The Hawks quarterback kept his cool, and veteran receiver Joe Jurevicius had the best day of his career with nine catches for 137 yards as the Seahawks kept the offensive pressure on throughout the day. Hasselbeck threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns while Shaun Alexander added 119 on the ground and a pair of scores. Josh Brown was 3 for 3 on field goals, and when it was over Seattle had piled up 443 yards of total offense and held off the Rams 37-31, with a key fumble recovery on a Rams punt return securing the victory.

Watch highlights from this game | Box score

You could almost hear the huge sigh of relief from the Seahawks. With one win they had moved to the top spot in the division and had finally beaten the Rams in St. Louis. What they didn’t know – couldn’t have known – is they were beginning the most successful stretch of Seahawks football ever played to that point. All they knew is they had gotten a big monkey off their back and were returning home to play Houston.