Groz’s Week 5 Seahawks Memory: Unlikely hero gets 2005 Super Bowl run going

The 2005 season was wondrous for the Seahawks, one that saw them go to the first Super Bowl in franchise history while sporting the best record in the NFC and a league MVP in Shaun Alexander. But until Week 5 happened, there were really few signs that it could happen.

Gallant: The lowered expectations for Seahawks’ defense going forward

Let’s set it up. The Hawks has finished 9-7 in 2004, winning the NFC West, but they got bounced in the first round of the playoffs at home by the St. Louis Rams. Expectations were high in 2005, but they started 2-2 and the Rams were waiting for an early-season showdown in St. Louis.

To make matters worse, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was missing his top two wide receivers in Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram. Then the Rams returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and the Seahawks were down 7-0 after 15 seconds. But things changed from there.

New Hawks receiver Joe Jurevicius had a career day with nine catches for 137 yards and a TD after catching seven total in the first four games. Alexander ran for 119 yards and Seattle played flawlessly while forcing two turnovers, including a muffed punt in the fourth quarter that clinched a 37-31 victory (watch video highlights here).

From that point on it was pure magic carpet ride. The Seahawks won their next 10 games and went all the way to their first Super Bowl ever. You could certainly point to the unexpected win with the unexpected hero in Week 5 that started it all.

More Seahawks memories from Groz

• Super Bowl championship team shows it’s for real in Week 4, 2013
• Curt Warner establishes ‘Ground Chuck’ in Week 3, 1983

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