Originally published October 21, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified October 21, 2007 at 11:46 PM

Seahawks back on top in NFC West with win over Rams

Nate Burleson returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a game-changing touchdown and the sputtering Seahawks pulled away from winless St. Louis, 33-6

By GREGG BELL

The Associated Press

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JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Seattle's Nate Burleson (81) splits the defenders on a punt return in the first half.

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Shaun Alexander runs for yardage in the first half against the St. Louis Rams today at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Matt Hasselbeck was hurting. Shaun Alexander was stalled and getting booed again.

Too bad for St. Louis that nothing was wrong with Ram-killer Nate Burleson.

Burleson returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a game-changing touchdown and the sputtering Seahawks pulled away from winless St. Louis 33-6, sending the Rams to their worst start in their 70 years in the NFL.

Seattle (4-3) led10-3 at the half, even though St. Louis had just 41 total yards. Hasselbeck, the only constant in a skittish offense this season, was feeling the sting of a rib cage hit by Claude Wroten.

Then Burleson took the second-half kickoff, ran through a tackle near midfield and then shook off Jonathan Wade at about the 20 for his first career kickoff score. He punctuated it with a preening shake and then waving of the arms like a hawk.

Seattle took off from there.

Last November in the Rams' previous visit, Burleson's 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was a go-ahead score in what became the Seahawks' 24-22 win. Seattle has defeated its division rival five consecutive times.

The Rams (0-7) welcomed back Marc Bulger to the offense in a way no one should ever be welcomed.

The Pro Bowl quarterback, playing for the first time in three weeks with sore ribs, was sacked seven times, four by Darryl Tapp. Bulger fumbled three times, lost two, and finished 21-of-40 for 225 yards passing with three interceptions.

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