Hawks stayed with air game

With the outcome of the game up in the air, so was Seattle's offense.

That was a surprise in some ways. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had been intercepted twice in the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter, the wind was swirling and the Seahawks were without starting receiver Deion Branch.

Coach Mike Holmgren did not get gun shy. He kept calling for passes even after Hasselbeck was intercepted twice in the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter and a 13-point lead had turned into a one-point deficit.

"We did stay aggressive," Holmgren said. "I had a talk to myself about that on the sidelines, saying that I was going to do that."

That led to what may have been Hasselbeck's easiest pass all day because on second down from the Washington 20, Seattle shifted to a four-receiver formation with D.J. Hackett in the slot.

This is a new play, Holmgren said, one the team implemented just this week. Hackett ran out, then went up and found himself wide open behind the man-to-man coverage of Washington defensive back Pierson Prioleau.

Hasselbeck gave a pump fake to the right and when he turned to his left Hackett was all by himself.

"I knew I was open as soon as I made the move," Hackett said. "I was just like, 'Get it to me.' Those are the kind of balls that just can't get there fast enough."

Same goes for Hackett's opportunities. He was a fifth-round pick who spent his first three seasons making the most out of the limited opportunities he got in Seattle's offense.

His fourth season was supposed to be time for him to break free. He was going to be a starter, but suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of the first game and aggravated that injury in November. Those injuries limited him to six games during the regular season. He finished with 100 yards receiving in two of those games, and on Saturday he gave another indication of just what he can do in a featured role of an offense, catching six passes for a game-high 101 yards.

Seattle has played through injuries this season first to Hackett, later to Branch. Then to Hackett again and now back to Branch.

The 34-year-old Bobby Engram has been a metronome of consistency, but Saturday it was Hackett who had the big-play ability. He caught a 35-yard pass behind Shawn Springs in the third quarter, which was the longest play from scrimmage in the game. In the fourth quarter, he caught one of the most important passes of Seattle's season.

Seattle ran its way to a lead in the first quarter with Leonard Weaver's 17-yard touchdown. The Seahawks gained 39 yards on five carries that quarter. They gained 38 on their 16 rushes in the final three quarters.

Early in the fourth quarter, Seattle nearly threw itself out of the game with two interceptions by Washington's LaRon Landry. Even after those mistakes, Holmgren kept his faith in his quarterback and kept the ball in the air.

"He called some aggressive throws downfield," Hasselbeck said.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com