Notebook: Bledsoe hot in homecoming

It took 11 years for him to finally play in Seattle as a pro; and, after two games in ninth months, Drew Bledsoe is getting used to the idea.

The former Washington State star from Walla Walla, who led the Buffalo Bills to a 38-9 victory over Seattle last November, had another successful visit to his home state last night in the Dallas Cowboys' 18-10 victory over the Seahawks.

Bledsoe, who is the Cowboys' new starting quarterback, completed 7 of 11 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. He left after his 11-yard scoring play to fullback Lousaka Polite put Dallas ahead 10-7 with 5:45 left in the first half.

"He did a pretty good job out there tonight, what we asked him to do," coach Bill Parcells said of the quarterback he drafted No. 1 overall with the New England Patriots in 1993 and is counting on to lead Dallas back to the playoffs. "I just want to get him so he's comfortable."

One way would be to let him play in Seattle every game.

Bledsoe said it was "awesome" to return home so much recently because he gets to see many family and friends. Last night, he had an unexpected visitor.

"One of my best buddies from sixth grade was hollering at me from the stands," he said. "So it was fun."

Be Ware

The Seahawks could not get away from Demarcus Ware last night.

The rookie defender displayed the athleticism and versatility that led the Cowboys to pick him 11th overall in the draft last April.

The former Troy State star, who is expected to be a key figure in the Cowboys' multiple-look defense, set up Dallas' first score when he stripped the ball from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on the Seahawks' initial drive. Ware recovered the fumble at Seattle's 38-yard line, and, four plays later, Jose Cortez kicked a 44-yard field goal.

Ware made an even better play later in the quarter when he followed tight end Jerramy Stevens across the field and made a diving interception of Hasselbeck's pass.

Ware was not any nicer to Seneca Wallace, the Seahawks' No. 2 quarterback. On Wallace's second play, Ware pressured the passer into an incompletion. Three plays later, Ware chased Wallace to the sideline and knocked the ball out for a 6-yard loss.

Ware finished with three tackles, the interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

But even all of that was not enough for the rookie to impress the ever-demanding Parcells.

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that it was the coach's 64th birthday, but he said of Ware: "I didn't think he was great, if that's what you want to know."

Seneca's setback

It's only one game, and Wallace can take a certain comfort in that. He's trying to stay even-keeled about this whole backing up Hasselbeck thing, and so he didn't pay much attention to the attention that poured in after a 12-of-20, 137-yard, two-touchdown performance against New Orleans.

Just like he won't pay too much attention to his opposite-end-of-the-spectrum performance last night against Dallas. Wallace completed 8 of 20 passes for 69 yards and a paltry quarterback rating of 49.8.

"I have to make sure I go out and perform," Wallace said. "I did all right. But I can do a lot better."

Young receivers struggle

The most high-profile position battle in the exhibition season has been wide receiver, but no one vying for one of three open roster spots stood out last night.

In fact, Jerheme Urban, D.J. Hackett and Jason Willis all made mistakes. Urban dropped a sure touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Willis also dropped a pass, and Hackett was called for two penalties, one for holding and one for pass interference.

Hackett did catch a touchdown.

"We can't make any mistakes," Hackett said. "The pass interference, I have no idea where that came from."

Urban felt he could have been more solid as well.

"I have to try to figure out a way to make that play," Urban said.

Holmgren made sure the message to the receivers was clear.

"None of those guys can afford to drop a pass in a game. None of them," he said.

Notes

• DE Bryce Fisher was poked in his right eye in the first quarter but continued to play. He had a bandage over it at halftime.

• RB Dante Brown injured his right shoulder and went into the locker room for X-rays.

• DT Ron Smith twisted a knee and missed time in the second half.

• RB Maurice Morris had his sore hamstring tighten on him in the second half, and he was pulled from the game.

• Dallas WR Ahmad Merritt suffered a sprained right foot.

Times staff reporters José Miguel Romero and Greg Bishop contributed to this report.