Seahawks home in on Rams again
KIRKLAND, Wash. – The streak may have started on Dec. 22, 2002, but the shrieks began nine months later.
That’s when the Seattle Seahawks’ home-field advantage turned into an all-out assault on visiting teams.
On Sept. 21, 2003, the Seahawks recorded a comeback win over the St. Louis Rams, 24-23, at Seahawks Stadium. At the time, it was only the third consecutive home victory, but the energy created at that game carried Seattle through an 8-0 season in their friendly confines.
The players remember that victory not only for the excitement on the field, but also for the energy from the stands.
“You don’t ever feel tired when the crowd is into it like that the whole game,” linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski said. “It kind of keeps you into it, and helps you play at another level.”
The Seahawks (3-0) continued to find that extra level at home. Their home win streak is at 10 games, dating back to the December 2002 win, which also came over the Rams.
Seattle and St. Louis will do battle again Sunday at what is now known as Qwest Field.
“We need them to be vocal,” coach Mike Holmgren said of the 66,000 fans expected to be at Qwest Field tomorrow. “I want them to know this is a big game. We’re getting there. We’re getting there. It’s a great stadium, and when it’s full and loud like it was against San Francisco (two weeks ago), it’s a tough place to play.”
Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom knows what it’s like to be the target of a Qwest Field crowd. He played there last season when the Rams lost to Seattle, and remembers the sheer volume of its fury.
“This year we’re going to have that on our side, which will be awfully nice,” he said. “Anytime you’ve got a loud crowd it disrupts the opposing offense, so I’m looking forward to having that advantage this weekend.”
The game last season included a Seahawks Stadium-record crowd of 65,841 fans, most of whom created a playoff-like atmosphere despite the fact that it was only the third week of the regular season.
“I thought was the start of what I thought was a great home-field advantage for us last year,” Holmgren said. “The fact that we could win a close game at the end, against a really good team, the fans should feel they had a lot to do with it because they did have a lot to do with it.”
The home winning streak stands at 10 games, which matches that of the New England Patriots atop the NFL. Before the Seahawks get a chance to end New England’s streak, they’ll try to extend their own.
“It’s getting to be a great home-field advantage for us,” offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson said. “The crowds are getting louder and louder each week we’re home. That makes you feel good when you come into the stadium and people are going crazy.”