The2004 Seattle Seahawks season was the franchise's 29th season in theNational Football League (NFL), the third season inQwest Field and the 6th under head coachMike Holmgren. Finishing the season at 9–7, the Seahawks were unable to replicate the year they had prior.
This was the first of four consecutive NFC West titles for the Seahawks. In the Wild Card round, they faced off against the divisional rivalSt. Louis Rams, who swept them 2–0 in the regular season. Seattle looked to avenge their two losses, but it was too late asMatt Hasselbeck's game-tying drive toBobby Engram was incomplete, leading Hasselbeck to his knees and punch the turf in frustration. The Seahawks lost 27–20. The Rams, despite a mediocre 8–8 record, advanced to the Divisional round the following week, only to lose toMichael Vick'sAtlanta Falcons in a 47–17 blowout.
On October 20, 2004, the Seahawks traded a conditional 2005 7th round pick (condition failed) to theOakland Raiders in exchange forJerry Rice.
^abcSt. Louis clinched the NFC #5 seed instead of Minnesota or New Orleans based on better conference record (7–5 to Minnesota’s 5–7 to New Orleans’ 6–6).
^abMinnesota clinched the NFC #6 seed instead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
^abcdeDetroit finished ahead of Arizona and New York Giants based upon head-to-head record (2–0 versus Arizona’s 1–1 and New York Giants’ 0–2). Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Dallas and Washington.
^abcNew York Giants finished ahead of Dallas and Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (3–1 to Dallas‘ 2–2 to Washington’s 1–3).
^abDallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on head-to-head sweep.
^abTampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based upon head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
The Seahawks won for only the seventh time in their last eighteen road games, holdingAaron Brooks to one touchdown while forcing two New Orleans fumbles.
The Seahawks defeated theBuccaneers 10–6 despite recording only nine first downs and being shut out in the second half. The Seahawks interceptedBrad Johnson andChris Simms and limited the Buccaneers to just 271 total yards.
The Seahawks home opener was a 34–0 shutout of the49ers where they interceptedKen Dorsey twice and limited the Niners to just 175 yards. It was San Francisco's first shutout loss sincelosing to the Atlanta Falcons 0-7 in 1977.
The Seahawks suffered their first home loss since2002. TheRams were bullied in the first half and fell behind 24–7, but in the second halfMarc Bulger threw two touchdowns as the Rams outscored Seattle 20–3; tied 27–27 the game went to overtime and Bulger threw three passes – the last a 52-yard score toShaun McDonald and the 33–27 Rams win.
A week after losing to one participant inSuper Bowl XXXVI the Seahawks fell to that game's winner as thePatriots reached a league-record 20th consecutive win (regular and postseason) 30–20.Matt Hasselbeck, a former Patriots ball boy whose dadDon Hasselbeck played in Foxboro alongsideSteve Grogan, threw for 349 yards but was intercepted twice.
Playing inSun Devil Stadium the Seahawks' previous road woes resumed with four interceptions thrown byMatt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks limited to just 257 total yards in a 25–17 loss. Seattle erased a 16–3 gap (the go-ahead score came whenKen Lucas picked offJosh McCown and ran back a 21-yard score) but gave up a safety, then gave up a 23-yard touchdown byEmmitt Smith in the fourth quarter.
Against the defendingNFC championPanthers the Seahawks erupted to 237 rushing yards and a 23–17 win.Shaun Alexander accounted for 195 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Despite seven penalties for 55 yards the Seahawks shot down the 49ers atCandlestick Park 42–27, rushing for 184 yards and two touchdowns alongside 285 yards and three scores fromMatt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks ended the game when they interceptedTim Rattay and ran back a 23-yard score in the fourth.
TheDolphins rallied from down 17–7 to tie the game, but in the fourthMichael Boulware picked offA. J. Feeley and ran back a 63-yard touchdown.Trent Dilfer started instead ofMatt Hasselbeck and managed a touchdown toJerry Rice in the 24–17 Seahawks win; the score was Rice’s first of the season after being traded to Seattle fromthe Raiders.
The 6–4 Seahawks hosted the 4–6Bills andWillis McGahee exploded to four touchdowns in a 38–9 Buffalo rout.Drew Bledsoe was intercepted three times but managed a touchdown toLee Evans.
HostingMonday Night Football the Seahawks' roller-coaster of a season continued as they fell to 6–6 to the now-5-7Cowboys. The Hawks led 14–3 after one quarter, but in the second and third the Cowboys scored 26 points (botching a two-point attempt afterVinny Testaverde's touchdown toTerrance Copper). In the fourthMatt Hasselbeck (414 total yards) erupted to three touchdown drives, two of them ending inShaun Alexander rushes, a 19-yard score toJerheme Urban, and a two-point conversion toDarrell Jackson, but the Seahawks could not hold on to a 39–29 lead; Testaverde foundKeyshawn Johnson for a 34-yard touchdown with 1:54 to go; the Cowboys kicked onsides and recovered, then fourJulius Jones rushes ended in a 17-yard score with 37 seconds remaining. The Seahawks' final drive petered out and the Cowboys had the stunning 43–39 win.
The Seahawks rallied to beat theVikings 27–23 on 334 yards and three touchdowns by Hasselbeck and 112 more rushing yards fromShaun Alexander.Darrell Jackson competed despite learning on game morning that his father had died; he caught ten passes for 135 yards and a go-ahead touchdown.
Matt Hasselbeck managed two touchdowns in the first half but the game collapsed as theNY Jets scored 24 points in the first half then shut out the Seahawks while adding two moreChad Pennington touchdowns, marred by a missed PAT.Curtis Martin rushed for 134 yards and two scores, outpacing the entire Seahawks backfield (88 rushing yards).
Shaun Alexander accounted for 154 yards and all three Seahawks touchdowns as Seattle returned toQwest Field and edged the five-winCardinals 24–21.Trent Dilfer subbed for Hasselbeck but managed only 128 passing yards.
The Seahawks clinched theNFC West by erasing a 17–7 Falcons lead to win 28–26.[9] It was the second time in three seasons the Falcons made the playoffs despite losing the regular-season finale.
