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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks aren't giving up on this
season, even though the playoffs are out of reach.
But the Atlanta Falcons appear to have thrown in the towel -- or
draped it over their heads, as Jamal Anderson did in the final
minutes of another embarrassing loss.
|  | | Seattle's Ricky Watters finished with 79 yards Sunday, putting him past the 10,000-yard mark for his career. |
"I know things are going bad," Anderson said after the Falcons
were blown out 30-10 Sunday, "but this is ridiculous."
Jon Kitna threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, and George Koonce
returned an interception 27 yards for his second career touchdown
as Seattle built a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Seahawks (5-8) won for the third time in four games, but it
won't matter. They were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs
last week, ending coach Mike Holmgren's streak of taking seven
straight teams to the postseason.
"Right now, all we can do is play hard and play for pride each
week," Shawn Springs said. "We know we aren't going to the
playoffs. But every man is a professional here. We've got a job to
do, so it's time to come and do it."
The Falcons (3-11) seem to be showing up merely to collect their
paychecks. They have lost five in a row for the second time this
season, getting outscored 71-24 the last two weeks.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Seahawks: Can Jon Kitna still prove to Mike
Holmgren he can be his QB?
Donahoe: Every time coach Mike Holmgren takes a look at Brock Huard to see if he's the
Seahawks' quarterback of the future, Jon Kitna steps up and gives a good
performance. Kitna did that again today, and he may be trying to prove
something to coach Holmgren. Earlier in the season Kitna was inconsistent
and made some bad decisions, but lately he has been on top of his game. One
of the things that has helped him is the outstanding season Ricky Watters has had, both
running and receiving. Maybe coach Holmgren should look no further than Jon Kitna as his quarterback of
the future.
Question on the Falcons: Why did Dan Reeves demote Chris Chandler to third
string?
Donahoe: Earlier this week, Dan Reeves said he was concerned about
the physical condition of Chandler and decided to start Doug Johnson. One thing Reeves
wanted to find out is how Johnson would play. Even though Johnson is a
rookie, Reeves thought he had seen enough potential in Johnson to give him
some playing time down the stretch. Chandler has been battered and bruised
for most of the year, and it does not appear that he us in Atlanta's
long-range plans. In playing Johnson, the Falcons will get an early look at
him for next year and begin to determine what they need to do about their
quarterback situation in the offseason.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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The game was played a day after more than 73,000 fans packed the
Georgia Dome for the Southeastern Conference championship game.
The announced attendance Sunday was 44,680, but it appeared that
no more than 30,000 fans showed up.
"I would like to apologize to the people who even bothered to
come out and watch us play," Anderson said. "This is tremendously
embarrassing."
Doug Johnson, an undrafted player from Florida, became the first
rookie quarterback to start in the NFL this season. He took over
for Chris Chandler, who was demoted to third string.
But the move didn't have much effect on Atlanta's dismal
offense, which ranked next-to-last in the NFL and continued to
struggle even against the league's worst defense.
The Falcons were penalized for a false start on their first play
from scrimmage. Johnson followed with an incompletion, then
attempted a short pass over the middle to Terance Mathis.
But Koonce was standing right in front of the intended receiver.
The linebacker picked off the pass and easily rambled to the end
zone, giving Seattle a 14-0 lead just over four minutes into the
game.
Koonce, a nine-year veteran, scored his other TD in 1996 on a
75-yard interception return while playing for Green Bay.
"I was afraid I was going to drop it," Koonce said. "But I
hung onto it and was able to carry it in for the touchdown."
Johnson had four turnovers in all -- two interceptions and two
fumbles -- and also was sacked four times, taking Atlanta's
NFL-leading total to 53 for the season.
The rookie's misery was epitomized by his final fumble, when he
not only lost the ball but a shoe on a hit by Anthony Simmons.
"I think I did all right," Johnson said. "Every quarterback
has to go through that first game as a rookie. Hopefully, it will
get better."
Kitna returned to the starting lineup after Brock Huard went
down with a bruised kidney in a loss to Denver last week.
Kitna finished 25-of-34, including a 6-yard touchdown to Darrell
Jackson that capped an 82-yard drive to begin the game.
Jackson also had a 71-yard reception on a short pass over the
middle late in the first half. He broke through three tacklers
before he was dragged down at the 1 by Ashley Ambrose.
Ricky Watters dived over on the next play, giving Seattle a 24-3
lead at halftime. Watters finished with 79 yards, going past 10,000
for his career.
Rian Lindell added three field goals for the Seahawks.
Johnson, who went 17-of-33 for 233 yards, finally reached the
end zone early in the fourth quarter with a 19-yard pass to Reggie
Kelly.
But the game ended with a smattering of boos and the Georgia
Dome virtually deserted.
"It's hard to put into words," Mathis said. "It really,
really hurts bad. It's almost like you want to go in a cave or
crawl up in a ball and cry."
Game notes
Watters has 10,033 yards rushing in his career. ...
Anderson went out in the first half when another player rolled into
his left leg, but he was able to return. ... The 71-yard reception
was the longest of the year for Jackson, a rookie from Florida. ...
Falcons receiver Shawn Jefferson has a career-high 57 receptions.
He had 54 with New England in 1997.
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ALSO SEE
Seattle Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
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