'Hawks' Moon May Sit Out
Seattle's offense has one touchdown in the past two weeks, Warren Moon has a cracked rib and the Seahawks' receivers are keeping a perpetual frown on Dennis Erickson's face by dropping too many passes.
On top of that, the unbeaten, defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos are coming to the Kingdome on Sunday.
If Moon isn't well enough to play, Erickson might start third-stringer Jon Kitna.
"When we have a chance to make a catch, we have to make a catch," a frustrated Erickson said Monday after drying out following his team's 17-6 loss in the mud in Kansas City. "Not necessarily a touchdown or a big play, but just making a catch."
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The Seahawks' offense was stuck in the goo Sunday night when a storm dumped 3.6 inches of rain on downtown Kansas City, forcing a 54-minute delay when lightning struck too close to Arrowhead Stadium. Other locations around the city reported as much as 6 inches of rain.
Seattle settled for two short field goals by Todd Peterson and didn't score a touchdown despite recovering five fumbles.
Joey Galloway caught five passes, but James McKnight and Mike Pritchard, Erickson's other two top receivers, combined for one reception, a 16-yarder to McKnight.
The weather conditions were miserable, but they were miserable for the Chiefs, too. Quarterback Rich Gannon, subbing for the injured Elvis Grbac, had an 80-yard TD pass to Andre Rison for Kansas City in the third quarter that broke the game open.
The Broncos have won four in a row from Seattle. Despite playing without Joh Elway the past two weeks, Denver's offense hasn't missed a beat.
The Broncos beat Philadelphia 41-16 last week. If Elway, who has had back and hamstring injuries, can't play in Seattle, Bubby Brister will start again in his place.
Moon was injured in the second quarter in Kansas City when he was hit in the ribs by Donnie Edwards and John Browning when he had to run after an aborted handoff to Ricky Watters.
"Right now, he couldn't practice today," Erickson said. "He couldn't practice tomorrow. I don't know if he'll be able to practice Wednesday. As the week goes on, we'll just have to see what happens."
Moon was replaced by backup John Friesz, who didn't get anything going. Erickson brought Kitna into the Kansas City game in the fourth quarter. Kitna was 3-for-12 for 42 yards with one interception.
"John's fine," Erickson said of Friesz, who is 9-for-187 for 52 yards with one interception this season. "We made that change basically just to make that change."
Erickson said he hasn't made any decisions about who will quarterback the Seahawks against Denver if Moon can't play. But he has said in the past that Kitna, 26, is Seattle's quarterback of the future.
"I thought Jon did some really good things for really not practicing at all," Erickson said of Kitna, noting that he didn't take any snaps while being on Seattle's scout team last week. "He did an admirable job."
With Pritchard and McKnight struggling, Erickson will dust off 11-year veteran Brian Blades, who is second on the Seahawks' all-time receiving list behind Hall of Famer Steve Largent. Blades has been used sparingly this season, making four catches.
"I will say Brian Blades will see more action," Erickson said. "Brian's made a lot of plays over the years."
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