1988 Seattle Seahawks season NFL team season
The 1988 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League (NFL). The Seahawks won their first division title in the AFC West . They won the division with only a 9–7 record and finished with only a +10-point differential.
The team never went under .500 during the season and clinched the AFC West in week 16 with a 43–37 shootout win over the Los Angeles Raiders . The Seahawks were the #3 seed in the AFC playoffs ; they lost 21–13 on the road in the Divisional round to the top-seeded Cincinnati Bengals on December 31.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
In late August, Ken Behring and partner Ken Hofmann purchased the team from the Nordstrom family for $80 million.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
Offseason
NFL Draft
Undrafted free agents
1988 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player
Position
College
Ryan Knight
Running back
USC
Kevin McLean
Quarterback
USC
Pat Pearson
Guard
Southern Miss
Garey Waiters
Punter
Jacksonville State
Arthur White
Linebacker
Florida
Donald Wilson
Safety
Penn
Personnel
Staff
1988 Seattle Seahawks staff
Front office
Owner – Ken Behring
President/general manager – Mike McCormack
Vice president/assistant general manager – Chuck Allen
Player personnel director – Mike Allman
Assistant player personnel director – Rick Thompson
Pro personnel assistant – Randy Mueller
Head athletic trainer - Jim Whitesel
Assistant athletic trainer - John Kasik Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Tom Catlin
Defensive line – George Dyer
Assistant linebackers – Rusty Tillman
Defensive backs – Ralph Hawkins
Special assignments – Joe Vitt Special teams coaches
Special teams – Rusty Tillman
Assistant special teams – Russ Purnell
Final roster
Starters in bold.
(*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1989 Pro Bowl .
Schedule
Preseason
Source: Seahawks Media Guides[ 8] [ 9]
Regular season
Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC West.
Bold indicates division opponents.Source: 1988 NFL season results[ 10]
Postseason
Standings
Game summaries
Preseason
Week P1: vs. Phoenix Cardinals
Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
7
0 0 7
Seahawks 14
0
7 0 21
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P2: at Detroit Lions
Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Seahawks 0
0
3 10 3 16
Lions
7
6
0 0 0 13
at Silverdome , Pontiac, Michigan
Week P3: vs. Buffalo Bills
Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bills
0
10
3 0 13
Seahawks 3
0
14 13 30
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P4: at San Francisco 49ers
Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
7
14 0 21
49ers 0
0
20 7 27
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco
Date : Game time : 6:05 pm local Game weather : clear, 72 °F (22 °C), wind variable 18 miles per hour (29 km/h)Game attendance : 53,357Referee : Ben Dreith Gamebook
Regular season
Week 1: at Denver Broncos
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Ray Butler 3-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 12:23 (SEA 14–7)
SEA – Curt Warner 14-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 3:41 (SEA 21–7) Fourth quarter
DEN – Mark Jackson 20-yard pass from John Elway (Rich Karlis kick), 4:14 (SEA 21–14)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
SEA – John L. Williams: 5
DEN – Steve Sewell : 5 rec, 81 yds Team –
SEA – 152 – 178 – 330 – 1
DEN – 226 – 76 – 302 – 3
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
3
0
0 7 10
Seahawks 3
28
0 0 31
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Curt Warner 1-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 9:37 (SEA 10–3)
SEA – Curt Warner 3-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 2:26 (SEA 17–3)
SEA – Brian Blades 17-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 0:51 (SEA 24–3)
SEA – Jacob Green recovered fumble in end zone (Norm Johnson kick), 0:37 (SEA 31–3) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
KC – Paul Palmer: 8 rec, 105 yds
SEA – Brian Blades : 3 rec, 39 yds, 1 TD Team –
KC – 236 – 50 – 286 – 6
SEA – 107 – 156 – 263 – 1
Week 3: at San Diego Chargers
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SD – Vince Abbott 48-yard field goal, 13:07 (SD 10–0)
SEA – Norm Johnson 40-yard field goal, 1:53 (SD 10–3) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 42-yard field goal, 9:27 (SD 10–6)
SD – Gary Anderson 25-yard run (Vince Abbott kick), 4:05 (SD 17–6)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SEA – 194 – 105 – 299 – 4
SD – 78 – 159 – 237 – 1
Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers 7
10
14 7 38
Seahawks
0
0
7 0 7
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SF – John Frank 1-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick), 7:55 (SF 14–0)
SF – Mike Cofer 21-yard field goal, 1:57 (SF 17–0) Third quarter
SF – Jerry Rice 69-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick), 10:05 (SF 24–0)
SF – Jerry Rice 60-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick), 2:25 (SF 31–0)
SEA – Ray Butler 46-yard pass from Kelly Stouffer (Norm Johnson kick), 1:24 (SF 31–7) Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SF – 341 – 239 – 580 – 1
SEA – 125 – 29 – 154 – 5
Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – John L. Williams 1-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 8:33 (SEA 14–3)
SEA – Norm Johnson 44-yard field goal, 0:10 (SEA 17–3) Third quarter
ATL – Greg Davis 31-yard field goal, 11:00 (SEA 17–6)
ATL – Stacey Bailey 45-yard pass from Steve Dils (Greg Davis kick), 6:51 (SEA 17–13)
SEA – John L. Williams 1-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 0:40 (SEA 24–13) Fourth quarter
ATL– Steve Dils 1-yard run (Greg Davis kick), 8:01 (SEA 24–20)
SEA – John L. Williams 1-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 2:21 (SEA 31–20)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SEA – 149 – 168 – 317 – 1
ATL – 245 – 140 – 385 – 4
Week 6: at Cleveland Browns
Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 7
6
0 3 16
Browns
7
0
0 3 10
at Cleveland Stadium , Cleveland , Ohio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 31-yard field goal, 10:25 (SEA 10–7)
SEA – Norm Johnson 38-yard field goal, 0:05 (SEA 13–7) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 22-yard field goal, 8:55 (SEA 16–7)
CLE – Matt Bahr 23-yard field goal, 2:40 (SEA 16–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SEA – 101 – 126 – 227 – 1
CLE – 174 – 160 – 334 – 4
Week 7: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints 0
10
7 3 20
Seahawks
3
3
6 7 19
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NO – Eric Martin 19-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick), 9:25 (NO 7–3)
SEA – Norm Johnson 47-yard field goal, 3:55 (NO 7–6)
NO – Morten Andersen 23-yard field goal, 0:00 (NO 10–6) Third quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 46-yard field goal, 11:23 (NO 10–9)
NO – Dave Waymer 58-yard blocked field goal return (Morten Andersen kick), 2:09 (NO 17–9)
SEA – Norm Johnson 42-yard field goal, 1:31 (NO 17–12) Fourth quarter
NO – Morten Andersen 31-yard field goal, 6:50 (NO 20–12)
SEA – Brian Blades 3-yard pass from Kelly Stouffer (Norm Johnson kick), 0:38 (NO 20–19)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
NO – 177 – 141 – 318 – 3
SEA – 341 – 93 – 434 – 2
Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams
Game information
First quarter
LA – Greg Bell 1-yard run (Mike Lansford kick), 13:02 (LA 7–0)
LA – Mike Lansford 39-yard field goal, 4:43 (LA 10–0) Second quarter
Third quarter
LA – Aaron Cox 32-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick), 12:30 (LA 31–3) Fourth quarter
SEA – Vernon Dean 62-yard blocked field goal return (Norm Johnson kick), 13:14 (LA 31–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SEA – 143 – 153 – 296 – 5
LA – 311 – 154 – 465 – 3
Week 9: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers
0
0
0 14 14
Seahawks 3
7
0 7 17
at Kingdome , Seattle
Date : October 30Game time : 1:03 pm local Game weather : indoorsGame attendance : 59,641Referee : Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC ) : Jim Donovan and Larry CsonkaGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SD – Anthony Miller 11-yard pass from Mark Malone (Vince Abbott kick), 13:11 (SEA 10–7)
SEA – John L. Williams 6-yard pass from Kelly Stouffer (Norm Johnson kick), 3:43 (SEA 17–7)
SD – Anthony Miller 10-yard pass from Mark Malone (Vince Abbott kick), 0:53 (SEA 17–14)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SD – 169 – 130 – 299 – 3
SEA – 109 – 126 – 235 – 0
Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bills 3
7
0 3 13
Seahawks
0
3
0 0 3
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 41-yard field goal, 6:24 (Tied 3–3)
BUF – Robb Riddick 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick), 1:57 (BUF 10–3) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
BUF – Scott Norwood 23-yard field goal, 2:38 (BUF 13–3)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
BUF – 194 – 142 – 336 – 2
SEA – 73 – 72 – 145 – 2
Week 11: vs. Houston Oilers
Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Oilers
7
3
7 7 24
Seahawks 7
3
7 10 27
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
HOU – Tony Zendejas 52-yard field goal, 14:07 (HOU 10–7)
SEA – Norm Johnson 40-yard field goal, 6:34 (Tied 10–10) Third quarter
HOU – Allen Pinkett 2-yard run (Tony Zendejas kick), 9:28 (HOU 17–10)
SEA – Curt Warner 3-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 2:48 (Tied 17–17) Fourth quarter
HOU – Warren Moon 11-yard run (Tony Zendejas kick), 11:47 (HOU 24–17)
SEA – John L. Williams 44-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 8:17 (Tied 24–24)
SEA – Norm Johnson 46-yard field goal, 0:01 (SEA 27–24)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
HOU – 182 – 237 – 419 – 1
SEA – 188 – 177 – 365 – 1
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
7
7 10 24
Chiefs 7
7
3 10 27
at Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 20Game time : 12:00 pm local Game weather : clear, 34 °F (1 °C), 61% humidity, wind NW 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)Game attendance : 33,152Referee : Bob McElwee TV announcers (NBC ) : Gary Gerould & Jimmy CefaloGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Terry Taylor 27-yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick), 14:04 (Tied 14–14)
KC – Nick Lowery 34-yard field goal, 2:18 (KC 17–14) Fourth quarter
KC – Steve DeBerg 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick), 14:38 (KC 24–14)
SEA – Norm Johnson 32-yard field goal, 10:13 (KC 24–17)
SEA – Brian Blades 14-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 4:20 (Tied 24–24)
KC – Nick Lowery 40-yard field goal, 046: (KC 27–24)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SEA – 208 – 105 – 313 – 2
KC – 203 – 162 – 365 – 2
Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Raiders
Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders
14
6
7 0 27
Seahawks 7
14
0 14 35
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Brian Blades 6-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 9:18 (Tied 14–14)
LA – Chris Bahr 46-yard field goal, 6:45 (LA 17–14)
LA – Chris Bahr 46-yard field goal, 1:50 (LA 20–14)
SEA – Paul Skansi 11-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 0:29 (SEA 21–20) Third quarter
LA – Steve Smith 4-yard run (Chris Bahr kick), 3:23 (LA 27–21) Fourth quarter
SEA – Curt Warner 7-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 11:17 (SEA 28–27)
SEA – Louis Clark 20-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 3:40 (SEA 35–27)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
LA – 144 – 113 – 257 – 2
SEA – 212 – 247 – 459 – 5
Week 14: at New England Patriots
Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
0
7 0 7
Patriots 0
6
7 0 13
at Sullivan Stadium , Foxborough, Massachusetts
Date : December 4Game time : 1:00 pm local Game weather : clear, 31 °F (−1 °C), 44% humidity, wind W 25 miles per hour (40 km/h)Game attendance : 59,086Referee : Tom Dooley TV announcers (NBC ) : Don Criqui & Bob TrumpyGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NE – Jason Staurovsky 34-yard field goal, 13:01 (NE 3–0)
NE – Jason Staurovsky 22-yard field goal, 9:21 (NE 6–0) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
SEA – John L. Williams: 5 rec, 37 yds
NE – Stanley Morgan : 1 rec, 19 yds Team –
SEA – 45 – 20 – 65 – 1
NE – 41 – 171 – 212 – 3
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos
0
7
0 7 14
Seahawks 7
21
14 0 42
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Curt Warner 1-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 14:36 (SEA 14–0)
DEN – Mark Jackson 15-yard pass from John Elway (Rich Karlis kick), 11:05 (SEA 14–7)
SEA – Curt Warner 1-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 5:46 (SEA 21–7)
SEA – John Spagnola 7-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 0:33 (SEA 28–7) Third quarter
SEA – Curt Warner 13-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 11:15 (SEA 35–7)
SEA – Curt Warner 12-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 1:47 (SEA 42–7) Fourth quarter
DEN – Steve Sewell 3-yard run (Rich Karlis kick), 0:28 (SEA 42–14)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
DEN – 301 – 101 – 402 – 1
SEA – 220 – 230 – 450 – 0
Week 16: at Los Angeles Raiders
Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 14
9
14 6 43
Raiders
7
10
10 10 37
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , Los Angeles
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
LA – Willie Gault 51-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick), 14:52 (Tied 14–14)
SEA – Norm Johnson 39-yard field goal, 12:14 (SEA 17–14)
LA – Chris Bahr 26-yard field goal, 7:32 (Tied 17–17)
SEA – Norm Johnson 24-yard field goal, 1:52 (SEA 20–17)
SEA – Norm Johnson 40-yard field goal, 0:13 (SEA 23–17) Third quarter
SEA – Brian Blades 30-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 9:17 (SEA 30–17)
LA – Chris Bahr 28-yard field goal, 7:49 (SEA 30–20)
SEA – John L. Williams 75-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 7:26 (SEA 37–20)
LA – Steve Smith 4-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick), 1:11 (SEA 37–27) Fourth quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 35-yard field goal, 14:46 (SEA 40–27)
LA – Mervyn Fernandez 54-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick), 12:54 (SEA 40–34)
SEA – Norm Johnson 32-yard field goal, 5:18 (SEA 43–34)
LA – Chris Bahr 24-yard field goal, 2:21 (SEA 43–37)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
SEA – John L. Williams: 7 rec, 180 yds, 1 TD
LA – Mervyn Fernandez : 4 rec, 113 yds, 1 TD Team –
SEA – 389 – 101 – 490 – 3
LA – 331 – 111 – 442 – 1
Postseason
Seattle entered the postseason as the #3 seed in the AFC.
AFC Divisional Playoff: #3 Seattle Seahawks at #1 Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
0
0 13 13
Bengals 7
14
0 0 21
at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati , Ohio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CIN – Stanley Wilson 3-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 11:35 (CIN 14–0)
CIN – Ickey Woods 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 7:40 (CIN 21–0) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team –
SEA –276 – 18 – 294 – 3
CIN – 91 – 254 – 345 – 2
References
^ Pierson, Don (January 1, 1989). "Seahawks rushed out early" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). (Chicago Tribune) . p. C1. ^ Wojciechowski, Gene (January 1, 1989). "It's no act – Seahawks fall to Bengals" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times) . p. 6E. ^ "Bengals' defense cages Seahawks" . Idahonian . (Moscow). Associated Press. January 2, 1989. p. 1B.^ " . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). wire reports. August 29, 1988. p. C1.^ "Seahawks owner has a Super goal" . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington). Associated Press. August 30, 1988. p. B1.^ Cour, Jim (August 31, 1988). "New owner has partner" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. D5. ^ 1988 Seahawks Media Guide , accessed February 14, 2015.^ 1989 Seahawks Media Guide , accessed February 14, 2015.^ 1988 NFL season results , NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
External links
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (11) Conference championships (3) League championships (1) Retired numbers Affiliations
