From Start to Interception, Part 3

This drive broke down in a hurry.

1-10-DEN 16 (10:47) 22-J.Jones right guard to DEN 16 for no gain (52-J.Hunter).

Sean Locklear's struggles with Justin Bannan began on this play and would culminate in a holding penalty that cost Seattle a touchdown. On this play, we have three guilty parties, in order of guilt: Julius Jones, who runs into Chris Spencer's back and actually shoves him down; Locklear, who loses Bannan and allows the defender to appear in the hole; and Spencer, who doesn't achieve push on Ronald Fields.

Jones does not get zone blocking. As someone that's defended Jones, because he isn't a horrible rusher and because he compensates with blocking and receiving, I wish Seattle would send him somewhere he stands a chance of succeeding.

Anyway, Jones takes the hand off, runs to the right of Spencer, Bannan closes the hole, Jones runs into Spencer, pushes him aside causing Spencer and Field to fall and then is tackled from behind by Jason Hunter.

2-10-DEN 16 (10:10) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short left to 11-D.Butler ran ob at DEN 12 for 4 yards.

This wasn't worth challenging, not for Carroll, not for McDaniels, but I do not think it was a catch. It's very, very close.

Robert Ayers flies off the blindside edge and powers Tyler Polumbus into Hasselbeck. He is very close to working under and around to sack Hasselbeck when Hasselbeck spins out of the pocket. The reverses the dynamic between Polumbus and Ayers and allows Polumbus to pancake Ayers. So much good still left in Hasselbeck, if only ...

Hasselbeck scrambles towards the left flat, directs and then tosses wide to Butler so that he's the only player capable of making the reception. Now, the tricky part: Butler does drag a foot and his other foot is planted. He does not however drag his foot and have control of the ball at the same time. By the time he has secured the pass, his left foot is off the turf and on its way to stepping out of bounds.

3-6-DEN 12 (9:44) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short middle to 11-D.Butler to DEN 1 for 11 yards (23-R.Hill).

Curls, curls, curls, curls -- Hasselbeck pumps left towards Mike Williams and then sidearms it to a wide open Deon Butler over the middle. The line gives him good protection. The sidearm is completely unnecessary, but cool.

(the collapse)

1-1-DEN 1 (9:14) PENALTY on SEA-77-S.Andrews, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 1 - No Play.

Seattle attempts a quick snap before Denver can set. It doesn't work. Andrews jumps. Locklear follows.

1-6-DEN 6 (8:59) 20-J.Forsett left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN NULLIFIED by Penalty. PENALTY on SEA-75-S.Locklear, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DEN 6 - No Play.

Spencer pushes and turns Jamal Williams. If Williams is indeed still one of the best nose tackles in the NFL, this was a hell of a game for Spencer. Spencer's single block allows Andrews and Ben Hamilton to pull into the second level. Andrews turns and clears D.J. Williams and that is the final block needed for Forsett to streak through the middle and score the touchdown.

It's nullified. Locklear takes a barely legal bracket block and makes it outrageously illegal when he grabs Bannan by the jersey on his left shoulder and pulls him hard to the turf. Can't do that, Sean.

1-16-DEN 16 (8:54) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short left to 17-M.Williams.

Mario Haggan chucks Williams and Williams falls backwards attempting the reception.

2-16-DEN 16 (8:50) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right intended for 83-D.Branch INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Bailey at DEN 4. 24-C.Bailey to DEN 4 for no gain (83-D.Branch). WATCH HIGHLIGHT

Watch at your own risk.

What can you say? Hasselbeck pumps and then lobs high for Branch in the right flat. Renaldo Hill shadows over top and Champ Bailey leaps high above the turf and picks the pass. On the one hand, you can't deny Bailey, that's a good play. On the other, an interception becomes easier and easier as the ball hangs and hangs. And Matt's pass had strings attached.