Kansas City Memories

The Seahawks play in Kansas City on Sunday--their first trip there since 2001. But back when the Hawks were in the AFC West, they played there every year.

And usually lost.

From 1981-2001, the Hawks went 2-18 in Kansas City. One win was an unremarkable 31-19 victory in the 1999 season. But that other victory--oh, that other victory.

Setting the scene:

The Hawks were down six points with four seconds to go. Kansas City's Derrick Thomas had sacked quarterback Dave Krieg seven times, a new NFL record. But Krieg had led the Hawks to the KC 25, with enough time for one last pass.

Just after the snap, Thomas broke free for the umpteeth time, and looked to have Krieg sacked again. But Krieg escaped with a deft spin, and, as he did, spotted wide receiver Paul Skansi streaking across the middle of the end zone. He fired a pass that Skansi, a former UW and Peninsula High star, leapt and caught a touchdown pass that tied the game. Norm Johnson kicked the extra points to make the Hawks 17-16 winners.

It was one of those "where were you when it happened" moments for Seattle sports fans. (We were dancing around our 17-inch Trinitron in the living room.)

Local sketch comedian and gigantic Hawks fan Dusty Warren shared his memory with us:

I was at my Dad's. My mom and he had just separated 2-3 months prior and it was my weekend at Dad's. I remember we were both standing in the living room, and when Derrick Thomas almost sacked Krieg for the 9th time, we each grabbed the other's shoulder while still watching the tv. Then Skansi caught it and I jumped and punched the ceiling. He said "well, hang on, we haven't won, we still got the extra point." When Norm kicked that, Dad allowed himself to jump.

The Hawks might need a little of that magic on Sunday. They'll have Seneca Wallace at QB (who's no Dave Krieg) and Maurice Morris at RB (who's no Derrick Fenner).