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]
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
Offensive coordinator/receivers – Steve Moore
Quarterbacks – Ken Meyer
Offensive backs – Chick Harris
Tight ends – Russ Purnell
Offensive line – Kent Stephenson
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
1988 Seattle Seahawks final roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Rookies in italics
47 active, 9 inactive
Starters in bold.
(*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1989 Pro Bowl . Source: Seahawks Media Guides[8] [9] Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC West.
Bold indicates division opponents.
Source: 1988 NFL season results[10] Week P1: vs. Phoenix Cardinals [ edit ]
Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period
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
Week 1: at Denver Broncos [ edit ]
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 , 82 yds
DEN – Steve Sewell : 5 rec, 81 yds
Team – – – –
SEA – 152 – 178 – 330 – 1
DEN – 226 – 76 – 302 – 3
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs [ edit ]
Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period
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 [ edit ]
Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Period
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
Seattle entered the postseason as the #3 seed in the AFC.
AFC Divisional Playoff: at #1 Cincinnati Bengals[ edit ]
AFC Divisional Playoff: #3 Seattle Seahawks at #1 Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period
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
^ 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.
^ " 'Hawks sale still pending; Young returns to practice" . 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.
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (11) Conference championships (3) League championships (1) Retired numbers Affiliations