Seahawks' Alexander sets TD record, takes rushing title
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Shaun Alexander said his offensive line was more excited about a chance at the league rushing title than he was. The NFL touchdown record was another matter.
"It's more fulfilling to be 13-3, to know we're in the playoffs and we don't have to play next week," Alexander said. "Those are more fulfilling than the rushing title. The scoring title, the touchdowns, I do like that. That's pretty cool."
Alexander did it all Sunday in the Seattle Seahawks' 23-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
First, he established the NFL single-season mark for touchdowns by scoring his 28th early in the second quarter. On third-and-goal at the 1, Alexander took a handoff from Matt Hasselbeck, got a block from fullback Mack Strong and raised his hand in triumph, untouched, for his 100th career TD.
Alexander carried the ball eight of the last nine plays of the 69-yard scoring drive.
"I know there was one play that there was no reason in the world for Green Bay to line up the way they lined up (defensively)," he said. "You kind of understood that the game was not a normal game for us or them, and it was just weird. I like the other way better."
Preist Holmes set his mark in 2003 with 27 touchdowns -- all rushing. Alexander, who ran for 73 yards on 20 first-half carries Sunday, also had 27 touchdowns rushing and added one receiving this season.
Just before halftime, Alexander's 3-yard run vaulted him ahead of New York Giants running back Tiki Barber as the league rushing leader. Alexander finished with 1,880 yards, 20 ahead of Barber, who ran for 203 yards on Saturday night in a 30-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Barber ran for a franchise-record 95-yard touchdown in that game.
"I think right when I got here Tiki had just broken the long run. I didn't know what was going on, but you've landed, you get off the plane, get to your room and suddenly my phone is ringing off the hook," Alexander said. "Of course, I'm not answering it."
On Alexander's final run, a 12-yard effort, he was stripped and lost a fumble for the first time this season after 369 carries without a turnover.
Alexander said it was a difficult week because of the funeral of his aunt, Debbie Clifford.
"It was an emotional roller coaster -- going from Christmas, then your aunt dies, and then all the stats come out and you might get all these records," Alexander said. "I've been asked, 'How do you feel?' Tired. I'm really blessed we do have this week off where I can kind of grab a hold back to reality."
