Gazette, The (Colorado Springs): Turnover roulette/ Seahawks' fortunes dictated by interceptions an

ENGLEWOOD - There may be no team in the NFL that lives off turnovers more than the Seattle Seahawks, a big-play team that isn't ranked among the NFL's top 20 in either offense or defense.

But live by the turnover, die by the turnover.

"That's the way it has been this year," coach Mike Holmgren said. "Early on, we were getting a slew of turnovers and we were winning games. And then, I cautioned our coaching staff that we have got to be able to play straight up without relying on these things."

It hasn't happened. After gaining 27 turnovers in the first 10 games, the Seahawks have forced two in the past three games. Not coincidentally, they've lost three straight.

"We have guys who have lived by the big play," said Holmgren, who inherited a defense that produced an AFC-high 42 takeaways last season but finished 13th in the 15-team conference in total defense. "Now we have to develop, on both sides of the football, the ability to get it done without getting turnovers all of the time."

The offense hasn't helped matters. It has coughed up the ball 12 times in the past three weeks. When the Seahawks manage to keep the turnovers even, or win the turnover battle, they are 6-1. When they don't, they are 2-4.

If the Seahawks can patch together a streak like they had midseason - in one three-game stretch they were plus-11 in turnovers - they can make the playoffs and scare the daylights out of anyone who has to play them.

HASN'T SEEN SPIT: The Great Spitting Caper continued Friday, as Denver coach Mike Shanahan said he still hasn't seen the videotape that shows cornerback Dale Carter spitting toward - maybe not on - Jacksonville tackle Tony Boselli. The tape was shown on Denver-area newscasts Thursday.

"Until I see something, I don't want to go on speculation, because I haven't seen anything," Shanahan said after practice.

The NFL is looking at the tape, shot by the Jaguars' video department, that shows Carter turning and spitting toward Boselli, who moments before walked through the picture frame. Boselli, who said he "dodged" the spit, wants the whole matter dropped.

The league will decide if Carter will be sanctioned, likely with a fine, early next week.

"When they do (call me), and I get a chance to look at it, then I'll make a comment," Shanahan said. "But as I've said before, there's nothing worse than spitting on somebody. If it does happen, then (he'll) pay the consequences."

Spitting may not be the worst thing Carter did. Carter told Shanahan Thursday that he didn't "spit on" Boselli, to use Shanahan's phrase, and Shanahan repeatedly backed his player. Either Carter lied to his coach, or both are playing a game of semantics.

TAKING A TOLL: Going 4-9, to put it succinctly, is a drag. Playing close games every week, only to fall short at the end, can be dispiriting. But it beats the alternative.

"It's been frustrating," quarterback Brian Griese said. "But it's a lot better than getting blown out every week. It's really going to help in the end - maybe not this year, but down the road - for me being in those types of games and having to play in three-point or seven-point games every week. There's definitely a pressure there and you learn from those situations."

That's why Shanahan remains upbeat.

"If you get blown out of five, six, seven games, as you go into next season, how do you feel about your football team?" he said. "When you lose five games by (three points or fewer) and two other games by (six and eight points), and you know you could have won those games, it helps the mind-set of your football team."

Turn, turn, turn

The turnover battle often dictates a game's winner, especially when the Seahawks are playing. A look at the turnover differential for each game the Seahawks and Broncos have played this season.

SEATTLE Diff. W/L DENVER Diff. W/L

Detroit -1 L Miami -1 L

Chicago -2 W Kansas City -3 L

Pittsburgh +3 W Tampa Bay +1 L

Oakland Even W N.Y. Jets -4 L

San Diego +3 L Oakland Even W

Buffalo +3 W Green Bay +2 W

Green Bay +5 W New England Even L

Cincinnati Even W Minnesota -3 L

Denver -1 W San Diego +4 W

Kansas City Even W Seattle +1 L

Tampa Bay -6 L Oakland +1 W

Oakland -3 L Kansas City Even L

San Diego -1 L Jacksonville -2 L

TOTAL Even 8-5 TOTAL -4 4-9