Seahawks defensive backs make big plays in win over Rams

ST. LOUIS — The safety wearing No. 27 looked familiar.

With 12 solo tackles and an interception, Jordan Babineaux bore a striking resemblance to someone once known as Big Play Babs.

You remember him, right? He intercepted Drew Bledsoe in one of Seattle's signature wins in the Super Bowl season and tackled Tony Romo from behind on that botched field-goal attempt in January 2007.

"He's a guy that I know," Babineaux joked of his alter-ego, "but once the clock hits triple zeros, I'm no longer 'Big Play Babs.' Call me Jordan."

Any name you choose, Babineaux was a headliner in what turned out to be a banner day for Seattle's secondary.

No complaints about the height of Seattle's cornerbacks. Not after Kelly Jennings tipped a pass that Josh Wilson then intercepted for the game-changing touchdown in the second quarter.

It was almost enough to overshadow the fact that Marcus Trufant was penalized twice more, bringing his season totals to four pass-interference penalties and three other infractions in the five games he's played.

Babineaux was a factor from the very beginning, sharing a first-quarter sack with defensive end Patrick Kerney. In the third quarter, Babineaux was the beneficiary of another blitz, this time intercepting a pass Boller lobbed up for grabs with only a vague hope his receiver might come down with it.

"We had a blitz call dialed up," Babineaux said. "Guys did a great job of getting up front, kind of made the quarterback throw a pretty bad ball."

Babineaux's play is part of steady improvement in Seattle's secondary over the past month, something that was highlighted in Sunday's game.

Wilson lost his starting job this offseason when Seattle signed Ken Lucas, but he's gained it back and shows no signs of relinquishing it. Not with the way he returned a second-quarter interception 65 yards for a touchdown.

The Rams were in position to attempt a field goal to take a halftime lead. Instead, they went for it and wound up trailing at halftime.

"It was a big play, but I can't take all the credit," Wilson said.

Maybe not even most of the credit. Jennings made a play on the pass, which Boller intended for Donnie Avery.

"It was a play I had seen all week in practice," Jennings said. "Our coaches did a great job of showing us that."

Jennings came from behind Avery and attempted to knock the ball down. Instead, it popped up in the air and into the hands of Wilson for the fourth touchdown of his three-year NFL career.

"It's just about a mentality," Wilson said. "That's my mentality, any time I get the ball in my hands, I'm just going out there trying to make a big play."

On Sunday, he was part of Seattle's big-play combination punch from the secondary.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com