DENVER (AP) -Champ Bailey intercepted a pass from Matt Hasselbeck in the end zone to stop a Seattle drive and the Denver Broncos led the Seahawks 13-7 after three quarters Sunday night.

The Seahawks were on Denver's 40 when Hasselbeck tried to connect with Darrell Jackson on a deep route. Bailey read the play for his sixth interception of the season.

On Denver's first possession of the second half, Mike Bell fumbled at the Seahawks 46 and Rocky Bernard recovered it.

However, the Seattle offense couldn't move the football. The Seahawks went three-and-out on six of their first eight possessions. They were driving late in the third quarter before Bailey's pick.

Jason Elam hit a pair of field goals - 37 and 41 yards - but was holding his left leg after his attempt in the final seconds before halftime. There was no update on his injury.

On the previous play, Elam lined up for a 43-yard attempt on fourth-and-short, but holder Jake Plummer flipped it to Elam, who gained 2 yards, but was hit hard on the play. Elam got up gingerly and made the kick.

An ill-advised throw in the second quarter by rookie Jay Cutler led to a Seattle touchdown. Cutler avoided trouble on a naked bootleg midway through the second quarter, scrambled in the backfield and tried to throw it away as he was going down, but the ball landed in the arms of linebacker Darryl Tapp, who went 25 yards for the touchdown.

Moments earlier, Cutler threw a pass high to Alexander, who brought it down and ran 7 yards for the touchdown.

Tatum Bell, back after missing three of the last four games with turf toe, rushed for 131 yards on 22 carries.

Cutler was 9-for-19 for 72 yards through three quarters.

Rod Smith fumbled after catching a pass from Cutler late in the second quarter and the ball was picked up by Julian Peterson, who returned it to the Broncos 35. Denver's defense held and Josh Brown missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt with 1:47 left before halftime.

Brown also missed a 40-yard attempt earlier in the second quarter.

Elam hit a 37-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.

On a frigid evening, the Cutler Era officially kicked off and the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he took the field. A fan held up a sign saying, ``Separated at birth?'' and had a picture of Cutler and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.

Coach Mike Shanahan elevated the rookie to starting quarterback last Monday, sending Jake Plummer to the bench. Cutler, the 11th overall draft pick out of Vanderbilt last April, hadn't taken a snap since the preseason. Denver (7-4) has lost two straight games.

Cutler's first pass of his pro career was intended for Javon Walker, but was broken up by Marcus Trufant.

Hasselbeck was 10-for-20 for 65 yards and Shaun Alexander carried the ball 14 times for 53 yards. The Seahawks had just 67 yards of offense in the first half.

The Seahawks (7-4) are as healthy as they've been all season. They're 4-0 this season when Hasselbeck and Alexander have been on the field at the same time. The defending NFC champions are trying to capture their third straight NFC West crown. They were without center Robbie Tobeck, out with a hip injury.

Hasselbeck, who returned last Monday night against Green Bay after missing four weeks with a sprained right knee, played with a bruised finger on his non-throwing hand. Alexander is coming off a 201-yard performance against the Packers. He missed two months with a broken foot.

This was Seattle's first trip to Denver since the team moved from the AFC West to the NFC West in 2002. The Broncos are 20-4 at home against the Seahawks.

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