SEATTLE — Tony Dungy got three hours of comfort.

Seattle got home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

NFL rushing leader Shaun Alexander ran for 139 yards and scored three touchdowns — including a rare TD receiving — to tie Priest Holmes' NFL record of 27 touchdowns in a season. That helped the Seahawks clinch NFC home-field advantage yesterday with a 28-13 victory over the injured, resting and reflective Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts (13-2), who already own home field in the AFC playoffs, were without Dungy. Their coach is in Tampa, Fla., where his 18-year-old son died Thursday in an apparent suicide.

Indianapolis players wore decals with black horseshoes on the backs of their helmets. The initials JD were inside, also inscribed in black. And a capacity crowd of 67,855 observed a moment of silence for the Dungy family before the 11th consecutive win for Seattle (13-2).

When the ceremony concluded, the scene turned into normal NFL day. The crowd heartily booed the visitors.

"Then, it was just a normal game," Colts receiver Brandon Stokley said. "We knew that was the way it was going to be."

Immediately after it, Dungy called team president Bill Polian.

"It was right away, no sooner than I got in here," Polian said. "He watched all of it and said it helped him to root the team on. He wanted the players to know how proud he was of their effort."

Peyton Manning, when asked if there was a difference in the locker room without Dungy, said, "Not really."

"I think everyone had Coach Dungy and his family on our minds," Manning said. "Our prayers are with him. But when you are out there playing, then you are out there trying to do your job."

Alexander became the 16th NFL player to eclipse 1,800 yards rushing in a season while leading the Seahawks to their first-ever top seed in a postseason.

"Every flight is going to be at least three hours," Alexander said of his playoff foes next month. "Now every team has to take that trip to us. You don't feel the same after flying on a plane all day."

The Colts (13-2) were set to be on a plane all night eastbound for Tampa, Fla., to rejoin Dungy for Tuesday's funeral. First-year assistant head coach Jim Caldwell is filling in for Dungy indefinitely.

"The focus shouldn't be on me," Caldwell said. "I've really got the easy job compared to what our head coach is going through."

The Seahawks dominated a depleted Indianapolis team without Pro Bowlers Marvin Harrison, Cato June and Bob Sanders — and with Manning (9 for 12, 116 yards passing) playing just one quarter.

Alexander's record-tying score was full of theater.

Seattle's Craig Terrill recovered a fumble from Manning's backup, Jim Sorgi, and returned it to the Colts 17 with 5:27 left. Running backs coach Stump Mitchell had already told Alexander he would be departing the game with about five minutes remaining. So a giddy Alexander began running onto the field with his offense.

But Mitchell pulled him back.

"We're done. There's no more hits today," he told Alexander.

But then backup runner Maurice Morris was stopped just short of the goal line on a 13-yard burst. Mitchell turned to Alexander and said, "OK, I'm giving you one play to score. But if you get hit, get hurt and go to the hospital, I'm not coming to visit you."

Alexander plowed into the end zone without the need for medical attention. He hugged the ball in his left arm and pointed to the sky. Then he walked down the offensive line as it set up for the extra point and shook each one of his blockers' hands.