I did a quick Internet search and came up with a few 2008 NFC West Previews for your viewing pleasure. Here they are…

Arizona wins the division?!
Seattle takes the cake!
Seattle is king of the f’n mountain.
ESPN on board the Seattle Seahawks’ bandwagon!

I’ve perused the links above and now it is time to compile my own 2008 NFC West Preview. A far more superior preview than any you have ever read. Let us commence…

Seattle Seahawks
Record: 11-5
Pros: While there are a multitude of reasons why Seattle will dominate the division, the main reason Seattle will dominate is because of their quarterback play. Year after year, Matt Hasselbeck shows the poise and determination that it takes to be a successful NFL quarterback. Some would say, I happen to agree, that Hasselbeck is the best quarterback in the NFC. The 2008 season is just another chance for Hasselbeck to display his dominance and show the rest of the NFC West how to play the game.

With Hasselbeck lining up behind center, the Seahawks look to be a dominate force on the offensive side of the ball, but Seattle’s defense is by no means a barrel of monkeys. With talent at every position, Seattle’s defense is looking to pick up right where it left off last season. Players like Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, Patrick Kerney, and Marcrus Trufant are ready to turn their division titles into championship titles.

Cons: Seattle is good, but if anything is going to hold them back, it is going to be their wide receivers and their new implementations at running back. Currently, Seattle is looking at a Bobby Engram holdout, a serious injury to one of their playmakers (Deion Branch), and the loss of one of their better pass catchers last season (D.J. Hackett). All that said, Seattle can really only count on one receiver at this point, Nate Burleson. Do not fear, the season is not totally lost. Seattle has young talent in Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor that could become standout wideouts. Only time (and training camp) will tell.

The other Achilles’ heal for Seattle is the running game. While the running game has the ability to be much better than last season, it is just to early to tell what kind of product Seattle will put on the field come season opener. There is potential, no doubt, but there are far more questions. Can the line solidify under the tutelage of O-line coach Mike Solari? Can Julius Jones be a consistent ball carrier that puts up 100+ yards each game? Can T.J. Duckett pick up the short yards that Seattle could not last season? As you see, there are a number of questions. We won’t really get a good idea of what the running game will be like until we see the players in training camp. Until then, the running game remains a con.

St. Louis Rams
Record: 9-7
Pros: Looking back on last season, St. Louis had only one real pro, and that was Steven Jackson. Even though he had a few minor injury set backs, Jackson continued to show that he is one of the best running backs in the game. Jackson’s versatility is unmatched in the NFC West, and he just continues to get better.

While Jackson remains the biggest pro for St. Louis, Marc Bulger is not to be underestimated. If Bulger can stay healthy this season, he will be one of the main reasons St. Louis posts a 9-7 record and possibly a playoff berth. With targets like Torry Holt and Randy McMichael (if he lives up to his potential this season), Bulger can only succeed. With that said, I think this is the year the NFC West sends two teams to the playoffs.

While Jackson and Bulger will undoubtedly score points, the majority of St. Louis’ scoring will off the foot of K Josh Brown. The Brown signing was an under-the-radar pickup that could tip the balance of the NFC West ever so slightly in St. Louis’ favor.

Cons: No matter how good their offense may be, St. Louis will only be as good as their defense. Unfortunately St. Louis’ defense isn’t very good. Last season St. Louis allowed 27.4 points per game. Not a good number if your offense is only scoring 16.4 points per game. Adam Carriker was a great selection in the Draft, but there are still holes that need to be filled. Until those holes are filled, we won’t see the Seattle versus St Louis battles of old.

San Francisco 49ers
Record: 8-8
Pros: Wait, just give me a second here. I know there has to be a pro, somewhere. Oh yeah, Frank Gore. I’m sorry San Francisco, but you need help. Mike Martz will help and offense that was ranked dead last in yards per game last season. While Martz’s presence will no doubt help, it will still be up to the unproven Alex Smith to show he’s a NFL quarterback. With free agent acquisitions Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson, the San Francisco aerial attack should improve. With Frank Gore running strong and an improved passing attack, San Francisco could finally turn the corner.

Along with the improving offense, San Francisco will also look to LB Patrick Willis, and they won’t be disappointed. Willis put up a phenomenal 174 tackle season for San Francisco. Willis will continue to improve his all-around game and will be a force in the league for some time. If he had even an ounce of help, that defense make some noise.

Cons: I am going with defense, minus Patrick Willis. Looking at the stats from last season, San Francisco was dead last in the NFC with a -12 give/take differential. All this after spending big money on Nate Clements. While they did make some moves in the off season, I really don’t feel like they addressed their critical needs. In a pass-happy NFC West, San Francisco could have invested a draft pick in a top-notch corner. Walt Harris isn’t getting any younger. The free-agent addition of DE Justin Smith was a decent move, but he won’t scare anyone in the NFC West with his current skills. Mike Nolan can work miracles, but I just don’t think he’ll pull it off this season.

Arizona Cardinals
Record: 7-9
Pros: When considering pros for Arizona, two names come to mind. The powerful WR tandem of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. These two pass-catchers are two of the most dynamic in the NFL, and any team would be lucky to have just one of these players on their team, let alone both of them. That being said, I feel this is the only pro for Arizona on the offensive side of the ball.

Along with a solid aerial attack, Arizona can look to their defense for some inspiration this season. Arizona’s defense was nothing to write home about last season, but the front office spent some money in the off season upgrading an already respectable unit. Three of their top four picks in this years drafts were used to acquire defensive players. The majority of Arizona’s free agent pickups were defensive players. While none of the free agents are game-breaking players, they are they type of players that will provide quality backup as attrition takes it toll throughout the season.

Cons: If Arizona wants to make an impact this season, it needs to revamp its running game stat. Arizona ranked 29th in the league in rush yards per game, yet they did nothing to address this problem in the off season. Offensive line coach Russ Grimm succeeded in making Arizona o-line a respectable pass-protection unit, but it is evident that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Despite the o-lines struggles, the rushing woes cannot be placed solely on their shoulders. Edgerrin James was only able to muster 3.8 yards a carry last season and only racked up seven touchdowns. Arizona may want to pick up one of the remaining NFL-caliber backs left in free agency. May I suggest Shaun Alexander? Could make things interesting if nothing else.

The time has come for me to start writing again. While my return to the blogosphere is no doubt very exciting, we must contain ourselves. I’ve been out of the game for a little while, and it is going to take some time for me to get back “in the game”. Add in the fact that there is a shortage of Seattle Seahawks’ news and we have ourselves a real problem. Do not fret though. July 29th (the beginning of Seattle Seahawks’ training camp) is only a month away!

With training camp only a month away, there is still time to give my in-depth analysis of the division and the conference, however, that will be another day. So sit back and tune in on a regular basis. If you care about all things football, or if you’ve exhausted all the other football-related resources on the Web. then this is the spot for you!

Six Seattle players were named to the 2008 Pro Bowl in Honolulu. Leading the pack of Seattle names were quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

Other Seattle players named were perennial Pro Bowler Walter Jones, sack master Patrick Kerney, and the speedster Julian Peterson.

Selected to his first Pro Bowl was Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant, who is tied for the NFC lead with seven interceptions. Trufant, while always being considered a good player, is coming into his own this season and developing into the dominant corner that Seattle had hoped when they drafted him with the 11th pick overall in the 2003 NFL Draft.

The NFL released the roster for the 2008 Pro Bowl. Among those named, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Randy Moss and the late Sean Taylor.

Leading the NFC was Dallas with 11 selections. Leading the AFC were New England and San Diego, both with eight selections.

The biggest snub was Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor. While some will argue that he doesn’t deserve a roster spot because he only has four rushing touchdowns, Taylor’s 5.1 yards per rush average is tops in the AFC among starting running backs. Not only is his rush average higher than any other starter, he’s also doing all of this at the age of 31. If that isn’t impressive, I don’t know what is. Hopefully Taylor returns for at least one more season and gets the recognition he deserves.

Next in line for biggest snub was Houston defensive end Mario Williams. Williams’ 13 sacks is second in the NFL behind only Seattle’s Patrick Kerney. How Jason Taylor beat out Williams for the spot is beyond me. The coaches, players and fans need to seriously asses how they’re voting.

Some questionable selections (better options in parenthesis), at least in my opinion, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (Cleveland’s Derek Anderson), Dallas running back Marion Barber (Tampa Bay’s Ernest Graham), Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai (Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor), Green Bay receiver Donald Driver (Seattle’s Bobby Engram or Saints’ Marques Colston), Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez (Cleveland’s Kellen Winslow), Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (Houston’s Mario Williams), Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams (Arizona’s Darnell Dockett), Chicago outside linebacker Lance Briggs (Detroit’s Ernie Sims), Dallas cornerback Terrance Newman (Arizona’s Roderick Hood), Denver cornerback Champ Bailey (Cleveland’s Leigh Bodden), Minnesota safety Darren Sharper (Green Bay’s Atari Bigby), Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu (Cleveland’s Sean Jones).

Here are the entire AFC and NFC rosters…

Note: “s-” means the player is designated as a starter.

American Football Conference

Offense

Wide receivers — s-Randy Moss, New England; s-Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis; Braylon Edwards, Cleveland; T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati
Tackles — s-Matt Light, New England; s-Jason Peters, Buffalo; Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore
Guards — s-Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh; s-Logan Mankins, New England; Kris Dielman, Pittsburgh
Centers — s-Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis; Dan Koppen, New England
Tight ends — s-Antonio Gates, San Diego; Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City
Quarterbacks — s-Tom Brady, New England; Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
Running backs — s-LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego; Willie Parker, Pittsburgh; Joseph Addai, Indianapolis
Fullback — s-Lorenzo Neal, San Diego

Defense

Defensive ends — s-Jared Allen, Kansas City; s-Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee; Jason Taylor, Miami
Defensive tackles — s-Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee; s-Vince Wilfork, New England; Jamal Williams, San Diego
Outside linebackers — s-Mike Vrabel, New England; s-James Harrison, Pittsburgh; Shawne Merriman, San Diego
Inside linebackers — s-DeMeco Ryans, Houston; Ray Lewis, Baltimore
Cornerbacks — s-Asante Samuel, New England; s-Champ Bailey, Denver; Antonio Cromartie, San Diego
Strong safeties — s-Bob Sanders, Indianapolis; Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh
Free safety — s-Ed Reed, Baltimore

Specialists

Punter — Shane Lechler, Oakland
Placekicker — Rob Bironas, Tennessee
Kick returner — Josh Cribbs, Cleveland
Special-teamer — Kassim Osgood, San Diego

National Football Conference

Offense

Wide receivers — s-Terrell Owens, Dallas; s-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona; Torry Holt, St. Louis; Donald Driver, Green Bay
Tackles — s-Flozell Adams, Dallas; s-Walter Jones, Seattle; Chris Samuels, Washington
Guards — s-Leonard Davis, Dallas; s-Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia
Centers — s-Andre Gurode, Dallas; Matt Birk, Minnesota
Tight ends — s-Jason Witten, Dallas; Chris Cooley, Washington
Quarterbacks — s-Brett Favre, Green Bay; Tony Romo, Dallas; Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle
Running backs — s-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia; Marion Barber, Dallas
Fullback — s-Tony Richardson, Minnesota

Defense

Defensive ends — s-Aaron Kampman, Green Bay; s-Patrick Kerney, Seattle; Osi Umenyiora, N.Y. Giants
Defensive tackles — s-Kevin Williams, Minnesota; s-Pat Williams, Minnesota; Tommie Harris, Chicago
Outside linebackers — s-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas; s-Julian Peterson, Seattle; Lance Briggs, Chicago
Inside linebackers — s-Lofa Tatupu, Seattle; Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Cornerbacks — s-Marcus Trufant, Seattle; s-Al Harris, Green Bay; Terence Newman, Dallas
Strong safety — s-Darren Sharper, Minnesota
Free safeties — s-Sean Taylor, Washington; Ken Hamlin, Dallas

Specialists

Punter — Andy Lee, San Francisco
Placekicker — Nick Folk, Dallas
Kick returner — Devin Hester, Chicago
Special-teamer — Brendon Ayanbadejo, Chicago

When any football fan sees a 10-13 score, they know it must have been a bad game. Sunday’s Seattle at Carolina game was no exception. Even the score was deceptive, as the Seahawks’ only touchdown came with one second left in game to give the game the appearance of something competitive.

Despite the loss, not much damage was done to the NFC West champs. If anything, some good can come out of this loss. That good is a dedication to the run game the final two weeks of the season. If the Seahawks plan to make any noise in the playoffs, they need to get their once-vaunted run offense back in form. At least some playoff-ready form. Seattle gained only 44 yards on the ground but this was due in part to the complete abandonment of the run by Coach Holmgren. While Coach Holmgren deserves part of the blame, the rest of it lies solely on Seattle’s running backs and offensive line. Seattle must gain more than 44 yards on the ground if they plan to win any playoff games.

With two games remaining (against Baltimore and Atlanta), the Seahawks have time to get Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris and the offensive line ready for a playoff run (run, literally). If the Seahawks were smart, they’d think about getting FB/RB Leonard Weaver a little more involved in the running game (he didn’t have a single rushing attempt in Sunday’s game).

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, there is no chance for a first-round bye this season. On the bright side, none of the teams against whom Seattle might play in the post season really promoted themselves to THE unstoppable team in the NFC. With Dallas’ loss and Green Bay’s less than spectacular win, Seattle still looks to be a team that can and will compete in the playoffs. So while Sunday’s game might have been a loss, there is still a lot for the Seahawks to look forward to.

Alright, I need to say this. I hope Shaun Alexander proves me wrong. That’s right, I’ll come out and say it. I hope Shaun puts up the kind of numbers that make me and my article look like the dumbest thing since Michael Vick opened up Bad Newz Kennels. That being said, why?! Why is Shaun Alexander starting? Why does Coach Holmgren continue to toy with my fragile emotions?

Seattle’s running game hasn’t showed up all season. Seattleites have a better chance of seeing David Stern back the “Keep the Sonics in Seattle” movement than they do seeing a consistent running back in the Seahawks’ backfield. I’m not trying to criticize the running backs here. The majority of Seattle’s problems come from the offensive line. The only thing they are good at is being offensive, they offend just about everyone all the time (thanks Eric Cartman).

So why is putting Alexander in the backfield a bad idea? Let me tell you… Once upon a time, Shaun Alexander was a great running back. That was due in part to the fact that he had two perennial Pro Bowl offensive linemen (Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson) but that was also due to the fact that with a decent line, Alexander is a phenomenal runner. Fast forward to this year. Alexander isn’t running the ball very well. Matter-of-fact, a drunk hobo could probably do a better job than Alexander has this season. This is because that when put behind a mediocre offensive line (Seattle’s isn’t even this good), Alexander is about as effective as a cardboard cutout. Looks good in your game room, yes. Good at getting yards (and/or touchdowns), no. This isn’t so much an attack on Alexander himself, but more an attack on Alexander’s style. He has been dubbed a “patient” runner. Coaches have even gone as far to call him a “creative” runner. Patience and creativity are great if you’re at the DMV or painting an abstract, but they won’t help if your O-line gets owned on a regular basis.

By now all you Maurice Morris fans are probably starting to cry, “What about MoMo? He’s doing great! I hope he answers my fan mail!” First off, you all make me sick. “MoMo” sucks. His slightly impressive 4.2 yards per rush average has come against some of the worst rush defenses in the league. Since he took over for Alexander, Morris has faced San Francisco (24th ranked defense), Chicago (29th), and St. Louis (19th). The only reason Morris has had success (I use that term lightly, very lightly), is because his style allows him to bust off a 20-yard run occasionally. Trust me, he’s no Barry Sanders. So keep your MoMo for President signs in your damn garage and shut the hell up.

Regardless, this still all comes down to the play of the offensive line. In their defense, while they aren’t the best at run blocking, they do a pretty darn good job at pass blocking. You want to know what doesn’t do a good job at pass blocking? An arm cast. What else you might ask? A Shaun Alexander! What will we have in the backfield the majority of the game? The combination of an arm cast and a Shaun Alexander. In an offense that advertises the fact that they pass the ball more often than not (good move Walrus), one thing you don’t want is a blocker that is more akin to one of those paper banners teams run through at the beginning of games. Wait till Alexander is healthy. I beg you. I have never seen a team try to sabotage themselves so much (minus the Arizona Cardinals). I honestly cry myself to sleep at night.

It is simple. If you want to win games, you stick the biggest, most pass catchingest, bestest blockingest back you have. That my friends is Leonard Weaver. Will Holmgren do this? No. Will Holmgren consume a diet of polar cod and soft-shelled crustaceans and sun himself on the beach (typical walrus behavior)? Yes.

When I read headlines like “Alexander to start vs. Eagles”, I really feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

Like all the other teams in the NFL, injuries are starting to take a toll on the Seattle Seahawks. Specifically, Seattle’s running backs. The ‘Hawks currently hold a two game lead in the NFC West, over the Arizona Cardinals. This being one of the tighter divisions in the NFC, the Seahawks can ill afford a loss in Philadelphia this weekend.

Morris is nursing an injured ankle he sustained late in last week’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Alexander, on the other hand, is returning from a banged up knee. Alexander is expected to play, but his exact role this upcoming Sunday is still undefined. This week in practice, it was Alexander taking the majority of the snaps with the first team offense. This was more due to the fact that Morris was recovering rather than Alexander taking back his starting role.

Seattle’s run offense has been only slightly better than anemic this year. The ‘Hawks currently rank 21st in rush yards per game. Even worse than their 21st place ranking, the ‘Hawks are tied for 26th in the league with only 5 rush touchdowns. Blame for these rankings goes from running backs to offensive line and back. To be honest, I can’t even tell who deserves the majority of the blame. The insertion of Morris into the starting lineup has added a spark. Still, Seattle’s running game is about as impressive as a 4th of July sparkler.

With Morris banged up, Alexander a shell of his former self, and the team facing an Eagles’ defense ranked 7th in the league, what are the Seahawks to do? The answer is Leonard Weaver. With his 4.9 yards per carry average, Weaver is the most productive back on the roster. The fullback has seen limited duty at the running back spot, and while he hasn’t jumped out as the next Jim Brown or O.J. Simpson, he has shown he has the skills to give this team a consistent threat at running back (at least until Alexander is 100%). Besides his rushing ability, Weaver has shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield (6th on the team in receptions), and that he can provide solid pass protection when Matt Hasselbeck drops back to pass.

The division is on the line and the Seahawks can ill afford another loss. With that in mind, maybe Seattle should think about giving Leonard Weaver a shot at running back.

I was a little hesitant to write a post about the tragic passing of Sean Taylor. It was partly because there were already so many posts but mostly because I knew I couldn’t do his life and career any justice with a blog post. After reading other posts and watching ESPN, I’ve started to get a better picture of the man that Sean Taylor was. Like I said, no blog post can offer anyone comfort or do Taylor any justice, but I felt like Taylor has earned it.

Taylor is like a lot of us, he made mistakes in his life. That fact has been all too evident in all the press coverage. We all remember the gun charges and when he spit in Michael Pittman’s face. We’ve all done things we regret. To err is human. Part of the legacy that Sean Taylor has left was his ability to overcome, to change. Taylor had always been a consummate teammate and he leaves us as a consummate human being.

For some it is a life changing event that makes them reflect on who they are and who they want to be. Some of us have had a moment like this. Some of you haven’t, but no doubt will at some point in your life. For Taylor, it was the birth of his daughter, Jackie. It is very unfortunate when a child loses a parent at such a young age, but with his daughter, Taylor has left a piece of himself behind to carry on his legacy, a legacy that will continue to grow as Taylor’s daughter grows up.

We all pray for Taylor’s family and friends during this difficult time. It is important in times like this to celebrate a life rather than mourn a death. So let us smile at the man Taylor became, pay our respects and celebrate his legacy.

It was a wild game and it was far closer than any Seattle fan would have guessed it would be. With the Seahawks trailing for most of the game, it looked like the Seahawks were prime for another disappointing loss. With six minutes remaining in the game, Leonard Weaver muscled the ball into the endzone to give the Seahawks a 5-point lead.

With the Seahawks leading and the Rams depending on Gus Frerotte to lead them to victory, most anybody would feel safe with a lead that required the Rams to drive the length of the field for a touchdown. Alas, I was still uneasy. It felt like one of those games.

One the ensuing possession, the Rams went three-and-out and were forced to punt. Now I started to feel good. All the Seahawks need were a few yards and a Josh Brown field goal. No problem, right? The Seattle offense moved the ball down the field with relative ease until they got around the Rams’ 33 yard line. Instead of sticking to their “pass first” offense, Seattle decided to had the ball off to Mo Morris three straight times. The net result of those three handoffs was a pitiful one yard gain. With Josh Brown facing a 52-yard field goal, that feeling of doubt started to creep back into my throat.

Brown missed wide right, but I couldn’t really blame him. I was blaming the play calling. At this point the momentum had shifted back towards the St. Louis Rams. The Rams didn’t waste any time moving it down the field, in part due to a 24-yard pass interference call on Deon Grant. On third-and-one, Frerotte gained two yards, setting the Rams up with first-and-goal at Seattle’s four yard line. Now I was really worried. I tried to think back to recent goal line stands the Seahawks had made but none came to mind. Especially agianst Steven Jackson. An incomplete pass on first down, a two yard gain on second, the Seahawks looked like they might keep them out of the endzone. The handoff to Steven on third down placed the ball on the one yard line after Jackson’s outstretched arms were just short of the goal line. I knew it would come down to this, fourth-and-one.

As Frerotte tried to pull away from the pulling guard, he inadvertently mishandled the snap. As Frerotte fell on the ball and Darryl Tapp landed on Frerotte to end the game, I couldn’t help but think back to last year’s Cowboys game. They had done it, they had lucked out. The big difference with yesterday’s game is that I believe that had Frerotte handed the ball off to Jackson, he still would have been stopped. In a way, the Seahawks were robbed of a defense-defining play. In the end, a victory is a victory and the Seahawks are leading the NFC West by two games. Because of that, I’m a content Seattle fan, at least for the week.

When the NFL put together the 2007 season schedule, I’m sure they envisioned the second match up between the Seahawks and 49ers to be a little more enticing (something a little more worthy of a Monday Night game). Going into the season, the 49ers were something of a dark horse. Some “experts” actually thought they had a chance to win the NFC West. Fast forward to week 10 and the 49ers are sitting on a 2-6 record with the leagues worst offense in both yards and points per game.

While San Francisco is certainly struggling, Seattle is also having problems. Despite having a 12th ranked (in yards, 15th in points) offense, many Seattle fans would guess that the Seahawks are playing at a level more akin to a 30th ranked offense. Shaun Alexander continues to struggle running the ball. Whether this is due more to his ineptitude or the subpar performance of a once-dominate offensive line is yet to be determined, but tonight’s game might shed some light on the subject as it appears Alexander will be riding the pine (due to his recent flair-up of pussitis). This will allow backup Maurice Morris to show Seattle what he’s really made up. I’m still sticking to my belief that RB/FB Leonard Weaver should get the start, but the chances of that happening are pretty slim.

With their offense struggling, the Seattle defense has had to pick up the slack. While no one is comparing this years Seahawks to the ’85 Bears, they are doing more than you might think. Going into week 10, the Seahawks’ defense is 19th in the league in yards allowed. Undaunting to say the least, but while they may allow 333.6 yards per game, Seattle’s defense is only allowing 17.6 yards per game (7th in the NFL) and keeping this team in games. Even more impressive is the fact that Seattle’s secondary has allowed only five pass touchdowns all season, best in the league. This bodes well for a defense that is facing Alex Smith (only two TD passes all season).

Despite key injuries to Alexander and Deion Branch, it would be quite a shock if the Seahawks lost tonight. Look for receivers D.J. Hackett and Bobby Engram to have big games and the defense to pitch a near shutout.

31-3, Seattle