SEATTLE — Inside the walls of Qwest Field, a three-year-old photograph depicts one of the most important images in Seattle Seahawks history.
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is holding a ball in the air, his legs crossing the goal-line for a late touchdown as Washington cornerback Shawn Springs dives in frustration as Seattle goes on to record its first playoff victory in 17 years.
How long ago that seems.
Both for the Seahawks and for Hasselbeck.
On Sunday, Hasselbeck and Springs were reunited for a game-clinching play that didn’t go so well for Seattle. For the second week in a row, a late Hasselbeck interception helped thwart the Seahawks’ chances of a comeback victory.
His pass toward Koren Robinson was intercepted by Springs with 1:20 remaining in Sunday’s game, helping Washington secure a 20-17 win at Qwest Field.
“I really didn’t foresee it ending that way,” Hasselbeck said on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the Seahawks dropped to 2-9 on the season. “It was a poor decision with the football. I am trusted with the ball, and I am trusted in those situations, and I am definitely kicking myself right now. It was sloppy.”
Since returning from a back injury, Hasselbeck has thrown two costly interceptions in back-to-back losses. His passer rating now stands at 54.9, which ranks dead last in the NFL — 21.8 points lower than anyone else who has thrown at least 140 passes.
“Being out so long,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said, “… even the best players can be a little rusty.”
Whether it’s rust, the back problem or a stable of receivers that has been ravaged by injury — for the record, Nate Burleson is the only one of the Seahawks’ top four receivers who is still sidelined — Hasselbeck has been a shell of himself this season.
The self-deprecating quarterback admitted as much after Sunday’s game, when a reporter prefaced a question by mentioning an interview Hasselbeck did after a pre-Super Bowl press conference last February.
“You mean the Pro Bowl press conference?” Hasselbeck said, cutting the reporter off. “Yeah, I won’t be doing that one this year.”
Even before he was sidelined five games with the back injury, Hasselbeck was struggling. But since he has returned, the three-time Pro Bowler has been even more snake-bit. Costly mistakes, including a pair of interceptions that both came after the two-minute warning, have defined his return to a team desperately in need of an offensive spark.
In a 26-20 loss to Arizona eight days ago, Hasselbeck had a chance to lead the Seahawks on a game-winning drive but threw an interception with 1:55 remaining.
Sunday’s finish was all too familiar for a quarterback who now has as many interceptions (nine) in six starts this season as he did during the entire 2005 year.
“It’s a little bit different situation, but the result is exactly the same,” Hasselbeck said when asked to compare the way his past two Sundays finished. “I would put (the Springs interception) into a little different category, but it was the first play (of the Seahawks’ final drive), with just under two minutes left. It was bad.
“I think I will definitely look back on this one for a long time and regret it and realize how foolish it was.”
While several Seahawks were gearing up for the physical and emotional toll a short week will take — Seattle plays Thursday at Dallas — Hasselbeck was among the players who can’t get back out there fast enough.
“To be honest,” he said, “I can’t wait to play another football game. Because this was not my best effort.”
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