SAN FRANCISCO – All eyes will be on the Seattle Seahawks this afternoon, when a rare national television appearance comes with the added incentive of being the only NFL team whose playoff hopes rest on what it does at 3Com Park.
While a trio of games Sunday could affect Seattle (9-6), today’s game against the San Francisco 49ers falls under the must-win clich because the Seahawks would be eliminated should they lose.
This rightfully seems like unchartered territory for the young Seahawks, who have 30 players who have never been to a playoff game as well as a group of veterans whose careers in Seattle have included just one trip to the postseason (1999).
In fact, even some of the well-traveled veterans are a bit inexperienced when it comes to do-or-die games in December.
“I played in Atlanta for seven years,” offensive lineman Robbie Tobeck said, “so after like six weeks, they were all do-or-die.”
Last year’s Seahawks knew what that was like. But a 5-1 start to the 2003 season left this squad with genuine playoff hopes for the last four months.
All that could come crashing down today if the Seahawks can’t solve their road woes and beat the 49ers (7-8). A loss this afternoon would eliminate Seattle, while a win combined with a Sunday loss by either Minnesota or Green Bay – and possibly Dallas – would give the Seahawks their first postseason appearance in four years.
Not many Seahawks are used to playing in games with so much on the line.
Only seven times in franchise history has Seattle entered the season finale needing a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. They are 5-2 in those games, but eventually missed out after three of those wins because they got no help from other teams.
The last time the Seahawks were in a similar situation was 2001, when a win over Kansas City in the season finale left them grasping to a slim playoff chance for more than 24 hours. They all got together at a Kirkland establishment to watch a Monday Night Football contest pitting Minnesota and Baltimore that would determine their postseason fate.
The Vikings and third-string quarterback Spergon Wynn didn’t put up much of a fight, and the Ravens won both the game and the final AFC wild-card berth.
In 1999, the Seahawks had more control heading into the final week. Having handled the Chiefs in a key AFC West matchup the previous Sunday, Seattle had to beat the New York Jets in the season finale to clinch the AFC West title. The Seahawks failed to close the deal that day, but backed into the playoffs when the Chiefs lost to Oakland a short time later.
Of all the season-ending, do-or-die games in franchise history, the most important came in 1983. A win over New England in Week 16 paved the way for a memorable playoff run that included a trip to the AFC Championship game.
“I remember the intensity level of that (New England) game,” said Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, who was a backup on the 1983 team. “I think this is going to be just like that.”
The parity of recent postseasons – wild-card teams have advanced to the Super Bowl in three of the past six years – means that a similar run is possible for these Seahawks.
If, that is, they can get a win today and get some help Sunday.
“Right now the only thing we can control is winning this game,” linebacker Anthony Simmons said. “After that, it’s pretty much out of our hands.”
As much excitement as a game like this carries, many Seahawks wish it had never gotten to this point.
“I would rather be the team that has the starters chilling on the sidelines in their jerseys (and no pads), already having wrapped up home-field advantage,” cornerback Shawn Springs said. “Personally, that’s what I’m into, instead of having to go out there and bust your (tail) for 60 minutes.”
San Francisco has been hot lately, especially on offense. And the 49ers have won six in a row at home, compared to six consecutive road losses by Seattle.
So busting their tail will be the only way for the Seahawks to prolong the season.
“I’m happy we’re playing for something,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “There’s a side of me that’s very disappointed that we aren’t already figuring out where we’re going to play in the playoffs. But that’s one side of me. The other side (believes) it should be a very exciting week and a good football game.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
