SEATTLE — They’re mired in one of the worst slumps in their franchise’s recent years, and yet a division title is still well within reach.
It can be said for the 3-3 Seattle Seahawks, who have lost two games in a row by a combined 32 points yet still lead the NFC West.
It can also be said of the 0-6 St. Louis Rams.
Maybe that’s why Rams quarterback Marc Bulger is taking the glass-half-full approach to the rest of his team’s otherwise lost season.
“Fortunately, we’re in the NFC West and we’re three games out (of first place) somehow,” Bulger said last week. “We can win this week and only be two games out.”
That’s about the extent of the incentive for the Rams these days. While St. Louis once owned the division, the Rams are seriously struggling this year.
And the Seahawks aren’t exactly at the peak of their game, either.
“What we have to do is eliminate the stuff we are doing wrong,” coach Mike Holmgren said last week. “Forget about the opponent just a little bit and fix some of the things we think we can fix. That is the speech for the week.”
Holmgren added that he “used up all my winless speeches last week,” before last Sunday’s loss to the previously winless New Orleans Saints.
“I feel we let the people down the other night,” Holmgren said, referring to the Qwest Field fans. “It was too bad. It was a shame. But we will bounce back and we have another opportunity to bounce back (today), at home.”
The loss to New Orleans, combined with the previous week’s humbling shutout at Pittsburgh, left the Seahawks in their first slump of the season.
“As a team, when you get punched in the mouth, you have to get back up and keep playing,” wide receiver Nate Burleson said. “We’ve definitely got to figure out a way to start faster, and hopefully we can get back on track.”
In four of the Seahawks’ six games this season, their opponent has scored first. The only game that saw them lead wire-to-wire was the convincing, 23-3 victory over San Francisco. That game sent the city into a few days of Super expectations, only to return to earth with the back-to-back losses.
Today’s game should provide another chance to get well. Unlike the Saints, who were struggling despite plenty of talent, St. Louis has lost almost all of its star players at one point or another this season because of injuries.
Bulger missed the past two games because of broken ribs. Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Pace is out for the season due to a separated shoulder. Running back Steven Jackson has been out three weeks with a pulled groin, and five of the team’s wide receivers were on the injury report this week with a myriad of injuries.
“What are you going to do?” Rams coach Scott Linehan said last week. “You’re going to keep plugging away, and eventually I think we’ll start getting some players back.”
Bulger will be back in the lineup today, which comes as good news for St. Louis fans. Star wideouts Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are also expected to play despite injuries.
“I wanted to play last week, but (Linehan) felt two weeks was the bare minimum,” Bulger said. “I’m pretty excited to get back out there now.”
While the Seahawks aren’t nearly as banged up, they do have their own problems. The receiving corps has been in a constant shuffle, and two veteran leaders — fullback Mack Strong and defensive tackle Chartric Darby — are out for the season due to injuries.
More troubling for the Seahawks is their inconsistency. Star players like running back Shaun Alexander and defensive end Patrick Kerney are healthy, but not playing up to their potential.
Holmgren acknowledged the differences between his Seahawks’ struggles and the Rams’ run of bad luck, but he added that the frustration level is the same no matter what’s gone wrong.
“I think your level of frustration is what it is,” he said. “When you’re losing, it’s hard. It’s just hard. What you have to do is pick yourself up off the ground, do what coaches do … and try to fix it some way.
“I don’t think it’s any less frustrating. It isn’t for me. Until you play the next game the next week, you’re not feeling very good.”
That time has arrived — for both the struggling Seahawks, and the struggling Rams.
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