MINNEAPOLIS – Put the talk of an NFC West title showdown on hold, and set aside those postseason plans.
The Seattle Seahawks, once considered a shoo-in to make the playoffs, are again finding a way to make things interesting.
The Seahawks’ fifth road loss in a row dropped them a game-and-a-half behind the St. Louis Rams in the division standings, while their once-comfortable lead in the wild-card race is getting ever so delicate. A 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday leaves Seattle (8-5) tied with Dallas and one game ahead of Green Bay in the battle for two wild card spots.
“I’m angry,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said after his worst performance of the season. “I’m angry with how we played, and I think most guys in the locker room are angry. The true test of the team will be with how we bounce back from this.”
With a game against the Rams (9-3 and playing tonight on Monday Night Football) on tap for next weekend, the Seahawks are in danger of falling into a tie for the final wild-card spot. The Packers beat Seattle in October, meaning they would hold the tie-breaker.
“We’ve got to roll up our sleeves,” coach Mike Holmgren said, repeating a familiar phrase he’s uttered too often in five years with the franchise. “It’s a three-game season, and we’ve got to figure out a way to get this thing done.”
While the road losses are becoming familiar, the surprising thing about this game was the way the Seahawks’ offense stuttered and eventually went mute. Seattle was held to a season-low 258 yards while turning the ball over three times.
While Minnesota (8-5) lived up to its billing as the most explosive offense in the NFL, the Seahawks looked nothing like the team that had averaged 36.7 points per game over the previous three weeks. The Vikings had three touchdown passes of 40 or more yards, including two to Randy Moss.
“As a group, we didn’t make big plays, and they did,” Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander said. “So then we pressed. And when you press, and you’re an explosive team, you never connect. We were pressing to make big plays because they were making big plays.”
The game had all the makings of a high-scoring shootout, but neither offense could get things going during a first half that consisted mostly of jab punches. The only knockout blow came when Moss caught a perfectly-thrown Daunte Culpepper pass between defenders Reggie Tongue and Ken Lucas in the back of the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
The Seahawks’ offense was particularly off its game, netting just 101 yards by halftime. Hasselbeck was 6-for-12 for 81 yards, while a pair of Minnesota field goals helped the Vikings take a 13-0 halftime lead.
Hasselbeck misfired on at least three passes, and a missed field goal, an interception and an Alexander fumble also killed drives.
Seattle seemed to make the necessary halftime adjustments, as witnessed by a long kickoff return and a six-play scoring drive to open the second half. Alexander’s 1-yard touchdown run put the Seahawks within 13-7 in what looked like it would be a close game down the stretch.
But Minnesota countered with another long Moss touchdown reception, this time from 45 yards out with Lucas again in coverage. Josh Brown’s second missed field goal of the game ended Seattle’s next drive, then the Vikings proved that it was their day with one of the most bizarre fourth-down conversions ever pulled off.
Rookie punter Eddie Johnson dropped the ball while attempting to kick, then corralled it after a perfect bounce and ran 15 yards up the middle for a first down.
That drive didn’t result in any points, but the Vikings put the game away on their next possession. Matthew Campbell’s 43-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the fourth quarter put Minnesota ahead 27-7, and later the Vikings iced the win with an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown from linebacker Mike Nattiel.
“I’m a big believer in momentum, and we didn’t do anything today to change momentum,” Seahawks center Robbie Tobeck said. “We did things to help their momentum, with turnovers and penalties and stuff like that. Football comes down to momentum, making plays and not doing things to hurt your team.”
If a home date with the Detroit Lions can be considered a layup win for the home squad, then hosting the Seahawks is the equivalent of a free throw.
The game marked Seattle’s fifth consecutive road loss, which is exaggerated by the fact that the Seahawks have won all seven of their home games this year.
“We just get outplayed, basically, every time we play on the road – for whatever reason,” Seahawks safety Reggie Tongue said. “I don’t know what the deal is.”
If the Seahawks get outplayed this week, the Rams could clinch the NFC West title. There is no Bowl Championship Series in the NFL, so every loss counts.
Even worse for the local fans, a loss could leave Seattle sinking out of playoff contention once again.
“This team has a lot of character, so I think we’re going to put this behind us and be ready to play next week,” Lucas said. “I think we’re going to play a better game against St. Louis than what we showed today.”
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