ST. LOUIS — No. 2 was so close, the Seattle Seahawks could taste it.
Finally in position to do something meaningful with an otherwise meaningless holiday season, the Seahawks couldn’t even lose the most important game of the year.
The 23-20 victory over the St. Louis Rams may have pulled the Seahawks out of the cellar in the NFC West, but it also took them out of the driver’s seat of the car known as the NFL draft.
On an afternoon that saw the Cincinnati Bengals upset Washington to move out of the No. 2 position, the winner of the Rams-Seahawks game was in line to move up — so to speak.
Only the winless Detroit Lions (0-14) have a worse record, and all indications are that they will pick first overall next April. The Rams (2-12) currently hold the tiebreaker for No. 2, based on an easier strength-of-schedule rating than Kansas City (also 2-12). Cincinnati (2-11-1) is currently fourth, leaving Seattle and Oakland (both 3-11) tied for No. 5.
The Seahawks, with fewer wins by their opponents than those of the Raiders, hold that tiebreaker.
Had Seattle not pulled the come-from-behind victory on Sunday, the Seahawks would sit at No. 2.
“We could care less about a high pick,” Seattle safety Deon Grant said after the Seahawks rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit. “That’s not what’s hurting us this year.
“We started off with some of the worst luck you could have in the NFL (because of injuries). Next year, when we get most of our guys back, we’ll be straight. A high draft pick, or not a high draft pick, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to be straight anyway.”
For most of Sunday’s first half, neither team looked much interested in anything other than getting a high draft pick. The first half included four fumbles and saw Seattle cross midfield just one time — and that was when a drive stalled at the St. Louis 49.
But the Seahawks played an inspired second half, beating St. Louis for the second time this year and the eighth time in as many meeting with the Rams.
Seattle might have the Rams’ number, but their digits when it comes to the April draft took a significant hit with Sunday’s win.
The victory might have reminded some longtime Seahawks fans of a 1992 game between Seattle and New England that resulted in one of the franchise’s two wins that season. The Patriots finished with a 1-15 record that year and went on to select Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe first overall in the 1993 draft. The Seahawks settled for Rick Mirer.
Time will tell whether this year’s Seahawks will pay for beating another also-ran, but the victory is likely to cost them at least one spot — and possibly as many as three — when the April draft arrives.
Draft experts have targeted players like Alabama tackle Andre Smith, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree and quarterbacks Matthew Stafford of Georgia and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma as possible top-4 picks. The Rams could use help at all three positions.
The Seahawks, with hobbled, aging stars at quarterback and left tackle, could also use a superstar-in-waiting.
There’s a chance that Sunday’s win might have cost them that star.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
