ST. LOUIS _ If the Seattle Seahawks were planning on using starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck again this season, the image that unfolded in the final seconds of Sunday’s first half may have changed their minds.
When St. Louis Rams defensive tackle La’Roi Glover delivered a blindside hit to the spine of Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace as Wallace fired a pass, it served as a reminder of how Hasselbeck’s career might come to an end.
It was a reminder of how fragile a quarterback can be, and the image also made head coach Mike Holmgren angry at himself for leaving Wallace exposed.
“I was second-guessing myself on that call,” Holmgren said afterward, “but it probably helped my halftime speech.”
Both Holmgren and an inspired Wallace addressed the players at halftime, and the Seahawks’ turnaround was remarkable.
The Seahawks overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and beat the Rams 23-20.
Through the first half, the Rams were drubbing the Seahawks on the scoreboard (14-3), in total yardage (243-76), in first downs (14-3) and in bruises on the opposing quarterback.
But thanks to a motivated offensive line and a strategy that included throwing quicker passes, the Seahawks were able to put on a pretty good offensive showing in the second half.
Seattle outscored the Rams 16-3 while turning the tables in yardage (257-99) and first downs (13-4).
The bruised and angry Wallace was a big reason why.
“He was just fired up,” receiver Bobby Engram said of Wallace, who got the wind knocked out of him on the Glover hit right before halftime but suffered no serious damage. “He had taken a pretty big hit right before the half, and he was trying to get us into urgency. He was trying to be more vocal, to be a leader.”
Wallace didn’t just talk the talk; he also walked the walk. After completing just 3 of 8 passes for 63 yards in the first half, Wallace went 12 of 17 for 163 yards in the second half.
Playing behind a makeshift offensive line that is missing four starters who are on injured reserve, Wallace spent much of Sunday afternoon running from trouble. Seattle’s backup quarterback took plenty of hits while Hasselbeck stood on the sideline nursing a sore back.
After the way Wallace was getting hit during Sunday’s first half, it’s hard to imagine Holmgren going back to his starter again this season.
Locklear hurt: While the Seahawks celebrated a victory for the first time since Oct. 26, left tackle Sean Locklear found himself at the other end of the pain spectrum.
Locklear suffered a dislocated toe during Olindo Mare’s game-winning field goal and remained down on the field for several minutes while concerned teammates looked on.
Locklear was eventually taken off the field on a cart and given X-rays. About an hour after the game, he was walking around the locker room with a boot on his left foot.
“I’ll take this and the win any time,” he said, smiling.
Neither Locklear nor Holmgren could say whether the injury will sideline the lineman for the final two games.
The bright spot: Rookie tight end John Carlson continued to pile up numbers during an otherwise dark season for the Seahawks.
Carlson had five receptions on Sunday to give him a season total of 51 — the most ever by a Seattle tight end. Carlson’s first receptions Sunday pushed him ahead of Itula Mili’s franchise-best total of 46 receptions by a tight end.
“I can’t tell you why it’s worked out that way,” the rookie second-round pick said. “It’s every receiver’s job to try to get open.”
Carlson ranks third in the NFL in receptions among rookies — wide receivers Eddie Royal (Denver) and DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia) are the only first-year players with more catches — and seventh among all tight ends.
Big-game Olindo: With former Seahawk Josh Brown watching helplessly from the sidelines, a different Seahawks kicker provided the heroics on Sunday.
Olindo Mare, not Brown, delivered the game-winner.
“I don’t think anybody’s really concerned with how we got it,” Mare said of the win. “Obviously, being able to kick it was a positive for me, but winning and coming back (in a good mood) on Wednesday is a nice feeling.”
Mare has made 22 of his 24 field-goal attempts this season, including all three tries Sunday. He also had two touchbacks but still found fault in his performance.
“I probably screwed up on three kicks,” he said, “because I should have had touchbacks on every kick(off).”
The Rams’ Brown didn’t have any touchbacks, but he made both his field-goal attempts. He is 26 of 31 on field goals this season.
Quick slants: Sunday’s win assures the Seahawks of not matching the worst season in franchise history. The 1992 Seattle team went 2-14. … St. Louis lost its eighth game in a row this season and its eighth in a row against the Seahawks. The Rams have gone winless in November and December, and Sunday’s loss may have cost interim coach Jim Haslett a chance to keep his job into next season. … With 99 passing attempts this season, the Seahawks’ Wallace still falls short of the number required to be listed among the NFL leaders. His season passer rating of 88.9 would be good enough for 13th in the league, between the ratings of Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan (90.0) and Denver’s Jay Cutler (88.2).
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
