December 27, 2010: Rams Win Sets Up Primetime One-Game Playoff That Hasselbeck May Miss

An Ugly But Meaningless Loss: On one hand, the Seahawks will make the playoffs with a win on Sunday Night Football against St. Louis. On the other hand, does anyone want to watch this team play two more games? In a 38-15 loss to Tampa Bay, the defensive line couldn’t get pressure, Marcus Trufant was beaten again and again. The offense was abysmal, and you can’t put it all on Charlie Whitehurst. The backup QB, who took over after Matt Hasselbeck pulled a muscle, didn’t get time to throw. When he had time, later in the fourth quarter, when Tampa Bay went into prevent mode, he was fairly accurate and led a TD drive mostly through the air.

Hasselbeck Won’t Practice All Week: The injury Matt Hasselbeck suffered is not a new one, he said after the game. He took a helmet to the hip (actually, “it’s more my butt,” Hasselbeck said) in the San Diego game, tweaked it against Arizona, and felt a pull during his fateful first-quarter TD run. Hasselbeck will have an MRI this morning, but he won’t practice at all and will be a game-time decision. So, basically, look for our playoff fate to be in the shaky hands of Charlie Whitehurst.

What a Week in Sports! NFL games with playoff implications on Monday (ATL @ NO) and Tuesday (MIN @ PHI, rescheduled after Sunday’s blizzard). Then three key days for Husky teams: The UW hoopsters opening Pac-10 play at USC on Wednesday , the Holiday Bowl on Thursday, and UW hoops going for just their seventh win all-time at UCLA on Friday. An orgy of college bowl games New Year’s Day (Saturday), and the NFC West one-game playoff on Sunday. Clear your schedules, people.

What they’re saying…

“We have an opportunity to play for the division title. Regardless of how it might have looked tonight, that’s fact.” — Pete Carroll

“Trufant couldn’t cover a cough coming out of his own mouth with his own hands.” — @gisheepoo33

“If Charlie Whitehurst is the answer, I’ve no idea what the question is.” — @Smugsy2

“Would love to see Whitehurst start for Seattle next week.” — @RamsGab

“Can you trade a playoff spot for a draft pick?” — @robstaton

“This is the first “win-and-in” Seahawks final Sunday home game in 27 years- Even at 6-9, that’s a BIG DEAL.” — Dave Krieg’s Strike Beard

In other news…

The 49ers fired Mike Singletary.

With his block of a 49ers field goal attempt Sunday, Craig Terrill tied Joe Nash’s Seahawks record for career kick blocks with 9.

The Huskies, now in San Diego prepping for Thursday’s Holiday Bowl, spent Sunday afternoon at the zoo.

The Wazzu hoopsters lost to Butler Christmas Day in the Diamond Head Classic finals.

The Rangers have reportedly signed former Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb, who didn’t pitch in the majors last year after 2009 elbow surgery.

If the Seahawks beat the Rams and win the NFC West at 7-9, they will be the worst NFL playoff qualifier ever. But not the worst in major pro sports history, not by a longshot. The Baltimore Bullets qualified for the 1953 NBA playoffs with a 16-54 record. The Bullets were swept in the first round. The weakest MLB qualifer was the 1973 New York Mets, who finished 82-79, but advanced to the World Series.

Today in SPNW…

Doug Farrar writes that Sunday’s loss exposed all the Seahawks’ weaknesses

July 2010 Sports Rewind

Today’s action…

Independence Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Air Force, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
NFL: New Orleans @ Atlanta, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College Hoops: #4 UConn @ #6 Pitt, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Yo! If you have a tip or a comment, email me at sethkolloen@sportspressnw.wpengine.com or message me on Twitter, @SethKolloen. Cool? Thanks!