35-year old starting QB Matt Hasselbeck is going for a MRI today on his hip.  Hasselbeck has not played well this season but at least he’s a battle tested veteran.  He has played in 14 games for the Seahawks so far this year and he has completed 266 of 444 passes (59.9%) for 3,001 yards with 12 TD passes and 17 INTs (73.2 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 23 times for 60 yards (2.6 ypc) with 3 TD runs so far this year.  The Seahawks better hope that Hasselbeck can give it a go or they are going to have to start Charlie Whitehurst in the biggest game of the season.  28-year old Charlie Whitehurst has played in 5 games for the Seahawks so far this year and he has completed 35 of 63 passes for 315 yards with 1 TD pass and 3 INTs (54.7 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 12 times for 13 yards (1.1 ypc) with 1 TD run so far this year.  The Seahawks have everything on the line this weekend as it’s win or go home so they need Hasselbeck or Whitehurst to step up.

The Seahawks got dominated in every facet of this game yesterday!  Matt Hasselbeck started this game and he had to leave with a hip injury.  He completed 3 of 4 passes for 24 yards and he also carried the ball 1 time for 1 yard with a TD run.  Charlie Whitehurst finished up the game by completing 11 of 18 passes for 66 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Marshawn Lynch led the way on the ground for the Seahawks in this game with 53 yards rushing on 14 carries (3.8 ypc).  Leon Washington only got one carry but he made it count as he ran for a 16-yard TD.  Justin Forsett rushed for 12 yards on 8 carries (1.5 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 5 yards.  TE John Carlson (3 rec, 27 yards) and WR Golden Tate (3 rec, 10 yards) led the way for the Seahawks in this game passing wise.  The Seahawks finished up with 90 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 22 passes for 84 yards in this game.

The defense was awful as usual for the Seahawks yesterday.  LB Lofa Tatupu (10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 sack), LB David Hawthorne (9 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and CB Marcus Trufant (6 tackles) led the way on D yesterday.  The Buccaneers finished up with 208 yards rushing on 26 carries (8.0 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 28 passes for 231 yards as Josh Freeman threw 5 TD passes.  The Seahawks are 6-9 on the season but they amazingly will be playing the Rams next weekend in Seattle for the NFC West crown.

The Seahawks have lost two games in a row and they have been pounded in four of their last five games.  But they head into this game in a tie for first place in the NFC West.  If they win out, they will win the NFC West.  The Buccaneers loss last weekend was costly.  They can still make the playoffs if they win out and get some help.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Seahawks have the ball:  The Seahawks should try to use the Lions’ gameplan from last weekend against the Bucs this Sunday.  That would call for Marshawn Lynch & Justin Forsett to get a lot of work against a Bucs’ D which is allowing 136.5 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry.  The Bucs don’t have much of a pass rush (20 sacks on the year) so Matt Hasselbeck should have time to throw the ball.  If he does, he’s going to take some deep shots to Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Buccaneers have been running the ball a lot lately so the front seven is going to have to stop LeGarrette Blount and Cadillac Williams.  Williams is also a good receiver out of the backfield for the Bucs so the LBs are going to have their hands full in this game.  The Seahawks are going to have to blitz heavily in this game because if Josh Freeman has time to throw the ball he’s going to have a lot of success against a Seahawks’ D that is allowing 259.0 yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  BUCCANEERS 23, SEAHAWKS 20

The Seahawks have lost 25-year old safety Roy Lewis for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.  Lewis played in 14 games for the Seahawks so far this year and he had 26 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, he defensed 4 passes, forced 1 fumble and he recovered 1 fumble.  Lewis has now played in 22 games in his first two years with the Seahawks and he has 29 tackles, 4 passes defensed, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

The Seattle Seahawks have placed 32-year old DT Junior Siavii on the Injured Reserve List with a neck injury.  Siavii played in 14 games for the Seahawks this year and he had 30 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and 2 passes defensed.  The Seahawks won’t miss Siavii too much as the D-Line has been awful this year.

The Seahawks played tough for almost 2 quarters in this game before the Falcons rolled off 24 straight points ending the competitive part of this game.  Matt Hasselbeck completed 10 of 17 passes for 71 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 INTs.  He also lost a fumble that was recoved in the end zone by the Falcons for a TD.  Charlie Whitehurst finished up this game by completing 8 of 16 passes for 83 yards.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 10 yards (3.3 ypc) with a TD run.  Marshawn Lynch led the way on the ground for the Seahawks in this game with 12 carries for 60 yards (5.0 ypc) with a TD run.  Mike Williams returned to the starting lineup and he led the way in the passing game for the Seahawks  in this game with 8 grabs for 66 yards (8.3 avg).  The Seahawks finished up with 91 yards rushing on 21 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 33 passes for 143 yards as they had possession of the ball for 24:35.

The defense really played pretty solid football as the offense kept either giving up points or setting up short fields for the Falcons.  DT Colin Cole (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), LB Aaron Curry (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and LB Lofa Tatupu (7 tackles) led the way for the Seahawks’ D in this game.  Safety Jordan Babineaux pitched in with a interception in this game.  The Falcons finished up with 98 yards rushing on 37 carries (2.6 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 35 passes for 168 yards.  The Seahawks are now 6-8 on the season but they are still tied for first place in the NFC West with the Rams.

Head coach Pete Carroll took a lot of flak from his old safety Taylor Mays at USC because he said that Carroll promised to take him in the NFL Draft.  But, Carroll made the right choice by taking 21-year old safety Earl Thomas out of Texas with the #14 overall pick in last April’s Draft.  Thomas has played in 13 games for the Seahawks so far this year and he has 65 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 7 passes defensed and 5 interceptions.  Thomas gives the Seahawks a good player at the back end of the D to rebuild around.

The Seahawks are only 2-5 in their last seven games but they are still tied for first place in the NFC West with the Rams making this a “must win” game.  The Seahawks are 4-2 at Qwest Field so I expect them to bring their “A-Game” tomorrow.  The Falcons have won 7 games in a row as they have the best record in the NFC.  The Falcons are only 1 game ahead of the Saints in the NFC South so they also need this game, big time.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Seahawks have the ball:  In my opinion, I think the Seahawks should tighten up the chinstraps and run the football tomorrow.  The Falcons are giving up 107.2 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry so Marshawn Lynch, Justin Forsett and Leon Washington could have some success against them.  I would also use Michael Robinson as the QB in a Wildcat Formation.  The Seahawks need to control the clock if they really want to win this game.  Matt Hasselbeck threw 4 INTs last week against the 49ers and I think it would be a bad idea to have him lighting up the sky with passes in Seattle tomorrow.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons always come out running the ball with Michael Turner.  The Seahawks’ D will have their hands full trying to stop him.  The Seahawks better get to Matt Ryan a lot tomorrow, because if he has time to throw the ball he’s likely going to torch the secondary.  Teams have tried to double WR Roddy White all year long and Ryan still gets the ball to him as he has caught 99 passes for 1,219 yards (12.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs this year.  Ryan also likes to hit Tony Gonzalez and Michael Jenkins in the passing game so the Seahawks’ D is likely in trouble tomorrow.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 30, SEAHAWKS 17

The Seahawks have lost 24-year old WR Deon Butler who broke his leg on a TD catch last weekend.  Butler has played in 13 games for the Seahawks this year and he caught 36 passes for 385 yards (10.7 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Butler has now played in 29 games in his first two years with the Seahawks and he has caught 51 passes for 560 yards (11.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He really showed improvement this year so his role might get expanded in 2012 as long as he can stay healthy.

The Seahawks got punished by the 49ers yesterday.  Matt Hasselbeck completed 27 of 42 passes for 285 yards with 2 TD passes and 4 INTs (one was returned 39 yards for a TD by Niners’ safety Dashon Goldson).  Hasselbeck also lost a fumble as he had a game to forget.  Michael Robinson led the way for the Seahawks on the ground in this game with 3 carries for 33 yards (11.0 ypc).  Marshawn Lynch only rushed for 29 yards on 10 carries (2.9 ypc) and he also caught 7 passes for 37 yards (5.3 avg) in this game.  Leon Washington was busy with 4 carries for 10 yards, 1 reception for 13 yards, 2 punt returns for 8 yards and 7 kickoff returns for 222 yards (31.7 avg) with a 92 yard TD return.  WRs Ruvell Martin (4 rec, 73 yards, TD) and Deon Butler (5 rec, 68 yards, TD) led the way for the Seahawks in the passing game.  The Seahawks finished up with 84 yards on 22 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 27 of 42 passes for 277 yards in this game.

LB Aaron Curry (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) and LB David Hawthorne (6 tackles) led the way for the Seahawks’ D in this game.  The 49ers finished up with 95 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 27 passes for 241 yards.  The Seahawks are now 6-7 on the season and they are still tied for first place in the NFC West with the Rams who also lost yesterday.