Crack out the no-doze for Niners, Seahawks
SEATTLE -- This 49ers-Seahawks pillow fight tonight could be the worst thing on prime-time television since "Celebrity Boxing."
Seattle (4-4) leads the miserable NFC West by 1 game, in spite of itself. Coach Mike Holmgren is changing his offense in the middle of the season, promising to rely more on his one constant -- Matt Hasselbeck's passing -- instead of his biggest headache, a running game to nowhere. Shaun Alexander has his fewest yards rushing through eight games since he became a starter in 2001. The league MVP of 2005 also has a twisted left knee and ankle below his already broken wrist and may miss this game.
The Seahawks' bend-and-often-break defense has been too inconsistent to bail out the offense, resulting in 3 losses in the last four games.
"No, I am not comfortable," said Holmgren, whose team will host the Bears (4-5) next week. "Now that it's an eight-game season, if there wasn't a sense of urgency before -- which there should be all the time -- there certainly is now."
It's been so bad, Hasselbeck this week called some of his team's play "unprofessional."
"I feel like we are really fortunate to still have whatever game lead we have in our division, knowing how many things, many opportunities, we've squandered," said Hasselbeck, who ranks in the NFC's top five in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns and passer rating.
"And to still be in position to get it done ... at some point, we have to make the most of it here."
At least they aren't in San Francisco.
The 49ers were the trendy pick to end Seattle's run of three consecutive division titles this season after a breakout year from running back Frank Gore in 2006, then a spending spree to upgrade the defense. Instead, they have lost six consecutive games after opening with 2 wins.
"Yeah, maybe we just all ought to shut up and play," coach Mike Nolan said of his flopping team, the middling Seahawks and their entire division.
Gore broke into stardom last season with 1,695 yards in his second year, but hasn't gained 100 yards in a game this season. His offensive line has lost left tackle Jonas Jennings and right guard Justin Smiley to season-ending injuries. Gore has a sore ankle that caused him to miss last week's loss at Atlanta.
Add it all up and it means the 49ers are two steps behind the Seahawks. For Hasselbeck, that's all that matters.
"If we can hold on and hang on and win our division, which I think we can, and then we can start playing our best football at the end of the year, really, that's all that matters," Hasselbeck said. "I don't get too caught up in what our win-loss record is at the end of the year. What I do care about is winning our division and then, obviously, playing well in the playoffs."