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List: It's that time again - 'must wins'
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Both the Seahawks and the Huskies have a 'must' weekend coming up. Victory is more critical for the Huskies because they have no margin for error. They have to win their final three games to be bowl eligible, with six wins. The Seahawks need to win to move into remote contention for the post-season.
The Huskies, handed a tough 24-23 loss Saturday to UCLA, would have been in reasonable shape for a bowl had they won. They face Oregon State Saturday, a game in which they likely will lose, badly (they're 10-point underdogs). But had they beaten the Bruins, they could have had a shot at six with a win over Washington State in three weeks followed by an all-or-nothing encounter with California Dec. 5 at home. Officially, the dream died Saturday in Corvallis.
The Seahawks, shaky against Detroit but victorious, are 3-5 and two games behind NFC West leader Arizona (5-3). They play the Cardinals Sunday in Phoenix. A loss would not eliminate them from contention. They'd just have to rely on miracles.
Here's this week's football reflections:
1. I'm still perplexed, two days later, why the Huskies did not challenge the ruling on the field concerning UCLA's go-ahead 29-yard touchdown reception by Terrance Austin late in the third period. He bounced off the ground and so did the ball. They reconnected in the end zone. UW Coach Steve Sarkisian looked bewildered after the catch, perhaps not thinking it was worth reviewing. It certainly was worth a timeout. Without a challenge, it served as the game-winner.
2. UW QB Jake Locker is a much improved pocket passer and his tendency to pass first, run second has enhanced his game and the Huskies' hopes. But near the end of the game, I sure would have liked to see him use his legs more. I would have liked to see some more designed plays, QB draws, sweeps and perhaps even some option runs. Use his full talent when needed the most, injury be damned.
3. Along those same lines, injuries should not be a concern for the Seahawks when they use Seneca Wallace in the wildcat set. He made a critical play Sunday, completing a third-quarter 15-yard pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. That set up the winning touchdown, a two-yarder from QB Matt Hasselbeck to Houshmandzadeh. That formation should be used 8, 10 times a game, with variations off of it. Forget about whether Wallace gets hurts or not, at this desperate stage, this team needs that kind of dimension.
4. The more I see Houshmandzadeh, the more I listen to him, the more I like him. I like his attitude. I like his competitiveness. I love his ability. He may be one of the best free agent signings in Seahawk history. Yet he can't begin to show it because this weak offensive line does not give him enough time to separate from the defender. It may have been the wrong decision by him to come to Seattle.
5. Arizona has bounced back, in particular QB Kurt Warner. How does he look so bad one week, with five interceptions, and so polished the next week, with five touchdown passes? If he's close to what he showed last Sunday against the Seahawks, forget about it, the Cardinals win the division in a rout.
6. Houston coach Gary Kubiak followed through and decided to start obscure RB Ryan Moats Sunday in place of slick RB Steve Slaton. Slaton lost his league-leading fifth fumble a week ago and was benched. He then lost his starting spot to Moats. But, as it happens, Moats fumbled inside the10-yard line late in the game, preventing the Texans' from upsetting Indianapolis, a 20-17 loss. It'll be curious to see who Kubiak will start in two weeks after this bye week. I'm betting on Slaton again.
7. It seems to me that after solid starts to their seasons, two second-year quarterbacks, Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Atlanta's Matt Ryan, are slumping as sophomores. Flacco had a particularly poor outing Sunday in a 17-7 loss to Cincinnati. He completed just 18 of 32 passes for 195 yards and no touchdowns. Ryan struggled as well, as he was 17-of-24 for just 135 yards and a touchdown. But at least he won, 31-17 over Washington. But if either team is going to make the playoffs, it has to start with their improved play.
8. There are two unbeatens left, Indianapolis and New Orleans. For me, the Colts are a much better team, although they have been hit by some devastating defensive injuries that could erode their season. Upsets are inevitable, although both teams have fairly easy schedules the rest of the way. New Orleans' toughest challenges are New England and Dallas but both are at home. Indianapolis also plays New England (Sunday) and Denver at home. They're toughest road test will be in two weeks, at Baltimore.
9. How did Tampa Bay beat Green Bay? It has been rare this season, but there have been some have-nots to beat the haves this season (also, Oakland over Philadelphia).
10. Looking ahead and optimistically, if the Hawks beat Arizona Sunday they would be one game behind with seven to go. They play three teams – and should win - with losing records, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Tennessee. They've have to put down the 49er resurgence with a win at home Dec. 6. That leaves three tough ones, at Minnesota in two weeks, at Houston (Dec. 13) and at Green Bay (Dec. 27). The season may hinge on the outcome of those games. Arizona has four easy ones, St. Louis – twice, Tennessee and Detroit. The Cardinals also play Minnesota (at home), San Francisco (road) and Green Bay (home). It's going to take some strange and bizarre set of circumstances (read: miracles) for the Seahawks to find their way to the top of this division.
Mini Lists:
Top Five: 1. Indianapolis. 2. New Orleans. 3. Minnesota. 4. Philadelphia. 5. New England.
Bottom Five: 28. Kansas City. 29. Detroit. 30. St. Louis. 31. Buffalo. 32. Cleveland.
Player of the Week: Arizona QB Kurt Warner. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 262 yards and FIVE touchdowns. Honorable mention is Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams, who started the game against New Orleans with a 66-yard rushing TD and went on to gain 149 yards with two touchdowns.
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