Just compete, maybe?

"Just win, baby!" is the slogan of Oakland owner and zombie mafioso Al Davis. His pithy phrase has helped inspire the Raiders to manifest unexpected competence this season.

For the Seahawks, a realistic analog might be, "Just compete, maybe?"

This year, when Seattle loses, we lose by a lot. In every defeat, we have lost by more than two touchdowns. Our defense serves up fortyburgers to opposing offenses with the promptness and regularity of a short order chef at a greasy spoon. Often, with an assist from a bald, turnover-prone prep cook.

You have to walk before you can run, so expecting the Seahawks to defeat Atlanta today is, to put it politely, unrealistic. At 11-2, the Falcons soar into town as one of the league's hottest teams, riding a nine-game winning streak.

Strictly speaking, Atlanta does not need to win this week. This is their last road game before finishing the regular season with a two-game home stand. Winning today would help them stay one game ahead of New Orleans, but the Falcons can eliminate their division rivals at home next week, and then finish the regular season with a cathartic crushing of Carolina.

But Atlanta is a solid team that competes every week. They won't phone in this one.

Seattle snuck up on one good team this season, but that was a long time ago, on the road in Chicago.

To compete today, the Seahawks will need to mount a complete team effort against a team with no obvious weaknesses.

Fortunately, starting wideouts Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu return to the lineup today. Hopefully, they have recovered fully and are ready to contribute.

We field yet another new offensive line combination today. Chester Pitts has healed up and is ready to reclaim the left guard position. This bumps Mike Gibson to right guard, sidelining Stacy Andrews. Since Andrews typically commits at least one false start per game, the net effect is likely to be a five yard gain for the Seattle offense.

Maybe this front five will manage to establish the run and protect Hasselbeck.

Maybe Matt can quit turnovers cold turkey.

Maybe our defense will finally get it together.

Maybe we can avoid another humiliating home blowout.

I hope, but I do not believe.