Go for two!

The Seahawks have an opportunity today to achieve something they haven't managed all season: win two games in a row.

St. Louis, the preseason favorite to win the NFC West, has reverted to form as the division cellar dweller, which is no mean feat in a division featuring two 3-6 teams.

Seattle is too fragile a team to take anyone for granted. Last week, the Rams managed a feat that eluded the Seahawks earlier this year: beating a bad Browns team in Cleveland.

Vegas picks St. Louis to win by 3 points. If you've seen any Seahawks games this season, you'll understand why we're not favored to beat anyone; thus, the highest compliment oddsmakers can pay us at this point comes in the form of a modest point spread.



Today poses yet another big challenge for our embattled offensive line. Once the foundation of the franchise, our front five foundered after Super Bowl XL, quickly becoming the team's Achilles' Heel. This year's young unit floundered through the first few games, but gelled convincingly over the last two weeks, providing decent pass protection and enough running room for a back in Beast Mode.

Unfortunately, just after the O-Line came together, it promptly fell apart. Rookie right guard John Moffitt suffered a season-ending injury against Baltimore. Backup lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre stepped in to finish the game, and the unit didn't miss a beat. However, earlier this week, a freak injury during a routine drill ended the season of rookie right tackle James Carpenter.

So, Seattle must face St. Louis with a reconstituted right side of its offensive line. Paul McQuistan will start at left guard today, presumably to free up Jeanpierre--also our backup center--to fill in if the injury curse next afflicts Max Unger. Breno Giacomini replaces Carpenter at right tackle, lining up opposite Chris Long, a fearsome pass rusher.

If the line can incorporate these spare parts and maintain some semblance of chemistry, then they should be able to exploit the Rams, who feature the league's worst run defense.

If our rushing attack can put the Rams on their heels, T-Jack might consider victimizing their injury-annihilated defensive backfield. Seattle's secondary--having lost only two cornerbacks this season--is a picture of health compared to that of St. Louis, which has lost nine corners thus far this year.

On defense, the formula is simple: stack the box to contain running back Stephen Jackson and to pressure quarterback Sam Bradford, and double-cover Brandon Lloyd.

Jackson remains the Rams' only potent offensive threat. A violent runner like Lynch, Action Jackson has averaged 140 yards per game over the last three weeks.

Led by the formidable Red Bryant, Seattle's run defense has dominated all year, except in Dallas, when we let DeMarco Murray pile up 139 yards.

If the Seahawks can keep Lynch in Beast Mode and Action Jackson in Least Mode, we should be able to win this one.

Unless we continue to beat ourselves with penalties. Even when functioning well, our offense struggles to produce yards and post points. Thus, Seattle cannot continue to forfeit 80-100 yards of field position per game to bonehead penalties like false starts, delays of game, illegal motion, etc.

These mental mistakes reflect poor coaching. Hopefully, Coach Carroll and his staff have worked to address this with our players.

Don't let the presence of Tom Cable on our sideline confuse you: We're the Seattle Seahawks, not the Oakland Raiders. The penalties have got to go.

Go, Seahawks!