Seahawks take on the Rams for divisional battle

By Kshell

When the Seattle Seahawks(2-1) go on the road to take on the St.Louis Rams(1-2)this Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome in St.Louis, Missouri first place could be on the line in the NFC West. The Seahawks have dominated the Rams of late having won 10 consecutive games against the Rams including five in the Edward Jones Dome. The Seahawks are looking to end their road woes having won just three roads games in the last two seasons but two of those three wins were against these Rams. This rivalry has pulled a complete 180 in the last 5 years. The Rams had beat the division champion Seahawks all three games in the 2004 season including twice at Qwest field.

I was at that playoff game in the 2004 Wild Card rounds and having left that stadium that was the most depressing sports loss I had ever been a part of. When Bobby Engram couldn't haul in that touchdown pass the Rams had won 27-20. The Seahawks as a franchise seem to be doomed. The Seahawks after making the playoffs just once in a span from 1989-2002 had just lost back to back heartbreaking games in the Wild Card playoffs. The Seahawks had some big free agents as well with Walter Jones, Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander. Head Coach Mike Holmgren was on the hot seat as well and could be fired. The Rams had the Seahawks number that season, earlier in the year at Qwest field the Rams overcame a 17 point deficit to win the game in overtime.

In the following season the Seahawks brought back Matt Hasselbeck and Walter Jones to long term contracts and Mike Holmgren was brought back. Shaun Alexander however was just franchise tag. The Seahawks were heading back to their house of horrors and were just 2-2 on the season. To make matters worse the Seahawks were down their top two receivers in Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram. No need to fear Joe Jurevicius is here. He would have 132 yards receiving on the game. Shaun Alexander would add 116 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the day. When Shaun McDonald fumbled the punt with 2 minutes to go the Seahawks would win the game 37-31 after giving up the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The curse had been broken and the Seahawks finally had ended the Rams curse. Little did the Rams know that the Seahawks wouldn't lose to them again.

After the Seahawks made the Superbowl and swept the Rams the previous year in 2006 they had two nailbiting games vs the Rams. The first meeting again took place in St.Louis where Seattle found themselves without league MVP Shaun Alexander. The Seahawks(3-1) were trailing 21-7 at halftime to the Rams(4-1). Then newly acquired wide receiver Deion Branch had a big game catching two touchdown passes. Josh Brown having nailed two 49 yard field goal attempts hit a game winning 54 yard field goal as time expired and the Seahawks won 30-28. In the rematch at Qwest field the Seahawks found themselves without MVP Shaun Alexander or pro bowl Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks led by Maurice Morris 124 yards rushing on the game won 24-22 again on a Josh Brown game winning field goal. Nate Burleson had a huge 90 yard punt return for a touchdown to give the Seahawks a lead late in the fourth. That would be the only competive game from the Rams at Qwest field from 2005-2009.

In 2007 down in St.Louis the Seahawks(6-4) taking on the 2-8 St.Louis Rams found themselves trailing 19-7 at halftime on the road. Branch would add a touchdown as would Josh Wilson on a kick off return touchdown. The Seahawks would win the game on a Leonard Weaver 5 yard touchdown run up the middle. With Seattle leading 24-19 the Rams had the ball on the goal line but fumbled the ball and Seattle had recovered and once again pulled out a huge win in St.Louis.

In 2008 Josh Brown had left the Seahawks for the Rams and again the Seahawks found themselves in a battle with the Rams in St.Louis. Seattle was trailing 20-13 at one point in the fourth quarter. Tied the game up on a T.J. Duckett touchdown run. Then Olindo Mare the kicker who had replaced Brown kicked the game winning field goal.

Typically in this series recently the Seahawks blow out the Rams at Qwest field but as I just pointed out at the Edward Jones Dome the game will most likely come down to the wire. Given how Seattle has played on the road in the past years this game should come down to the wire. Just remember it wasn't always that way.