Ten games into the season – the Seahawks stand at 2-8 – and it is no longer a question about wins and losses.
On Sunday, the Seahawks fell to the NFC West-leading Cardinals (7-3) and are teetering from being mathematically eliminated from contention for their fifth-consecutive NFC West Championship and a chance for a berth into the playoffs.
Head coach Mike Holmgren talked to the team in the locker room after the loss and then again on Monday. The message to the team on Sunday echoed the same a day later: finish strong.
“I love them, but now our goals have changed,” head coach Mike Holmgren said. “We came into the season with very high expectations, but it has been a difficult year. I just told them that it is very important, not only to this season but future Seahawks seasons – and really after they finish playing football – how they approach the last part of this year.”
The Seahawks have enjoyed great success over the past several years; much of that success is due to the professionalism that the players, coaches and staff bring to the game week-in and week-out.
“We have the type of guys in this locker room that are going to give you their all every week,” said safety 
“I know I’m not going to change the way I come to work and what I do,” said starting quarterback
Hasselbeck remembers the last time the Seahawks were not involved in a playoff run. It was 2002 – a year the team started 3-7 and then rattled off four wins in their last six games including their final three. That kind of momentum spring-boarded the team into a 5-1 start to begin the 2003 campaign, which resulted in their first of five consecutive playoff appearances.
“This is his football team, and he worked very, very hard to come back and play,” said Holmgren about his starting quarterback. “So I think he is going to finish very strong.”
“We’re all in this together,” said veteran receiver
In his final season at the helm, the Seahawks head coach plans to round out the season the same way he expects of his team – as professionals.
“There’s not a question in my mind that the Seattle Seahawks will be competitive again and battle for the same goals next year,” Holmgren said. “We have a lot of pride on the football team. They’ll bounce back.”
