The Seahawks head to Los Angeles this weekend to face the Rams, and prior to Wednesday's practice, head coach Pete Carroll held his usual session with the media, covering everything from the importance of fun to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum nostalgia to big news in college football.
Here are five takeaways from Carroll's Wednesday press conference:
1. "If we're not having fun, I feel like I'm screwing up."
While Carroll expects his players to work hard and give full effort, he also believes that it is important not to lose sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, football is a game and not something to be taken too seriously. And Carroll doesn't just believe in having fun for fun's sake, he has long held the belief that you can better maximize players' potential if they enjoy what they do while still maintaining discipline and the right work ethic.
"You play football," Carroll said. "I like to go back to that thought. You don't 'work' football. You don't 'drudgery' through football. You play it. These guys love to play this game. They've grown up as kids loving it. I don't ever want them to lose connection with that. If having a good time doing it, figuring out how to lighten up the atmosphere while we work really hard and maintain standards, I'm going to find a way. If we're not having fun, I feel like I'm screwing up, to tell you the truth. It should be a good time. We should be practicing with great energy and juice and hauling butt around here in everything we're doing, but you can have a good time doing that, too. It's just the way we do it."
And on a related note…

2. Luke Willson is the team's "juice master" and "passion coordinator."
If you want a concrete example of Carroll's culture of fun, look no further than the very conspicuous Canadian onesies worn to Monday's game by receivers Tyler Lockett and David Moore. Both were among the handful of players dealing with the flu last week, and with Luke Willson unable to practice due to a hamstring injury, he was put in charge of keeping up the spirits of his ailing teammates. To show their appreciation for Willson's efforts, Seattle's sick receivers represented his home and native land with their pre- and post-game outfits.
"He's kind of the juice master," Carroll said of Willson. "That kind of really says it all right there. Juice master. He was the passion coordinator. His title is officially a passion coordinator."
And to be clear, Carroll meant "juice" as in providing energy, and not that he was making juice for his sick teammates, which also would have made sense.
"He would do that though," Carroll said of making actual juice. "If a guy needed it, he would do whatever it takes."
3. Carroll likes that his team is being tested.
At 10-2, the Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth with a win this weekend, and presuming the Seahawks find themselves in the postseason one way or another, Carroll feels like his team will be well prepared for those tough contests in part because of Seattle's recent stretch of games.
Going back to Week 10, the Seahawks beat the then-undefeated 49ers, went to Philadelphia and beat a talented Eagles team, beat an 8-3 Vikings team that's very much in the playoff mix, and now they face the defending NFC champion Rams, who sit at 7-5.
"We know we have another terrific opponent," Carroll said. "It just seems like one after another after another. We just keep getting challenged by it. The teams keep bringing special players and schemes and histories of winning and all that stuff that just makes this a great run and a great challenge.
"I think it's crucial. I really think it's crucial that you just have to keep getting ready… I think it bears itself out here that these games, you just have to just keep getting turned around and get ready, regardless of what just happened. Good or bad. I'm hoping—that's kind of the way I'm approaching it—that it's a big deal for us. It's going to help us."
4. Carroll is looking forward to a final game at the Coliseum.
The Rams will move into a new stadium next season, which means that barring some unforeseen circumstances, this will be the last game Seattle plays in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which happens to be the building Carroll called home during his nine seasons as the head coach at USC. Carroll said it won't be too nostalgic of a day, however, because it's different being a visiting team in that building for an NFL game than it is playing there as a member of the Trojans.
"It's really fun to go to the Coliseum," he said. "For me, honestly, it is, but it's not the same thing. You're not coaching the Trojans. That's a whole different experience. I can't even relate it to you. One time, I was walking down the tunnel there with Ronnie Lot. We were walking down; I think it was before a game when we were coaching, and he was just at the game. I asked him something. I said, 'Does this still mean something to you?' He said, 'Are you kidding? Are you kidding?' Being at the Coliseum and playing there for a college kid lasts you the rest of your lifetime. You can go to the pro teams. You go there and you move around a little bit. You never get the connection that you have that's so lasting and so meaningful. Here is the most passionate, greatest football player maybe ever, telling me how much that meant to him. It's hard to describe to you that going back in another uniform and all, it's not the same thing."
5. Carroll's thoughts on Chris Petersen's surprising decision to step down at Washington.
While the Seahawks made headlines with their fifth straight win on Monday night, they weren't the only big local football story that day, because in news that surprised almost everyone, Chris Petersen stepped down after six seasons as the head coach at the University of Washington. Carroll admired Petersen from afar when Petersen was at Boise State, and the two have built a relationship in recent years since Petersen came to Washington.
Asked about Petersen's decision, Carroll said, "First off, I think Chris is one of the best coaches I ever saw. When he was at Boise, we were scheming up trying to figure out how he beat Oregon or the teams that they played, Washington or whatever, we would always look at their film first on both sides of the ball because we just thought they were so far out there with their technology and their strategy and all that stuff. So, I've had a tremendous respect well before I ever even knew him. I didn't know him until I got here. I just think the world of his style of coaching and leadership is remarkable out there. This had nothing to do with his ability to be successful and be a great head coach. He sees the world in a way that he wants to do some things differently. I couldn't applaud it more. That's a hard choice to make. This is something we are so committed to and it calls on so much of us to be on everything that we're doing that it's all consuming… My hat's off to Chris. I love what he did, and I love the team that he put together and all the stuff he's ever done. He's just going to figure it out from now and do something great again. He can't help but do that."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seattle Seahawks' Week 13 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Eye on the Hawks is presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers.

Seahawks tight end Tyrone Swoopes studies in his locker hours before kickoff of the Monday Night Football game against the Vikings at CenturyLink Field.

Defensive captain Bobby Wagner's uniform is laid out in front of his locker as is his custom before each game.

Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton stretches in the locker room before the game.

Seahawks cornerback Neiko Thorpe arrives in the locker room wearing a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed outfit for the Monday night game against the Vikings.

Inspired by Luke Willson's energy and love for Canada, Tyler Lockett and David Moore wore Canadian-themed onesies to the game.

Every decent pair of onesie pajamas has a back flap.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, wearing his Bose headphones, is locked in as he heads to the field for his early warmup.

Seahawks offensive guard D.J. Fluker works on technique with assistant strength coach Mark Philipp under the watchful eye of line coach Mike Solari during pregame.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner focuses on the ball during earl warmups.

Head coach Pete Carroll and his son, receivers coach Nate Carroll share a moment on the field during pregame.

Receiver Josh Gordon pauses during early warmups.

Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright leads the members of the defense before they take the field for warmups.

Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks motions during pregame warmups.

Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald laces his Nike cleats in the locker room before the game.

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf takes the field under the lasers and fog of the pregame tunnel.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner makes a strong entrance during pregame introductions.

The Seahawks Dancers stand at attention for the singing of the national anthem.

A member of the United States military helps hold the American flag as pyrotechnics shoot from the north end zone at the conclusion of the national anthem.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner fires up the team right before the opening kickoff.

Seahawks running back Chris Carson takes a Minnesota defender for a ride during the opening quarter.

Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed pressures Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins into an incomplete pass.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson scrambles for a first down in the first quarter.

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf takes a pass reception close to the goal line in the first quarter.

Seahawks coaches including head coach Pete Carroll react as Chris Carson scores from the one-yard line to tie the game at 7-7.

Seahawks running back Chris Carson scores on a one-yard run to tie the score at 7-7 in the first quarter.

Safety Bradley McDougald celebrates after a defensive stop.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner makes a solo tackle on Minnesota's Dalvin Cook.

Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs reacts after putting a big hit on Vikings tight end Irv Smith, Jr. in the second quarter.

Seattle's Shaquem Griffin tries to block a punt against the Vikings.

Fans in the north end zone react as Minnesota's Anthony Harris returns an interception for a touchdown after a freak play involving a batted ball thrown by SeattleÕs Russell Wilson.

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf finds running room in the second quarter.

Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister catches a pass in traffic during the second quarter.

At the two-minute warning of the first half, the Seahawks honored Chinese-American veterans who served in the U.S. military.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throws a pass under pressure from Vikings defender Anthony Barr.

Seahawks kicker Jason Myers converts a 29-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

In the locker room at halftime, tight ends coach Pat McPherson talks to Jacob Hollister.

Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright makes one of his nine tackles against the Vikings.

Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed pressures Kirk Cousins into throwing an incomplete pass that was originally ruled a fumble in the third quarter.

Seahawks running back Chris Carson cuts back for more yardage in the third quarter.

Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny celebrates after his third quarter touchdown.

Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald recovers a fumble by Vikings running back Dalvin Cook in the second half.

Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald celebrates his fumble recovery with secondary teammates Quandre Diggs, Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers.

Seahawks receiver David Moore races to the end zone with a 60-yard touchdown reception.

Seahawks receivers Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore and Jaron Brown dance in the end zone after Moore's 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers intercepts a pass intended for Stefon Diggs near the sideline in the fourth quarter.

Seahawks defenders celebrate after a fourth quarter interception by cornerback Tre Flowers.

Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny dances into the end zone with his second touchdown of the game.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll celebrates after Rashaad Penny's touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Fans light up CenturyLink Field at night with cell phone lights during a break in the action.

Seahawks running back Travis Homer points towards defenders to block during a fake punt for a first down in the fourth quarter.

Seahawks defenders including Bobby Wagner, Jarran Reed, Bradley McDougald and Quinton Jefferson.

Seahawks defenders Akeem King and Bobby Wagner celebrate after stopping the Vikings on fourth down late in the game.

Seahawks fans show their love for Russell Wilson.

The football comes loose after Seattle's Malik Turner (17) causes a fumble on the kickoff in the final minute of the game that was recovered by Travis Homer to seal the victory for the Seahawks.

Shaquem Griffin celebrates after the Seahawks recovered a fumble to seal the win.

Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks celebrates at the end of the game.

Shaquem Griffin celebrates with 12s in the south end zone.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson celebrate the win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football.

Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks chats with his brother Eric Kendricks who plays for the Vikings, and Minnesota's Britton Colquitt.

Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin celebrates in the victorious locker room with teammate D.J. Fluker after the win.