Holmgren comes clean at last, says today's game is 'must-win'

By Frank Hughes | The News Tribune • Published November 15, 2008

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The Seattle Sea-hawks are not even remotely familiar with the role they are going to play in today's home game against the Arizona Cardinals. – The Seattle Sea-hawks are not even remotely familiar with the role they are going to play in today's home game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Sure, there has been the occasional loss sprinkled in against the Cardinals over the past six years, including last year's demoralizing defeat in Glendale, Ariz., when Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander muffed an exchange toward the end of the game. That debacle was the beginning of the end for Alexander.

But for the most part, the Cardinals have been a mere road bump for the Seahawks as they trundled their way to division title after division title.

But this year, against a team that has not won at Qwest Field since its inaugural season and has not won a division title — any division title — since 1975, the Seahawks find themselves three-point underdogs — even with the return of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and wide receiver Deion Branch.

The Seahawks (2-7) are four games behind the Cardinals (6-3). Though perhaps psychologically defeated, they are not mathematically out of the competition. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is not known to employ hyperbole often, so it was taken with utmost seriousness when he described this game as a must-win.

"I think it's about time to label one," Holmgren said. "We should label this one. It's pretty important. I've always said that until mathematically you can't do it anymore, you have hope. We're getting to that point right now. So this is a must-win game."

Though a victory may offer eternal optimists a glimmer of hope regarding the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, in part because the Seahawks would still have one game remaining against Arizona in the season finale, the truth of the matter is they will have a very difficult time overcoming their horrible start.

First, Seattle's schedule includes two games against NFC East opponents Washington and Dallas, as well as New England and the resurgent New York Jets.

Yes, the Cardinals' schedule is difficult as well, with road games to be played at Philadelphia and New England and home games against the New York Giants and Minnesota.