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First of all I want to apologize for the delay in getting this posted. It's been a busier-than-usual week... BESIDES...what is there to say about this game that hasn't already been said? The officiating was disgraceful. I will never believe that Shaun Alexander fumbled the ball on the play that was reviewed. That was absurd. We had ample opportunities early in the game to put this one away and we didn't capitalize on them. Willie Williams got two interceptions and Bannister recovered a fumble. And still we weren't able to win. And then of course, there is the much-talked-about Holmgren call. You all know the play by now! 4th and 4 from the 10 yard line with less than 2 minutes remaining. We're down by 4. The only logical thing to do is go for it! A touchdown will win the game! We're 4 yards from a first down and 10 yards from the game winning score! It's a no-brainer! What do we do? Attempt a field goal. Attempt a field goal! Does Holmgren want to win? I question his loyalty to the Seahawks with a call like that. It's not the first time he's called a non-traditional play at a crucial time. There were times this year when we wasted precious time when Holmgren has chosen not to run a two minute drill before half time. Why? Why doesn't he give the team a chance to score? He's put Lindell in impossible situations with long field goal attempts, even against the advice of his Special Teams coach. I know it sounds ridiculous but I have to question whether or not Mike Holmgren wants the Seahawks to succeed. It's irrelevant that Lindell missed the kick. Holmgren has asked us to believe in Matt Hasselbeck. He's asked us to rally behind the team and show faith in his decisions. Show us, Mike! Don't merely tell us! Show us that you have faith in your quarterback! GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO MAKE THE PLAY! Read it from the papers: Seattle Times - This is what Mike Holmgren thought of his offense with less than two minutes left in the Seahawks game with the Miami Dolphins yesterday. He thought it would be easier to kick a field goal, kick off, stop a Dolphins offense that had generated almost 300 yards, make it punt, get the ball back, move down field and kick another field goal; all within two minutes; than it would be to go four yards. Matt Hasselbeck, the quarterback who had redeemed himself yesterday, sauntered to the sidelines, his eyes incredulous. Trent Dilfer had to gently push him away from the coaches. Seattle Post-Intelligencer - "I don't know what their thinking was," he said. "I was surprised." --- Dave Wannstead (after receiving a "gift" from Holmgren) "The strategy's failure not only cost the last, best chance to win, it pointed out that six games into the season, Holmgren can't trust his Hasselbeck-led offense for a pivotal moment." ---- ART THIEL SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST That aside, there was a lot riding on Matt Hasselbeck this week. I thought he came out sluggish. I had my doubts. The mail from fans that was hitting my in-box during the game expressed doubts as well. We're quick to judge but then again, we've sat through a lot of QB training over the years as Seahawks fans. We want results. Did Hasselbeck have good passes? Yes! Did receivers make him look good? Yes! Did we have positives on which to build? Absolutely! Would we have won with Dilfer in the game? No one will ever know. I will say that the touchdown pass to Jackson was one of the ugliest passes I've ever seen! Irrelevant if it scores a touchdown, and it did! Matt scrambled under pressure and hit Mili in the end zone. That was terrific! I see good things from Hasselbeck! I want to believe in him! But no matter how much he improved, he didn't get the job done on Sunday. We heard the chants for Dilfer early in the game. We saw him on the sidelines talking to the players, patting Alexander on the head after his fumble, being the team leader that he is. I think it's terrific! He is an asset to the team and I'm proud that he's a Seahawk! I suspect he'll get the start before the end of the season for one reason or another. You've got to wish him the best of luck. He's a classy guy! Another one I want to mention is Christian Fauria. He doesn't get a lot of press but we hear a comment about once a week, or so it seems. Is anyone more optimistic than Christian? He's always got something positive to say. WAY TO GO, FAURIA! Keep up the good PR!! (Does anyone know why he drew the personal foul penalty?) Is Koren Robinson showing improvement in every game or what?!?! The promises are coming true! He's going to be GREAT!! Did you see the reception he made on 3rd and 4 in the second half, when he got hit from both sides on a 19 yard pass play? Wham! Wham! and he held on!!! Alexander is going to be great, too! He had a rough game this week but I still believe in him! Don't let the fumble scare you. It's going to happen from time to time. He'll make up for it, I'm sure of it! It's interesting that we were beat by James McKnight and Lamar Smith, two former Seahawks who have had successful careers since they left the Seahawks. 'nuff said about that. It's on to Washington this coming Sunday. If we can't beat the 'skins........
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