SEAHAWKS SHUT OUT JAGUARS IN HASSELBECK’S RETURN TO LINEUP

The Seattle Seahawks were clearly pleased to have their quarterback Matt Hasselbeck back in the lineup after missing two games with a cracked rib.  The Jacksonville Jaguars would have been happy to have seen him stay out another week.  Hasselbeck threw for 241 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in his return to action, and the Seahawks manhandled the visiting Jags by a 41-0 final score.  It was the Seahawks largest shutout in 25 years, and the second worst loss in Jacksonville franchise history.  Both teams are now 2-3 on the 2009 NFL season.

Seattle had no trouble covering the NFL pointspread as -2 home favorites.  The Seahawks covered the number for only the second time this season, while Jacksonville dropped to 3-2 against the spread.  The 41 points Seattle put on the board went UNDER the posted total of 44.  Seattle has gone OVER in three of its five games this season, while Jacksonville has gone UNDER in three of five.

After the contest, Hasselbeck quipped that his worries about his banged up ribs began before the game started as his teammates welcomed him back to the lineup:

"Guys were giving me chest bumps pregame. I should have worn a sign."

Hasselbeck required painkilling injections before the game, but after a slow start began to quickly regain form in the second quarter.  Leading only 3-0 after one period, the Seahawks put up 17 points in the second to lead 20-0 at halftime.  They added 14 more in the third and a touchdown in the fourth for good measure to reach the final margin of victory.

Asked if the performance by his team saved their season, Seattle coach Jim Mora was philosophical:

"It depends if you follow it up. Our job is to validate this thing. Go out and back it up."

In the losing locker room, Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard made no excuses for his team’s worst loss since their inaugural season as an expansion franchise back in 1995:

"Just a terrible day, terrible performance by all of us.”

The Seahawks will try to keep the momentum going next Sunday as they host the Arizona Cardinals.  They’ll have a bye the following week before returning to action on November 1 on the road against the Dallas Cowboys.  The Jaguars will at least have a good scheduling opportunity to get back in the win column as they face the lowly St. Louis Rams at home next weekend before a bye week.  They’ll return to action on November 1 as they head to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans.