(My Sportsbook) - In any discussion of the NFC's elite teams in 2006, the Seattle Seahawks have been more or less forgotten. If Mike Holmgren's team doesn't figure out a way to win one of its last two games, the Hawks could be gone as well as forgotten.

A stunning 24-14 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Thursday night opened a crack in the playoff door somewhat larger than any that the Hawks' line has opened for Seattle's running backs this season. The Seahawks (8-6) remain two games ahead of the 49ers (6-8) as Week 16 begins, but San Francisco owns the tie-breaker by virtue of its home-and-home sweep, and the first-place unit's horizon is dotted with enemy battleships.

This Sunday, Seattle will play host to the San Diego Chargers, they of the 12-2 record, eight straight wins, and odds-on favorite status to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLI. The 49ers, meanwhile, will be welcoming the 4-10 Arizona Cardinals to town. If the oddsmakers are right, the Seahawks will go into the final week of the season at 8-7, and the 49ers 7-8.

The following week, the Seahawks get to play Tampa Bay, currently 3-11. But that game is on the road, meaning Seattle might be forced to win in a hostile environment after taking the second-longest trip in the NFL. The Hawks' road record this year is 3-4, and only one of those losses came to a team that currently sports a winning record. San Francisco will play what figures to be a tough game at Denver the same day, but against the Broncos and rookie quarterback Jay Cutler, you can hardly concede that one to the home team.

A little too close for comfort? You betcha.

"It's been a little bit of the same ol', same ol' the last few weeks," said Holmgren. "We've been a pretty inconsistent football team."

What to do?

"We have to get our swagger back as a team," said quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who completed 20-of-37 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown and two costly interceptions against San Francisco. "That doesn't come from talking about it or pretending. It comes from being confident in your assignments, being confident in what you're supposed to do."

Holmgren concurred.

"I don't think you can make dramatic changes or change your approach," said the head coach. "You kind of have to stay the course and hopefully right the ship that way. There's not a lot of time left here. Are we capable? I believe we are. But we have to transfer those feelings onto the field when we play the games."

A Seattle win or San Francisco loss over the next two weeks would give the Seahawks their third straight division title and make Holmgren's team the first Super Bowl runner-up to return to the playoffs in the next season since the 1999 Tennessee Titans.

But even in the still-somewhat-likely event of that occurring, the team's road to a second straight NFC title is not exactly of the smooth, freshly-paved variety. Barring a complete collapse by both the Saints (9-5) and Cowboys (9-5) over the final two weeks, the Seahawks look pretty much resigned to the No. 4 position in the six-team conference playoff bracket. A Wild Card round game against the Eagles, Giants, or Falcons will likely come first, and a trip to Soldier Field to meet the Bears looms beyond that.

Since 1983, you can count the number of NFC Champions that did not have a first-round playoff bye on one finger (the 2003 Panthers).

Not that the Seahawks are ready to consult the dubious message that the history books sends just yet.

"We're still going," said Holmgren. "Are we disappointed? Are we angry? Are we frustrated? Can we play better? All those things, yes, yes, yes, yes."

QUICK HITS

-Four Seahawks were named to the NFC Pro Bowl team on Tuesday, two on each side of the ball. On offense, left tackle Walter Jones was named to his seventh career Pro Bowl, and fullback Mack Strong his second straight. Defensively, linebackers Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu were both selected as reserves. Peterson made the Pro Bowl team as a 49er in 2002 and 2003, and Tatupu was cited as a rookie last season. The only notable Seattle omission was kicker Josh Brown, who lost out to the Bears' Robbie Gould despite kicking four game-winning field goals this season.

-Though they still rank in a tie for last in NFL rushing touchdowns along with the Buccaneers and Redskins, the Seahawks managed to avoid matching an embarrassing team record when Shaun Alexander scored in the first quarter of Thursday's game. The TD was Seattle's fifth on the ground this season, which helped them top the low-water mark of four, established in the strike- shortened season of 1982 and matched in the Seahawks' 2-14 campaign of 1992. Seattle had 29 touchdowns on the ground last season, which led the NFL.

-The Seahawks failed to register a sack on Thursday, the second time in as many weeks Seattle failed to break through to the quarterback. Since notching 13 sacks in a two-game span against the Raiders and Rams in November, the Seahawks have a total of five sacks in their last five games.

HURT REPORT

-Wide receiver Darrell Jackson will miss a second straight game with a hyperxtended toe. Jackson (10 TDs) had led the NFL in touchdown catches for much of the season, but his absence allowed the Cowboys' Terrell Owens to pass him in that category last Sunday. Jackson is also now unlikely to break the franchise record for single-season TD receptions, set by Daryl Turner with 13 in 1985.

-Center Robbie Tobeck (flu/abscess in hip) will miss his seventh straight game this week. Former first-round draft pick Chris Spencer has been starting in Tobeck's place.

-Oft-injured guard Floyd Womack (groin) did not play against the 49ers, his sixth game missed due to injury this season. Rookie Rob Sims would start against the Chargers if Womack, who is considered questionable, can't go this week. Sims made his first NFL start last Thursday.

-Wide receiver Bobby Engram, who had missed the last nine games due to a thyroid condition, played limited snaps against the 49ers but did not have a catch.

-Tight end Itula Mili (concussion) missed his third straight contest against San Francisco, though it is unclear if he was held out due his injury or as a coach's decision.

UP NEXT

The Seahawks have a 25-22 edge in their all-time series with the Chargers, and are 5-0 against San Diego since being swept in a home-and-home against their then-AFC West rival in 1999. Seattle won a 31-28 overtime decision when the teams last met, at Qualcomm Stadium in 2002, and claimed a 13-10 victory in overtime when the clubs last matched up in the Emerald City, in 2001.

Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer is 17-7 all-time against the Seahawks, including 16-4 while with the Chiefs from 1989 to 1998. Holmgren is 7-2 in his career against San Diego, but is just 1-3 head-to-head against Schottenheimer.