The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have two more victories than Seattle, but the visiting Seahawks have a better chance of reaching the NFC playoffs when the two teams meet on Sunday.
Seattle (6-8) is tied for first place in the NFC West with the St. Louis Rams and is still in contention for its fifth division title in seven years. The Buccaneers (8-6) have to defeat Seattle for the third time in as many seasons to keep their hopes alive for their first postseason berth in three years.
If St. Louis defeats San Francisco (5-9) earlier on Sunday, Seattle could win the division with a victory over the visiting Rams in the regular-season finale Jan. 2. At 3-1 in the division, San Francisco holds the tiebreaker over the Rams and Seahawks.
Seattle is going in the wrong direction at the wrong time after starting the season 4-2 under first-year coach Pete Carroll. The Seahawks, losers of two straight and owners of a 2-5 road record, have allowed an average of 32 points while losing six of their last eight games.
Despite the struggles of Matt Hasselbeck, the veteran will remain as the starting quarterback. Hasselbeck, who has thrown 10 interceptions in the last four games, threw for a season-low 71 yards and was booed off the field after leaving last week's 34-18 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter.
Hasselbeck, who is 3-1 as a starter against Tampa Bay, needs 23 yards passing for his seventh career 3,000-yard season - most in team history.
Tampa Bay is only 1-3 in its last four games and is coming off a 23-20 overtime loss at home last week to Detroit, which snapped the Lions' NFL-worst consecutive road losing streak at 26 games.
The Buccaneers are 5-2 on the road, but only 3-4 at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay is battling the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers for two wild card berths in the NFC playoffs and will not only have to win out, but get some help along the way.
Quarterback Josh Freeman has thrown for 2,959 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season for Tampa Bay. Freeman has thrown a touchdown pass in 11 consecutive games and currently has a passer rating of 88.8.
The Bucs are 10-2 when Freeman has a game rating of 80 or more. In his last two games, Freeman has thrown for 517 yards, two TDs and no interceptions for a 104.2 rating.
Running back LeGarrette Blount is coming off a 110-yard effort against Detroit and leads all NFL rookies with 777 yards rushing. Wide receiver Mike Williams had six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown against Detroit and leads all NFL rookies with 58 receptions, 880 yards receiving and eight TD catches.