The Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams will play the final regular season game of 2010 on Sunday evening and it's for all the marbles in the NFC West. After 15 games, the Rams hold a slim, one-game lead over the Seahawks, setting up a winner-take-all showdown at Qwest Field on Sunday evening. If they Seahawks win, they own the tiebreaker and head to the playoffs at 7-9. If the Rams win, they'll take the NFC West crown with an 8-8 record.
Sam Bradford, perhaps the best quarterback in the NFC West, makes his first start at Qwest Field on Sunday night. The rookie quarterback has lived up to the hype, throwing for 3,357 yards and 18 touchdowns in his 2010 campaign. The Rams, never thought to be a factor before 2010, have steadily improved this season and have a chance to cap the year with a playoff appearance.
The situation at quarterback is much more complicated for Seattle. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll announced the job was Charlie Whitehurst's on Monday after Matt Hasselbeck went down with a hip injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Whether he was bluffing or telling the truth remains to be seen, but many expect Hasselbeck to be ready by the time the Seahawks take the field Sunday night.
It all comes down to this for the Seahawks and Rams. As poor as the Seahawks have played down the stretch, a playoff berth is at their doorstep. A win against the Rams puts them through, with the added bonus of a first round home game.
The Seahawks and Rams hit the field at 5:20 p.m. on Sunday for the NFC West crown. NBC flexed the game and will take the broadcasting duties.