This game an important one

KIRKLAND – Forget the one-week-at-a-time, every-game-is-equally-important talk this week.

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren wasn’t shy Monday when asked about Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams.

“Since we’ve been here, this is as big as any game we’ll play,” Holmgren said. “… These are the games you like coaching and you like playing. It should be a heck of a deal.”

A Seahawks victory would put Seattle (6-2) three games in front of the Rams atop the NFC West. By contrast, St. Louis (4-4) could close that gap to one game by beating the Seahawks.

“It’s a huge game,” offensive lineman Robbie Tobeck said. “It’s another opportunity to put more cushion between us. The way the records are right now, that’s the main game in terms of winning our division.”

The Seahawks snapped a four-game losing streak against the Rams last month, yet they might still need another win over St. Louis to feel comfortable about their title hopes.

“I think we have a pretty good rivalry with the Rams, so start there,” Holmgren said of the importance of Sunday’s game. “Secondly, they’re good. Thirdly, it’s a division game, and all the things in the standings that it means to both teams.

“And lastly is our momentum. I want to keep the thing going. So it’s a big game.”

Hitting them in the wallet

Holmgren is so disgusted by his kickoff return team’s eight penalties this season that he’s ready to start making people pay.

Literally.

“I’d like to fine the guy, but I don’t think I can,” Holmgren said. “… I don’t like to ever take their money; I really don’t. But goodness gracious, it’s hard for me to understand how we can be so careless in that particular area.”

The Seahawks were flagged for two more penalties on returns Sunday. Josh Scobey had a 22-yard return wiped out when Craig Terrill was called for holding, then Scobey had a 17-yarder called back when Jordan Babineaux was flagged for an illegal block in the back.

“In that chaos (of a kickoff return), you’ve got to think,” Holmgren said. “We’re coaching to it, we’re trying real hard. But my goodness, it’s hard.”

Last week, special teams coach Bob Casullo said that mental mistakes were the most obvious thing holding his return unit back.

“We work as hard, if not harder, as anybody else,” Casullo said. “But we’ve got nothing to show for it. On the other hand, it’s because of us. It’s because of our performance, and that’s the frustrating part.”

Two other parts of Seattle’s special teams game are also struggling, but Holmgren expressed confidence in punter Tom Rouen (ranked 27th in the NFL with a 40.2 average) and punt return man Jimmy Williams (ranked 23rd in the league with an average of 5.0 yards per return).

Feeling better

One day after being stricken with a mysterious stomach ailment, running back Shaun Alexander was in better health.

“I really didn’t sleep too well (Sunday) night, but it’s feeling better this morning,” Alexander said.

Alexander still hadn’t pinpointed the source of his discomfort, but he had a theory.

“It was either something I ate or one of those drinks I was drinking before the game,” he said. “I usually don’t drink canned drinks. When I was in college, whenever I drank canned Gatorade, I’d always get an upset stomach. So it’s either that, the food, or the lack of food I ate.”

Injury update

Safety Michael Boulware (sore hamstring) and defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs (strained calf) are the most notable players who might miss time this week due to injury.

Holmgren expects Boulware to practice on a limited basis this week and play Sunday. Tubbs’s injury is more serious, Holmgren said, but the status of the second-year defensive tackle is unknown.

On the positive side, Holmgren expects to get linebacker D.D. Lewis back from a knee injury this week.

Warrick still recovering

Holmgren said that he doesn’t expect wide receiver Peter Warrick’s health to be back at 100 percent until next season. Warrick is coming back from January knee surgery.

“They say nine months,” Holmgren said of the recovery time, “but it’s really a year and nine months to be back to the player you were.”

Warrick has just six receptions this season. Holmgren originally planned to leave him as one of the inactives for Sunday’s game, but the last-minute scratch of Lewis left a roster spot open.

Warrick has acknowledged this season that his knee is still not 100 percent, but he has seen progress each week.

Offensive fireworks

Sunday’s game has the potential for plenty of offense, with the top two offenses in the NFL squaring off.

Seattle leads the league in yards per game, at 387.3. St. Louis, at 369.6, is second. But the Rams (4-4) rank 31st of 32 NFL teams in defense, surrendering 367.8 yards per game.

Jackson heading to Florida

Wide receiver Darrell Jackson is planning to visit his doctor in Florida next week, at which time he might be cleared to start running.

Jackson has been out since undergoing knee surgery in early October.

“He’s on schedule,” Holmgren said. “He’s been very, very good with his rehab. It’ll be good to get him back at some point.”