Grip on Sports: A Sunday without the Seahawks is like a year without an NFC West title

A GRIP ON SPORTS • What an odd November Sunday it was. No Seahawks. And there won’t be any Seahawks next Sunday either. It’s hard to settle into a routine with such lack of certainty. Read on.

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• Speaking of lack of certainty, who the heck is going to take Richard Sherman’s place in the defensive backfield? We didn’t write “replace” him for one reason: there are few that can, and they all have jobs right now.

So the Hawks will have to find someone to fill the spot and hope whoever it is can hold his own.

Just like the team is, what with the Rams playing out of their mind – they won again yesterday to raise their record to 7-2. If you look at the NFC standings, you see four teams with better records than the Hawks: Philadelphia, Minnesota, New Orleans and the Rams. I’m not sure many folks had those four identified as leading the conference halfway through the season.

But here we are, and the Seahawks enter their final seven games without their most recognizable defensive star, though he hasn’t been their best player on that side of the ball for a while. That honor goes to Bobby Wagner, the middle linebacker who must stay healthy if Seattle is going to catch Los Angeles.

The Hawks certainly can.

The Rams’ schedule is back-loaded. They still have road games at Minnesota, Arizona, Seattle and Tennessee. Their home schedule includes only one sure thing, San Francisco to finish the regular season. The other two opponents are New Orleans and Philadelphia. If you are counting along at home, that’s five toss-up games.

The Hawks’ schedule is easier. The four home games include Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Arizona. The three road contests are at the 49ers, Jags and Cowboys, in what should be Ezekiel Elliot’s return to the lineup. That seems to be also five toss-up games, but the key one, against the Rams, is at CenturyLink.

It’s all conjecture, of course. What matters is what happens on the field over the next seven Sundays. Or whenever the games are.

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WSU: The win at Utah boosted Washington State’s stock nationally, as the Cougars jumped to 15th in the Associated Press poll. That’s one spot in front of their next opponent. Theo Lawson has that story as well as some thoughts on their standing – they control their destiny in the North race. … The men’s basketball team started slowly, falling behind Texas Southern by 22 at one point. The Cougars rallied, though, and won in overtime. Peter Harriman has that story. (I must admit I didn’t watch much. It was on Pac-12 Washington, which I only receive in low-def. It’s hard for me to watch sports in low-def anymore. I’m spoiled.) … The women’s basketball team lost at Saint Mary’s. … The Cougars’ bye week gives them a chance to rest up for the Apple Cup.

Elsewhere in Pac-12, we start with power rankings and poll thoughts. … Washington is having to re-adjust its goals. … Ken Goe has some thoughts on the Oregon State coaching decision. … Oregon has a tough task: slowing down Khalil Tate. … Colorado joins WSU on a bye, but has to win its final game to make a bowl. … Utah has to win one of its final two games to go bowling. The first one is as Washington. … Arizona State is also looking for bowl eligibility. … The biggest games this week may be the rivalry games. USC and UCLA meet in the Coliseum while Cal travels to Stanford. If the Cardinal win, UW can’t win the North. … Arizona’s offensive line is playing well. … The Wildcats had another basketball game yesterday. They won handily.

EWU: The Eagles seem to play UW in basketball every year. And every year they have a shot to win but fall just short. There was lots of coverage of the game in the Puget Sound media outlets.

Whitworth: Linfield, the Northwest League’s representative in the NCAA Division III playoffs, has a familiar schedule.

Chiefs: Actually, we have link to the Spokane Braves game from Sunday. Hey, it’s hockey.

Seahawks: Is Seattle going to get into trouble over the handling of Russell Wilson’s blow to the head?

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• Wind and rain around here today. Oh joy. Birds have the right idea. Until later …