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No speeches needed

Running back Shaun Alexander and the Seattle Seahawks need to dodge Arizona to win another division title. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Scott M. Johnson Everett Herald
Running back Shaun Alexander and the Seattle Seahawks need to dodge Arizona to win another division title. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The calculators can be set aside, if only for a week.

The playoff scenarios, magic numbers and potential tiebreakers are best left unspoken.

As for those raucous, pregame speeches that are often associated with big games? Leave the theatrics for some other NFL stadium.

“No pep talks needed,” Seattle Seahawks safety Brian Russell said of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. “And I’m sure Arizona is saying the same thing.”

When the Seahawks (8-4) host the Cardinals (6-6) at Qwest Field this Sunday, the stakes are pretty simple. If Seattle wins the game, it clinches another NFC West title. It doesn’t get any more clear-cut than that.

“This is for everything,” Seahawks defensive end Darryl Tapp said. “We’ve worked hard to put ourselves in position to win a fourth consecutive division title, so we’ve got a lot to play for.”

Seattle leads the division by two games, and a Sunday victory would put it three games up with three to go. The win would also give Seattle the tiebreaker in that it would clinch a better record within the division.

If the Cardinals are going to cling to any hopes of winning their first division title since 1975, they’ll have to start with a win this Sunday.

“Obviously, our backs are against the wall in terms of the playoff hunt,” Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner said. “… It’s a big game for us. It’s a big game conference-wise and a big game in the big picture of what we want to accomplish.”

While Warner saw plenty of important games during his days as quarterback of the St. Louis Rams, the Cardinals are in a rather unfamiliar position. The last time Arizona was still alive for a division title in December was six years ago, when the 5-6 Cardinals entered the month trailing first-place Philadelphia by two games before falling out of contention.

Notes

The Seahawks addressed their special teams problems by re-signing running back Josh Scobey, who was on the team for 19 games in 2005 and ‘06. … For the fifth time in their NFL careers, quarterback brothers Matt and Tim Hasselbeck will be on opposite sidelines this weekend. Matt will be starting for the Seahawks, while Tim is the third-string quarterback for Arizona. … Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said that wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his rehab. Holmgren has not ruled out Hackett for Sunday’s game. Cornerback Josh Wilson, meanwhile, is expected to miss at least two weeks with a strained quad.