Seahawks players heatedly debate which of their 9 losses served as wake-up call during season

Seattle, WA--After beating the St Louis Rams in the final game of the regular season, 16-6, which sent the Seahawks into the playoffs, the jubilant locker room in the depths of Qwest Field took a long look back at the 2010 campaign. A heated debate began amongst the players who were attempting to determine which of the team's nine losses served as the wake-up call for achieving a birth in the postseason.

"Oh, it was definitely the 41-7 home loss to the Giants on November 7," said head coach Pete Carroll, the first-year coach with the team who built a powerhouse football program at USC. "After that shellacking we beat Arizona by 18 points the following week. And the rest is history. It pushed us to a respectable 3-6 finish to the season."

Many players and coaches disagreed with Carroll saying that it was really the 33-3 week 8 loss to the Raiders in Oakland that jump started the season.

"If we hadn't lost to the Raiders by 30 points that week there was no way that we would have been able to come home and lose to the Giants by 34 points the following week," said wider receiver Brandon Stokley, standing on the leather chair by his locker. "I think coach forgets that. Giving up 545 total yards and only generating 164 is like putting smelling salts under all of our noses at the same time."

It appeared that most of the 53-man roster supported Stokley's argument, as clapping and whistling broke out. But, the discussion wasn't over.

"You guys have a short memory," shouted a visibly frustrated quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, slamming his helmet into the locker of an unknown special teams player. "It was the 42-24 loss to Kansas City in week 12. If we hadn't lost that game by 18 points we could not have beat the worst team in the league [Carolina] the next week."

Several players nodded in agreement with Hasselbeck, before defensive end Chris Clemons stood and addressed the room.

"Guys, can we settle down? We're adults. We're a team and we made the playoffs today. Let's be happy. Let's prep for New Orleans." The Georgia native paused for a moment and the collective team expression changed, suddenly recognizing their juvenile behavior. "Besides, you assholes are neglecting the most critical loss. Without a doubt it was the 40-21 loss at the 49ers in week 14. How would we have been able to lose to Atlanta, 34-18, the week after? Answer me. This was a key blowout for us."

The room exploded and players had to be separated, however, 279-pound defensive end Raheem Brock managed to get into the face of Clemons and words were exchanged. "Where do you get off? If you can't see that the 38-15 loss to Tampa Bay in week 16 changed our fortunes than you're dead to me. I will take that chair and ..."

At that moment, head coach Carroll, seeing that a friendly debate had gotten way out of control, let out a scream so ear piercing, so mind-numbingly crisp from deep within, that several players began to sob for mercy. The scream even startled Carroll whose voice began to go hoarse.

"Hey, we made history today," announced the coach, who had unquestionably secured the attention of each athlete before him. "We're the first NFL team to make the playoffs or win their division with a losing record. Be proud of our 7 wins and 9 losses. Hold your head high when you walk into the local coffee shop or go see a Pearl Jam concert or go see a Seattle Storm WNBA game. We shall walk together forever! Or at least until some of you are cut during the offseason."