Photoblog: Seahawks at Dallas
The Seahawks traveled to Dallas in Week Nine, and fell to the Cowboys 23-13.
Players boarded the team's Hawaiian Airlines charter under cloudy skies in Seattle.
On three day road trips, the team does a brief walkthru practice at a local school then visits the stadium for a quick look at the surroundings. Making this trip unusual on Saturday was Cowboys Stadium was full of fans as part of enhanced tour. Punter Jon Ryan is protected from curious fans as he takes in sight lines from the hashmarks.
On Saturday evening, coach Carroll sat in a far corner of the team's meal room, taking notes before the team's final meeting of the night.
Game day arrives and under the roof of Cowboys Stadium, Seahawks defensive backs huddle before pregame warmups.
Visiting players, including Texas native Earl Thomas, walk through an exclusive fan area lit by a large star as they make their way from locker room to the field.
Texas natives and honorary captains Clint Gresham (49) and Russell Okung (76) joined season captains Tarvaris Jackson (7) and Michael Robinson (26) for the coin toss.
Seattle's defense started tough, with Leroy Hill (56) and K.J Wright (50) combining to stop Dallas running back DeMarco Murray.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch doled out early punishment and knocked off the helmet of Cowboys safety Barry Church on a first half run.
Seattle native and Dallas Mavericks star Jason Terry (center) watched from an end zone suite, and saluted Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane during a timeout.
Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson fires a pass towards the sideline.
Head coach Pete Carroll congratulates Heath Farwell after a special teams tackle.
Safety Kam Chancellor dives but could only come up with the towel of Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray on this play.
Seahawks cornerback Roy Lewis came up with the football after Richard Sherman's hard hit forced Dallas' Dez Bryant to fumble near the goal line.
It's said that everything is bigger in Texas, and in Dallas that includes stationing dancers high above the field on elevated stages near the roof of the stadium.
Marshawn Lynch ran, rumbled and rolled for 135 yards on 23 carries, one of the bright spots for the Seahawks.
Marshawn Lynch reaches the ball over the goal line for Seattle's lone touchdown on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson scrambles and is brought down in the fourth quarter.
Marshawn Lynch sits on the turf after being tackled and losing his helmet.
The noon kickoff meant that the Seahawks boarded their return charter in the fading Texas light.
On the return flight to Seattle, offensive line coach Tom Cable was already going over game video with rookie right guard John Moffitt as staff and players wasted no time working to find ways to improve.
Photoblog: Playoff Run Ends in Chicago
Seattle traveled to Chicago to face the Bears in a NFC Divisional Playoff game at Soldier Field, where for the second week in a row they were vast underdogs. After two amazing weeks of football, the Seahawks run came to an end on a frozen, snowy day in the Windy City.
Crowds of Seahawks fans cheered from roadside and along freeway overpasses as the team's caravan of buses headed from the VMAC to the airport on Friday.
The Seahawks arrived in Chicago to snow on the ground and temperatures in the 20's.
On Saturday, the team did their walk-thru at an indoor facility at Northwestern University before a quick trip to Soldier Field where head coach Pete Carroll took a walk near midfield.
On Sunday morning, Carroll greeted fans in the lobby of the team hotel before boarding a charter bus headed for the stadium.
Members of the equipment staff adjust the cleats of receiver Brandon Stokley before the game.
Long-snapper Clint Gresham warmed up on a stationary bike near the sinks in the locker room.
Leon Washington "taps in" on his way to the field.
Tight ends Cameron Morrah and John Carlson get together in the tunnel before heading to the field.
The Seahawks gathered around Lawyer Milloy before taking the field for kickoff.
Matt Hasselbeck fires a pass to tight end John Carlson, who gained 14 yards on the play before being injured and removed from the game with a concussion.
Seattle's defense tried to swarm around Chicago running back Matt Forte.
Chicago's Matt Forte flies over the pile near the goal line, but Seattle's defense stopped him short.
As snow continued to fall, Soldier Field's grounds crew worked hard to keep field markings visible.
Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant breaks up a pass over the middle intended for Chicago's Earl Bennett.
Wide receiver Ben Obomanu is tackled after a 12-yard reception from Matt Hasselbeck.
Brandon Stokley, who had eight catches for 85 yards to lead the Seahawks, dives ahead for more yardage.
Seattle caught a break when a pass tipped by Chicago's Charles Tillman is caught by the Seahawks' Mike Williams in the end zone for a touchdown.
Williams celebrates the touchdown, which made the score 35-17 in favor of the Bears.
Head coach Pete Carroll paces the sidelines as his team scored 21 fourth quarter points, but it wasn't enough.
As a NFL Films microphone looms above, Carroll hugs quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the locker room after the game. At left is quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch, and at right is receiver's coach Kippy Brown.
Defensive captain Lofa Tatupu, who recovered from a concussion in time to play in the game, is consoled by Carroll in the locker room as the season came to an end.
Friday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities on Day 5 of NFC West Championship week:
FOCUS ON
Clint Gresham. ’Tis the season. No, that was last week. But for the Seahawks’ long snapper, it’s always the giving season.
On Christmas Eve, Gresham donated five Wii systems to the families at Vision House, which provides transitional housing for homeless single mothers and their children. He returned on Wednesday, with autographed mini Seahawks helmets for the kids and then them outside for a few pointers on the fine art of snapping.
“I’ve been wanting to get involved somehow in the community, and just have an opportunity to share my faith and be involved in the lives of these kids,” Gresham said today, after the team’s next-to-last practice for Sunday’s big game against the St. Louis Rams at Qwest Field to determine the champion of the NFC West.
“It was great. We went outside. I taught them all how to long snap.”
Gresham cracked a smile before adding, “So in about 15 years I’ll be having some competition.”
