Battered Seahawks Host Raiders on MNF

When the Seattle Seahawks grace the Monday night stage for the first time this season, they hardly will resemble the team that reached the Super Bowl last February.

The Seahawks again will be without the services of running back Shaun Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck when they meet the Oakland Raiders in an interconference game.

Alexander and Hasselbeck were the main components last season when the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl for the first time in their 30-year history.

Alexander won the rushing title with 1,880 yards and set a single-season record with 28 touchdowns en route to being named the league's MVP.  However, he will miss his fifth straight game with a cracked bone in his left foot.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is hoping to have Alexander back for the November 12 game against St. Louis.  The Seahawks and Rams are tied for first place in the NFC West.

Hasselbeck, who made the Pro Bowl last season, will miss his second straight game with a sprained right MCL.

Seneca Wallace made his first career start in place of Hasselbeck in last Sunday's 35-28 loss at Kansas City.  He completed 15-of-30 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

The Seahawks have lost consecutive games, something they didn't do all of last season.  Two weeks ago, Seattle had its 12-game home winning streak stopped with a 31-13 loss to Minnesota.

Injuries have not been the only problem for the Seahawks, who also have struggled defensively.  They have allowed 30, 37, 28, 31 and 35 points in their last five games.

Seattle will have a chance to turn things around against Oakland, which averages just 234.0 yards to rank last in the NFL.  The Raiders' average of 13.1 points is only better than Tampa Bay.

Despite totaling just 98 yards, the Raiders won their second straight game last Sunday with a 20-13 triumph over Pittsburgh. Andrew Walter completed just 5-of-14 passes for 51 yards with an interception.

It was the defense that was responsible for the win over the Steelers.  Nnamdi Asomugha returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and Chris Carr brought back a pick 100 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.

Oakland is seeking its first three-game winning streak since 2002, the last season it reached the Super Bowl.