The Seattle Seahawks could go 7-9 and make the NFL playoffs, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could go 9-7 and miss out. And the Bucs just beat Seattle by 23 points, outgaining them by 265 yards. Are we sure doing this the BCS way wouldn’t be less unfair than giving the NFC West an automatic bye?

The Seahawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the wheels of Matt Hasselbeck, but Tampa poured on 31 straight points on four touchdown passes by Josh Freeman, two each to Kellen Winslow and Mike Williams. Freeman added a fifth in the fourth quarter.

Hasselbeck injured himself on that touchdown trot, giving Charlie Whitehurst significant action in his second straight week. Whitehurst threw for 66 yards on 18 attempts.

Legarrette Blount is this game’s fantasy MVP, running for 164 yards and peeling off a 53-yard carry that featured a hurdled Seahawks defender.

The Bucs get the New Orleans Saints next week, and need a win plus a Packers or Giants loss to make the playoffs. The Seahawks play the Rams in the incredibly depressing NFC West championship game.

For more on this game join Bucs Nation and Field Gulls.