Preview | Seahawks at Falcons, 10 a.m., TV: Ch. 13

Seattle vs. Atlanta

at Georgia Dome

Kickoff: 10 a.m. TV: Ch. 13 Radio: 710 AM

The line: Falcons by 1 ½

Key questions

1. Is this a meaningless game? As far as playoff positioning, yes. The Falcons are 3-12 in a nightmare of a season full of off-field distractions. The Seahawks are 10-5 and set as the NFC's third seed in the playoffs. This game is for pride for Atlanta, and momentum for Seattle.

2. Is it time to look ahead to the playoffs? Right after the game, yes. Well, maybe a few hours after. That's when the Seahawks will know which team — Washington, Minnesota or New Orleans — will be coming to Qwest Field next weekend.

3. What are some things to watch for today? If the Seahawks allow 13 or fewer points, they'll set the franchise record for fewest points allowed in a season. Running back Shaun Alexander needs 10 yards to pass Earl Campbell for 24th place on the NFL all-time rushing yards list and one rushing touchdown to become the eighth player in NFL history to have 100. Return man Nate Burleson needs 40 yards to pass Bobby Joe Edmonds for first place all-time in franchise history for punt return yards.

4. What do we find if we take a look inside the numbers on defense? The Seahawks are third in the NFL in sacks with 43 and are tied for second with 134 sacks since the start of the 2005 season. They are tied for second in the NFL in three-and-outs forced with 50. They have allowed 11 touchdown passes, the fewest in the NFL. They have held opponents scoreless in six of the past eight quarters, and the 104 points they have given up in the second half of games this season is the fewest in the league.

5. Is Marcus Trufant the anti-DeAngelo Hall? Sure looks that way. Hall is the outspoken, at times emotional and seemingly arrogant cornerback for the Falcons who has gone to two Pro Bowls. Trufant is the Seahawks' top corner, a player known more for speaking with his play than trash talk who will make his first Pro Bowl appearance this season. Trufant has seven interceptions to Hall's five this season.

Notable

Seahawks: Mike Holmgren trails Washington's Joe Gibbs by one game as the winningest active head coach in the NFL. His 169-108 career record trails Gibbs' 170-100 mark. ... Seattle boasts the NFC's best record since the beginning of the 2003 season at 51-28. ... Josh Brown needs three field goals to pass Todd Peterson for second-place all time on Seattle's season list. ... DE Patrick Kerney needs 2 ½ sacks to set a Seattle season record (Michael Sinclair, 16 ½ in 1998).

Falcons: Former Western Washington player Michael Koenen is the Falcons' punter. ... The Falcons are 2-8 against Seattle all-time and have lost the last four meetings. ... Seahawks defensive coordinator John Marshall was the defensive coordinator for Atlanta from 1983-1985. ... WR Laurent Robinson was born at Fort Lewis. ... S Lawyer Milloy is from Tacoma and played at Washington.

Injury report

Seahawks: DT Rocky Bernard (groin) and LB Niko Koutouvides (knee) are out. WR Deion Branch (calf) and LT Walter Jones (shoulder) are questionable. S Mike Green (knee) is probable.

Falcons: LB Marcus Wilkins (shoulder) is doubtful. CB David Irons (hamstring), WR Michael Jenkins (quadriceps) and S Lawyer Milloy (hip) are questionable. DE Jamaal Anderson (knee), DT Tim Anderson (knee), CB Antoine Harris (knee), WR Joe Horn (foot) and QB Byron Leftwich (ankle) are probable.

Last game Seahawks: Seattle clinched the fifth double-digit victory season in franchise history with a 27-6 pasting of the Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season home finale. Linebacker Leroy Hill returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown, Nate Burleson caught his team-leading seventh TD of the season, and Alexander took a screen pass 14 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 73, his highest total since Week 4. Twenty-one of the Seahawks' points came in the second quarter, by the far the most productive quarter for the Seahawks this season with 126 points scored.

Falcons: Atlanta traveled to Arizona and lost to the Cardinals in overtime, 30-27, when Neil Rackers kicked one field goal to force overtime and another one to win the game. The Falcons dropped their sixth game in a row despite rallying to take a 27-24 lead with 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Receiver Roddy White had 12 catches for 141 yards, and quarterback Chris Redman passed for 315. Running back Jason Snelling and receiver Laurent Robinson, both rookies, scored their first career NFL TDs.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com