Notes: Favre wants the ball, and Packers do score

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Matt Hasselbeck laughed about it afterward, but there were two moments on Sunday that served as reminders of Jan. 4, 2004 — and just how far he has come since then.

The first came during the coin toss, when friend and mentor Brett Favre mimicked Hasselbeck from two seasons earlier. After the Packers won the coin toss, Favre repeated what Hasselbeck said before overtime started in the first-round playoff game at Green Bay two years ago.

"We want the ball," he said, "and we're going to score."

Hasselbeck said Favre called him before the game and offered a heads-up. Favre also came through on his prediction, while Hasselbeck did not.

Which brings us to our second similar moment Sunday. When Packers cornerback Al Harris picked off Seahawks backup Seneca Wallace in the third quarter and returned it up the left sideline, it looked like his interception that won the playoff game in overtime.

The difference is the Seahawks will play in the second round of the playoffs this time, while the Packers' season finished Sunday. Meanwhile, a maturing Hasselbeck only needed one half of action, completing 6 of 8 passes for 76 yards, and resting thereafter because this game meant nothing to the Seahawks' playoff position.

After the game, Hasselbeck reflected on his early seasons in Seattle after the Packers traded him — and the draft pick that netted All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson — to the Seahawks. Hasselbeck said the Seahawks' and Packers' respective offenses contain the same verbiage, but not the same rules or reads.

"I didn't know or wasn't willing to admit that," Hasselbeck said. "I learned the hard way."

Not a lock at left

Sean Locklear did his first Walter Jones impression Sunday, switching from right tackle to left tackle after the Seahawks kept Jones inactive. Locklear was less than pleased with the results.

Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila matched up often against Locklear and finished with two sacks. And while Locklear admitted switching sides made his technique "out of whack" and made him "uncomfortable," he also said there's no excuse.

Jones' assessment, however, was slightly different.

"He did great," Jones said.

Not enough in reserve

The Seahawks' substitutes on offense were in when the second half began, wholesale changes that provided quick results but the reserves weren't able to secure a win.

That hurt those who got their long-awaited chance to play, but actually playing and hitting a real opponent play after play for the first time since the exhibition season was something all the backups needed.

When the second half opened, Seneca Wallace was the quarterback. Maurice Morris was the running back, Leonard Weaver was at fullback, Peter Warrick was at one wide receiver spot and the offensive line had a brand-new look.

Rookie Ray Willis, active for the first time since Oct. 23, was at right tackle. Wayne Hunter, active for first time this season, was at right guard. First-round draft pick Chris Spencer was at center, Floyd Womack was the right guard and Locklear the left.

The group helped the Seahawks drive for a touchdown to open the half, but Seattle scored three points after that. The Packers' pass rush sacked Wallace three times.

"It was a great opportunity to just go out there and play and get my feet wet," Willis said. "They're all good defensive ends. As a unit, we probably just needed a little bit more work. I thought we did some good things, but they got us a couple of times."

Womack, a former starter, made his first start of the season at right tackle in place of Locklear. Left tackle Jones was held out with a sore back. Jones will be fine for the playoffs, coach Mike Holmgren said.

Jones did provide some help even though he didn't play.

"He was passing out towels in there," Holmgren said. "I was telling all the guys, 'That's a pretty high-priced locker room aid. My goodness.' "

Veteran tight end Itula Mili played in his first game of the season and dropped a pass. On defense, defensive end Alain Kashama saw his first action of the season and had two tackles.

A break for Holmgren

Holmgren took off the headset at halftime and handed play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Gil Haskell for the second half.

"I didn't like it," Holmgren joked. "No, I love Gil. He's my best friend and he's very good at it. I'm a control freak. That's a fun part of the game for me, calling the game. And I was just standing there, walking around and being a cheerleader. But I told Gil we were going to do this."

Driver's seat

Receiver Donald Driver was a menace to the Seahawks secondary, making six catches for 118 yards.

Driver's first five receptions all converted third downs. He also drew a key pass interference penalty on Jimmy Williams, setting up a second quarter touchdown, and caught a 59-yard pass in the third quarter.

Driver has held the role of key playmaker most of the season with the injuries the Packers have sustained to receivers Javon Walker, Robert Ferguson and Terrence Murphy, in addition to RBs Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport.

"Once those guys went down, I just felt like I had to put the game on my shoulders," he said.

Driver finished with career highs in receptions (86) and yards (1,221).

Notes

• Williams started in place of Marcus Trufant at right cornerback. Williams intercepted a pass and notched a season-high nine tackles, but he struggled in pass coverage at times.

• DE Bryce Fisher had one sack, finishing with a team- and career-high nine for the season.

• LB Leroy Hill had half a sack and finished a solid rookie campaign with 7-½.

• TE Jerramy Stevens did not have a catch and failed to overtake Mili for the team record for most receptions by a tight end in a season. Mili had 46 in 2003; Stevens finished with 45.

• The Seahawks dropped four passes (one each for Mili, Bobby Engram, D.J. Hackett and Morris) and finished with 20 on the year as a team.

• The Packers avoided their first 13-loss season. The 4-12 record is the team's worst since 1991.

Times correspondent Mike Spofford contributed to this report.