Seattle Seahawks Game Three: Here Come Some Very Angry San Diego-ites. San Diego-ins. San Diego-uns?

Despite the fact that the 'Hawks are 5.5-point underdogs to a presumed powerhouse, hope is not lost. There were actually quite a few bright spots in last week's blowout loss: the Seahawks' offensive line kept Matt Hasselbeck mostly upright, the team averaged a robust 5.5 yards per carry, and they twice moved the ball deep into Denver territory only to be undone by Hasselbeck interceptions in the red zone. In addition, rookie wide receiver Golden ("Pastry Pirate") Tate showed flashes of the big-play ability that made the Seahawks invest a second-round pick in him last April by breaking off a 63-yard punt return and a 52-yard reception.

Seattle might also be catching San Diego at an opportune time. The Chargers were the center of a (potentially distracting) small media storm this week as speculation mounted as to whether or not they would trade disgruntled holdout receiver Vincent Jackson (they [stupidly] did not). Promising first-year running back Ryan Mathews will miss Sunday's game with a high ankle sprain, so the Chargers will have to rely on little-used Mike Tolbert, a third-year player from Coastal Carolina, who may not yet be ready to thrive in an NFL road game, let alone at raucous Qwest Field. Who knows? The same home-field advantage that helped the Seahawks rout the favored 49ers in week one just may help them even out their 2010 record against former divisional foes at 1-1.