• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Patriots must pass road tests to stay in contention

Dec 2, 2008 - 9:18 PM NEW ENGLAND (7-5) AT SEATTLE (2-10), 4:05 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The New England Patriots are in an unfamiliar position at this point in the season - on the outside looking in at the playoff race.

With three of their final four games away from home, the Patriots will have a more difficult road to the postseason starting with Sunday's game at the Seattle Seahawks.

New England trails the New York Jets (8-4) by one game for the AFC East lead and also lags one game behind Indianapolis and Baltimore for the two wild-card berths.

The one thing in the Patriots' favor is the caliber of upcoming opponents; their next two foes are a combined 5-19.

"We are not worried about anybody else but Seattle," New England head coach Bill Belichick said. "I know there are other games on our schedule but there is nothing we can do about any of those games.

"We are not going to concern ourselves with them just like we normally wouldn't. We will focus on this game, one game at a time and get ready for Seattle."

A flurry of mistakes led to the Patriots' demise in last weekend's 33-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Five second-half turnovers and a couple of key dropped passes by star wide receiver Randy Moss conspired to drop New England to its third home defeat of the season.

"I am very disappointed in my play," Moss said. "I always say as a wide receiver your job is to get open, catch the ball and score touchdowns. ... I didn't really have a good game."

Neither did Matt Cassel, who had thrown for 400 yards in his previous two games but was throttled by Pittsburgh's defense, finishing 19-of-39 for 169 yards and two interceptions.

Cassel also lost two fumbles and was sacked five times.

Seattle could provide a welcome respite for New England. Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Seahawks were crushed, 34-9, by Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

Despite failing to get his team in the end zone, Matt Hasselbeck had his best outing of an injury-wracked season, going 22-for-38 for 287 yards. He also was sacked seven times.

Rookie tight end John Carlson had six receptions for a season-high 105 yards.

"I think (Carlson) is going to develop and give us a lot to look forward to. He has a pretty good future," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said.