Seahawks... 27 Ravens... 6

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Seahawks were seeking to regain some fire heading into the playoffs. Mere plumes of smoke were all that was required to beat the wretched Baltimore Ravens.

Matt Hasselbeck shook off two interceptions to throw two touchdown passes and Shaun Alexander had his biggest rushing day since Week 4 as the Seahawks clinched the No. 3 seeding in the NFC with a 27-6 victory over the Ravens.

Hasselbeck’s scores gave him a career-high 27 touchdown passes this season. One went to Alexander, on a screen pass of 14 yards. That gave Seattle (10-5) a 21-0 lead late in the first half.

Alexander turned a season of being booed at home into holiday cheers by gaining 73 yards in 13 carries. That was after the 2005 league MVP sat on the bench in a hooded parka during Seattle’s first two drives, watching Maurice Morris run the plays.

The Ravens (4-11), with 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith completing 16 of 33 passes in his first NFL start, extended their franchise-record losing streak to nine games.

Quoteworthy: “We did take a little bit of a step today, which is encouraging.” -- Mike Holmgren, Seahawks coach