KIRKLAND, Wash., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- With starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck nursing a separated left shoulder, Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren will turn to Trent Dilfer, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has won his last 13 starts, to lead the Seahawks Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
Hasselbeck aggravated the shoulder injury when he was sacked in the first half of last Sunday's 27-24 loss to the New York Giants, but never came out of the game. He originally hurt the shoulder in a Sept. 23 game against Philadelphia and suffered a groin injury the following week in a loss at Oakland.
Dilfer, who won 11 straight starts and helped the Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV last January, stepped in and won both of his starts with the Seahawks -- home victories over Jacksonville on Oct. 7 and Denver on Oct. 14 -- before going back to the bench.
By the start of Sunday's game at 4:15 pm EST, the Seahawks (7-7) may be eliminated from the playoff race. Seattle is two games behind Baltimore (9-5), the New York Jets (9-5) and Miami (9-5) for the AFC wild card berths.
Dilfer, 29, took over as the starting quarterback of the Ravens in Week Nine last season and led the team to an 11-1 record and a Super Bowl title, although the Ravens' record-setting defense was rightfully credited for carrying a team which ranked 16th in offense and 22nd in passing.
The Ravens spurned their Super Bowl winning quarterback, instead opting to sign Elvis Grbac as a free agent.
Dilfer completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,502 yards and 12 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last season with Baltimore. In four postseason games, he was 35-of-73 for 590 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
