Tampa, FL (Sports Network) – Josh Freeman threw for 237 yards and five touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers handled the Seattle Seahawks, 38-15, at Raymond James Stadium.
Freeman converted on 21-of-26 pass attempts, without an interception, while both Kellen Winslow and Mike Williams caught two touchdowns for Tampa Bay (9-6), which remains in the playoff hunt but needs multiple scenarios to happen in order to garner a NFC Wild Card selection. LeGarrette Blount rushed for 164 yards on 18 carries for the victors.
Charlie Whitehurt threw for a disappointing 66 yards on 11-of-18 passing, as he replaced starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the second quarter after he left with a hip injury.
Hasselbeck left the game after a one-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of the first quarter. He grabbed his lower back and he ran in for the score, but after being attended to by the Seahawks training staff went to the locker room and did not return.
Marshawn Lynch rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries and Leon Washington accounted for a score for Seattle (6-9), which will face St. Louis next week in a all-for-nothing game to decide the NFC West title.