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Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney attempts to become only the second Seahawks player in franchise history -- since Michael Sinclair in 1998 -- to lead the league in sacks. And he does it against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, for whom he played the last eight years.
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Kerney, with a career-high
14.5 sacks, has a half-sack lead over Houston's Mario Williams and Kansas City's
Jared Allen, both with 14.
Kerney, though, says winning the sack title is not of significant concern to him.
"I am not in this for individual titles," Kerney said. "Certainly
I go into Atlanta expecting to play the entire game. If somebody else decides
differently, I am OK with what's best for the team. Sack title, if I hang on,
that would be great icing on the cake. If I don't, I am not going to sweat it.
Certainly, I know there is not a big silver trophy for that."
Atlanta, which has lost six consecutive games, is among the bottom third in the
league with 45 sacks allowed, including two on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Williams faces a Jacksonville offense that has relinquished just 29
sacks. And Allen's Chiefs face the New York Jets, who have permitted 48 sacks,
four in Sunday's loss to Tennessee.
Beyond that, Kerney has the inspiration of playing before the fans who rooted
for him for eight years.
"It would be great to put on a good performance there," Kerney said.
"I know the fans who have been so good to me for so long there expect a good
performance from me. I like to think that is what they were used to for eight
years and what they will get next week." PLAYER NOTES
--QB Matt Hasselbeck needs 23 yards passing to set the single-season Seattle
record. It is unlikely that Hasselbeck plays the entire game Sunday in Atlanta
because the outcome has no impact on Seattle's season.
--RB Shaun Alexander, who broke a bone in his wrist in the first week of the
season, said he felt better on Sunday than he has all season. Alexander had
73 yards, the most he has produced since Week 4.
--WR D.J. Hackett, who has missed three games with a high-ankle sprain, will
practice this week. But it is unclear if he will play against the Falcons.
--WR Bobby Engram, who has five touchdowns, needs two more to set a career high.
He already has career highs in yards (1,082) and receptions (90).
--DE Darryl Tapp was credited with a half sack against Baltimore. It was his
first sack in four weeks.
--LB Julian Peterson needs one sack to set a career high. Peterson currently
has 9.5 sacks.
--DT Rocky Bernard continues to suffer from a sore groin. It kept him out of
Sunday's game against the Ravens. It is unclear if he will play against Atlanta.
--CB Josh Wilson, who suffered a quad injury three weeks ago and has not played
since, is not likely to play against Atlanta on Sunday.
--LB Lofa Tatupu has 106 tackles, the first player in franchise history to record
three straight 100-tackle seasons.
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