Bucs rout Seahawks, but both still alive

TAMPA, Fla. - Josh Freeman threw for 237 yards and a career-best five touchdowns Sunday to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep their playoff hopes alive with a 38-15 rout of the struggling Seattle Seahawks.

Kellen Winslow and rookie Mike Williams each had a pair of TD receptions for the Bucs (9-6), who guaranteed themselves a winning record after going 3-13 a year ago in their first season under coach Raheem Morris, a former player and coach at Hofstra. Seattle (6-9) played most of the game without injured quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and lost for the seventh time in nine games.

Amazingly, the Seahawks can still win the NFC West - thus earning a playoff spot with a losing record - by beating the first-place St. Louis Rams (7-8) at home in Week 17.

The Bucs remain in contention with the Saints, Giants and Packers for two NFC wild-card berths. They close the regular season at New Orleans, and will need to defeat the defending champs as well as get outside help to grab a postseason spot.

LeGarrette Blount had his fourth 100-yard game rushing, finishing with 164 yards that included highlight-reel bursts of 48 yards in which the 250-pound rookie hurdled a would-be tackler and a 53-yarder that set up Tampa Bay's last touchdown. Freeman completed 21 of 26 passes with no interceptions. His five TD passes - giving him 23 vs. just six interceptions this season - tied a franchise record.

The Seahawks lost Hasselbeck, 35, to a hip injury in the first quarter when he scored on a 1-yard TD run in which he went into the end zone untouched.