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The facts: The Seahawks fell to 3-7 with a 35-9 road defeat to the Vikings in Week 11.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• Seattle played the Vikings to a scoreless tie after one quarter.
• Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed 19 of 26 passes for 231 yards while taking just one sack.
• Hasselbeck avoided serious injury despite absorbing an awkward double-hit that appeared to place significant torque on his previously injured back.
• Receiver Nate Burleson bounced back from a poor showing against the Cardinals.
• Justin Forsett caught eight passes for 80 yards working as a receiver out of the backfield.
• Rookie guard Max Unger continued to distinguish himself as arguably the Seahawks' most promising offensive lineman.
• Linebacker David Hawthorne finished with 15 tackles and one quarterback hit.
• Defensive ends Darryl Tapp and Cory Redding each had first-quarter sacks.

Looking ahead: The Seahawks face the Rams on the road in Week 12.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks were basically horrible against the Vikings. O'Neil: "At this point, the Seahawks resemble a gas-guzzling sedan that runs only occasionally and skids every time it gets on the road. If the government were still handing out cash for clunkers, Seattle might get something for this wreck of an afternoon when it was beaten 35-9 by the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome."

Also from O'Neil: Brett Favre is pretty good. Coach Jim Mora: "The guy is remarkable, but we have to play better."

More from O'Neil: a few notes, plus this quote from Mora: "This is the most complete team we have faced by far. We have tried everything, even went to the blue pants. We are going to keep searching. We are not going to throw up our hands and give up."

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At their best, the Seahawks appear decent enough to hang with good teams for about a quarter.

They jumped ahead of the Cardinals in Week 10 before losing by double digits. They played the Vikings to a scoreless tie after one quarter Sunday.

Clever scheming seems to get Seattle only so far before teams such as the Cardinals and Vikings gather themselves and maximize clear talent advantages.

Beating the Vikings at Minnesota was never a realistic expectation, but losing badly enough for the Vikings to replace Brett Favre with Tarvaris Jackson while the third quarter was still ongoing? That has to be a little humbling. Worse, Jackson lit up the Seattle defense, picking up where Favre left off.

The Seahawks are 3-7 after losing for the fourth time in five games. Losing on the road to the Rams in Week 12 -- a definite possibility -- would only welcome more speculation about whether the organization will make significant changes to its front office after the season.

This team must win a game to change the subject.

The schedule does offer an opportunity for Seattle over the next month. With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck playing well, the Seahawks will have a chance to beat the Rams and 49ers over the next two weeks before a likely defeat at Houston. A home game against the Bucs comes next. Beating the Rams, 49ers and Bucs would up Seattle's record to 6-7, perhaps providing some positive momentum heading into the final two games.

But if the Seahawks lose to the Rams, look out below.

The Seahawks will miss cornerback Josh Wilson against the Vikings in Week 11.

Wilson, who suffered a concussion against the Cardinals in Week 10, was named inactive Sunday.

I'll be interested in seeing how the Seahawks match up against Vikings rookie Percy Harvin, particularly when he works from the slot. Wilson has distinguished himself as a solid cornerback against slot receivers.

We'll see how the Seahawks adjust. This is a matchup the Vikings might look to exploit.