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Originally published January 1, 2012 at 9:33 PM | Page modified January 1, 2012 at 11:18 PM

Seahawks will flip for draft pick | Notebook

Because Seattle and Kansas City finished with identical records and strengths of schedule, a coin flip will determine which team will pick 11th and which will pick 12th in the 2012 draft.

Seattle Times staff reporter

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — The games are finished, but the Seahawks' draft position remains up in the air.

That's not a metaphor — the reality is that whether Seattle chooses No. 11 or No. 12 overall will come down to a coin flip.

Both the Seahawks and Chiefs finished 7-9, tied for the 11th-worst record in the league. The draft-position tiebreaker is strength of schedule, with the team whose opponents have the lowest combined winning percentage getting the lower (i.e. better) draft pick.

Well, Seattle and Kansas City finished with the same strength of schedule, their opponents going a combined 131-125. So a coin toss will be used to determine whether Seattle picks 11th or 12th.

This will be the third time in the past four years that the Seahawks and Chiefs hold consecutive picks. Kansas City held the No. 3 overall pick in 2009, choosing defensive end Tyson Jackson before the Seahawks picked linebacker Aaron Curry. The Chiefs held the No. 5 overall pick in 2010, choosing safety Eric Berry right before the Seahawks chose Russell Okung at No. 6.

Gut feeling

This is Richard Sherman's third year playing cornerback, but Sunday he showed that he's willing to play a hunch and trust his instincts.

Sherman anticipated a pass from Cardinals quarterback John Skelton to Andre Roberts on a quick out. He ran in front to pick off the pass and return it 33 yards.

"I had a feeling more than anything," Sherman said. "It's hard to explain. Playing corner, you're out there long enough, you get the quarterback looking at the receiver too many times and feeling like he's in a panic. You back off, and read what you read."

It was Sherman's fourth interception of the season, and the 22nd overall for the Seahawks, most since 2004.

Sherman and Doug Baldwin, who were college teammates at Stanford, remained in Arizona for the Cardinal's Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma State on Monday night.

Working overtime

Sunday marked the Seahawks' first overtime game in more than two years. Arizona, meanwhile, was playing its fourth overtime game of the season. The Cardinals were 4-0 in those games, all played at home.

"Boy, we sure get our money's worth at home," coach Ken Whisenhunt said afterward.

The Seahawks have lost their last four overtime games. Their last OT win was Nov. 27, 2005, when they beat the New York Giants in a game when then-Giants kicker Jay Feely missed three field-goal attempts.

Feely now plays for Arizona, and his 28-yard field goal won Sunday's matchup in overtime.

Notes

• Cardinals QB John Skelton fainted in the locker room before the game after getting fluid drained from a knee. "He scared us all," said Larry Fitzgerald. "We were all nervous about him being able to play today and he fought through that and was able to go out there and perform and get our team a win. That shows the kind of toughness he has."

Steven Hauschka's third-quarter field-goal attempt was blocked by Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson. It was the second field goal the Seahawks had blocked this season.

• Cardinals RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, who replaced Beanie Wells (knee) in the lineup, rushed 21 times for 93 yards. His 39-yard run on Arizona's second possession was the key play in a TD drive. It was also the longest carry against Seattle this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

2011 season recap
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 11 at San Francisco L, 33-17
Sept. 18 at Pittsburgh L, 24-0
Sept. 25 Arizona W, 13-10
Oct. 2 Atlanta L, 30-28
Oct. 9 at N.Y. Giants W, 36-25
Oct. 23 at Cleveland L, 6-3
Oct. 30 Cincinnati L, 34-12
Nov. 6 at Dallas L, 23-13
Nov. 13 Baltimore W, 22-17
Nov. 20 at St. Louis W, 24-7
Nov. 27 Washington L, 23-17
Dec. 1 Philadelphia W, 31-14
Dec. 11 St. Louis W, 30-13
Today at Chicago W, 38-14
Dec. 24 San Francisco L, 19-17
Jan. 1 at Arizona L, 23-20
Best seasons by Seahawks RB
Marshawn Lynch had the Seahawks' first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2005. How the franchise's top backs rank by rushing yards:
Player Year Yds
1 Shaun Alexander 2005 1,880
2 Shaun Alexander 2004 1,696
3 Chris Warren 1994 1,545
4 Curt Warner 1986 1,481
5 Curt Warner 1983 1,449
6 Shaun Alexander 2003 1,435
7 Chris Warren 1995 1,346
8 Shaun Alexander 2001 1,318
9 Ricky Watters 2000 1,242
10 Ricky Watters 1998 1,239
11 Ricky Watters 1999 1,210
12 Marshawn Lynch 2011 1,204
13 Shaun Alexander 2002 1,175
14 Curt Warner 1985 1,094

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