AP

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, left, rushes during football practice in Kirkland, Wash., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007.

KIRKLAND, Wash. - At first glance, the Seahawks' logic seems flawed.

They've lost three of their last four games. And they'll be missing two starting cornerbacks -- plus perhaps a leading receiver and three starters on the offensive line -- in Saturday's playoff game against Dallas.

So why do the Seahawks (9-7) feel they are as close to their 2005 Super Bowl form as they've been all season?

Three middling letters: NFC.

"Some of the things I think you need to get into the playoffs and keep going are kind of there for us," coach Mike Holmgren said. "A couple of the other things, though, aren't.

"I think you can say that about a number of the teams in the NFC."

The flawed, defending conference champions find themselves in a muddled mess of a tournament. From quarterback issues with Chicago (13-3), to the Cowboys (9-7) also losing three of their last four games, to whether the New York Giants (8-8) even belong here, the NFC would give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays hope.

The Seahawks think they are an unusually lethal fourth seed. They seem to almost expect to be the first team from that position to reach the Super Bowl since the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

"Just a feeling, I think," said quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has recovered from a sprained knee -- but remains bothered by a bruised hand.

"It's just a feeling how we're starting to move in that direction," he said.

Two huge reasons Seattle thinks that time has finally come, despite never-ending injuries: Hasselbeck, the Pro Bowl starter in 2005, and league MVP Shaun Alexander are healthier and playing better.

Last Sunday, Hasselbeck had his first turnover-free game since he returned seven weeks ago from his knee injury.

Alexander has a career-high six fumbles this season, and has lost three. But he has rushed for 232 yards in his last two games, his most consistent production since returning Nov. 19 from missing six games with a broken left foot. Holmgren said Alexander's 140 yards on 31 carries in a last-minute loss to mighty San Diego on Dec. 24 came from perhaps the hardest running he's ever seen from his seventh-year back.

The week before Christmas was the first time since September that Alexander didn't sleep with a bone stimulation machine wired to his foot, which he badly bruised in the season opener Sept. 10 and then broke Sept. 24.

"Shaun is healthy. He's back," offensive coordinator Gil Haskell declared. "Same thing with Matt. Matt took his brace off last week, and all of a sudden he has a twinkle in his eye. He wasn't dragging his leg. So he's coming back. So those are things (to be optimistic about). Two of our best players are getting better."

But Haskell said Hasselbeck remains bothered by a badly bruised -- or perhaps broken -- bone in his left, non-throwing hand. Haskell said it gives Hasselbeck pain on each snap and almost every time he gets hit.

"You know what? It bothers the (heck) out of him," Haskell said.

So has being without Darrell Jackson for the last three weeks. Jackson, who was leading the NFL in touchdown receptions a month ago, has a hyper-extended toe on his left foot.

But he, too, sounds primed for a playoff resurgence.

"I want to prove everybody wrong," Jackson said. "Everybody's coming back off injury. ... We're just starting to get on a little roll."

Except along the offensive line. It may be missing starters Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray and Floyd Womack on Saturday. Seattle may start its ninth different interior blocking combination this season against the Cowboys.

Yet the Seahawks still see the postseason as their time of Super Bowl expectations finally fulfilled.

"We just feel like it's finally time, that those bumpy days are just over with," Alexander said.

Then he chuckled.

"At least we're hoping that."