The Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium involves a lot more than just two players. But it's difficult to dispute that the fates of the two teams heading in opposite directions this season are directly linked to the success of their quarterbacks.

For the Seahawks, it's Matt Hasselbeck, the slick-sulked, bad-backed passer whose career began with the Green Bay Packers . For the Cowboys, it's Tony Romo, the gunslinging, sore-fingered passer who hails from the land of the Cheeseheads.

Each returned from their injuries two games ago, and each has produced very different results. While Romo has thrown the 7-4 Cowboys back into the NFC playoff picture by helping them defeat the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers, Hasselbeck has struggled along with the rest of his 2-9 team in home losses to the Arizona Cardinals and the Redskins.

It has been painful to watch Hasselbeck try to regain his Pro Bowl form after sitting out five games.

"I think for me, the hardest thing initially was the decision, 'Am I helping the team?' " Hasselbeck said. "That has been the hardest thing."

After a six-point loss to the Cardinals and a three-point loss to the Redskins, Hasselbeck beat himself up for not being able to make the plays that could have rallied the Seahawks in the closing minutes.

Against the Cardinals, he threw an interception on the team's final play.

"I feel like I'm letting people down," he said after the game.

Against the Redskins, it was the same story, as Hasselbeck threw an interception on the Seahawks' final play.

"It was my fault," he said. "It was a poor decision. I am trusted with the ball, and I am trusted in those situations, and I am definitely kicking myself right now. It was sloppy."

But that's how the offense has been this season, which will happen when injuries force the use of 10 starting wide receivers, five different combinations on the offensive line - six if center Chris Spencer can't play against the Cowboys - and starts by all three quarterbacks.

The lightning rod has been Hasselbeck. His return was expected to jump-start the stagnant offense. Instead, he has thrown five interceptions the past two games, and the Seahawks have mustered 153 and 89 passing yards.

It's been a strange juxtaposition for a player who carried the Seahawks to their fourth consecutive division title last season after coach Mike Holmgren hoisted the offense upon Hasselbeck's shoulders because the running game was running on empty.

"This year, I would like to see the same thing," Holmgren said. "It's just a little unrealistic with the amount of playing time he's had."

Romo, meanwhile, has managed to pick up where he left off before missing three games. He passed for three touchdowns against the 49ers and had one the week before against the Redskins.

"I can definitely put it where I want to on the field," Romo said of playing with a splint on the fractured pinkie - which he is hoping to discard Thursday. "It's just a matter of, with the splint on, every once in a blue moon, it'll pop up and affect the throw a little bit. But other than that, it's been good."

Romo has been better than good. His passer rating of 101.8 ranks third in the NFL, and he has thrown more than twice as many touchdown passes (18) as interceptions (seven).

Hasselbeck? Not so good, especially in this comparison. His passer rating (54.9) ranks last, and he has thrown almost twice as many interceptions (nine) as touchdown passes (five).

His poor play has even prompted a report that this could be Hasselbeck's final season with the team.

"I'm not concerned, and that is how I deal with it," he said. "I think good or bad, you can't get caught up in what people are theorizing about you or the team."

Hasselbeck could silence such speculation, and his own concerns, with a turn-back-the-clock performance against the Cowboys in the national spotlight.

"It's no secret the last two games didn't end well because of game-ending interceptions," he said. "Hopefully, I get in that situation again and do a better job."

HAWK TALK: Offensive tackle Kyle Williams was signed off the practice squad Wednesday. To clear a roster spot, tight end Jeb Putzier was released for the second time in 12 days. ... Spencer did not participate in the short practice before the team left for Dallas, so it is likely Steve Vallos will make his first regular-season start against the Cowboys. With left guard Mike Wahle definitely out and Spencer listed as questionable, the only healthy backup lineman would have been guard Mansfield Wrotto. That's why Williams was added to the 53-man roster.\

Seahawks AT Cowboys

WHEN/WHERE:

Today, 1:15 p.m.,

Texas Stadium

TV/RADIO: KCPQ/13; KIRO-AM/710, KIRO-FM/97.3 P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com Read his Seahawks blog at blog.seattlepi.com/Football.