Something smells in Seattle.

No it's not Teen Spirit.

And it's not the rotting salmon guts in the trash cans at Pike Place Market.

It's the Seahawks, who, after a 38-15 loss to Tampa Bay, have a record of 6-9. That in itself is not terrible. But what really stinks - and I mean reeks to high heaven - is that this football team can still make the playoffs (and in fact host a game!) with a win on Monday, Australian time.

The Seahawks play the St. Louis Rams, who are 7-8, on Monday in Seattle. The winner is the champion - and I use that term very loosely - of the NFC West.

Because of the way the NFL's playoff system is set up, the Rams or Seahawks will then get to play a home game in the first round of the playoffs. There is a very real chance that 7-9 Seattle could have home field advantage over a 12-4 or 11-5 New Orleans Saints team.

This mess has all come about because of the NFL's almost socialistic approach to the concept of parity.

Accelerated by a salary cap and free agency, parity, at least on paper, makes sense. It theoretically prevents big money teams from dominating, keeps standings tight and takes the races for playoff spots down to the final weeks of the season.

On the other hand - and this is the ugly reality - it can lead to rampant mediocrity like we're seeing in the NFC West. This four-team division is easily the worst in football, and last week, even the 5-10 San Francisco 49ers were still in playoff contention.

I should point out that only in St. Louis has this mediocrity been embraced. The Rams are a young, improving team, led by this season's #1 draft pick, rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. A playoff berth - nearly unthinkable at the start of the season - would be a huge step for a franchise on the way up.

In Seattle - and especially in San Francisco - the season has been at best confusing, at worst disastrous.

49ers' fans didn't want their team to make the playoffs, fearing it would mean head coach Mike Singletary would be retained instead of sacked, as he was after the loss to the Rams.

Seahawks' fans aren't sure what to think. Sure they'd like their beloved Hawks in the playoffs, but they know the system is skewed and will most likely result in a first round drubbing.

But there's no mistaking what the emotions will be in Green Bay, New York or Tampa: anger. That's because two of their teams - the Packers, Giants or Bucs - will miss the playoffs, yet have a better record than the Seahawks or Rams.

The NFL gets most things right. This one is wrong, and they'll have to change it next year to ensure that the better team gets the home field advantage.