THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Sunday’s showing by rookie Thomas Rawls could signal the end of an era for the Seattle Seahawks, or at least, as we’ve gotten to know them in the last six years.

With an abdominal injury to Marshawn Lynch sidelining him for the game against the San Francisco 49ers, possibly longer, fans might have seen the final game of “Beast Mode” in a Seahawks jersey.

IT IS hard to argue that Rawls hasn’t fared well in his time in the starting lineup. In his first career start at Cincinnati, Rawls ran for 169 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown run. In his only other start leading into Sunday’s game, Rawls carried the ball 16 times for 104 yards in a win over the Chicago Bears on Sept. 27, the team’s first win of the season.

Lynch’s season high of 122 yards came during the team’s 20-3 win against San Francisco in Santa Clara on Oct. 22.

On Sunday, Rawls ran for 209 yards and a touchdown, and caught a 31-yard touchdown pass as the Seahawks beat the 49ers 29-13 in Seattle.

Lynch is 29, the age when most NFL running backs begin to decline in a production, due to the heavy beating they put their bodies through each and every Sunday.

And there’s not many in the NFL that have taken as big of a beating as Lynch.

But unlike in the past — a stomach ache in Arizona or back injuries — he hasn’t been able to play through them like in previous seasons.

Rawls, 22, isn’t Lynch. He’s not even close, but he’s producing at a time when the team needs him the most.

Lynch was scheduled to meet with a specialist in Philadelphia on Tuesday, and if needed, was going to have surgery that might end any chances of him playing in the regular season.

And if Lynch isn’t able to play this week, next or the rest of the regular season, it could be the best thing for the team moving forward.

When next season rolls around, Lynch is due to make 11.5 million, while Rawls will pocket $530,000 in 2016.

Not that the writing is on the wall, but it’s getting close.

Seahawks owner Paul Allen only needs to remember Shaun Alexander and his production after re-signing with the team after a Super Bowl run. After an MVP season in 2005 and signing a eight-year, $62 million deal, he was never the same running back and was released in 2008.

As a fan, I can’t help but think the end is near for Lynch in Seattle, whether he plays another down or not.

IN COACHING, especially at the Division I level in college football, it seems as though some schools operate by a what have you done for me lately attitude.

For Rob Ash, who went 70-38 at Montana State, he’s looking for another job after going 5-6 this season.

I happen to know of a few fan bases that might celebrate a 5-6 season, yet his final game was Saturday’s 54-35 loss to Montana in Bozeman.

LSU wants to fire Les Miles, and he’s won that school a national title. But with three straight losses, boosters with deep pockets and no real chance at a playoff berth, rumors have Miles out of work by the end of the week.

Then again, I was also the one thinking that it might be in the best interest of Washington State to fire Mike Leach at the end of the season after losing to Portland State. Portland State is a FCS playoff team, and Washington State — well — they’re not who I thought they were at the start of the season.

And for at least this area, it’s been a great thing.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.