***Official SEAHAWKS Playoff Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[DoctorDetroit]

It's been a long time for us Seahawk fans so I won't be here talking too much smack. This was the best season in franchise history and the team and its fans look forward to being in the limelight for a change. GO.............................SEAHAWKS.........................GO....................SEAHAWKS................GO..............................SEAHAWKS...............................Updated for 2007 run.....

 

[Gopher State]

Looking forward to the Hawks giving it to the skins

 

[buster c]

bring it on

 

[DoctorDetroit]

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:1983:In the Wild Card game the Seahawks would use a balanced offensive attack led by Dave Krieg to beat the Broncos 31-7 at the Kingdome. A week later the Seahawks drive 66 yards in 5 plays late in the 4th quarter to capture divisional playoff win over the Dolphins 27-20 in Miami. They lost the next week in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Raiders.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

1983:

In the Wild Card game the Seahawks would use a balanced offensive attack led by Dave Krieg to beat the Broncos 31-7 at the Kingdome. A week later the Seahawks drive 66 yards in 5 plays late in the 4th quarter to capture divisional playoff win over the Dolphins 27-20 in Miami. They lost the next week in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Raiders.

I was at that Bronco game----the Kingdome was the loudest that I've ever heard it.

 

[redman]

There's nothing about Seattle that terrifies me as a 'Skins fan. They're solid, but they don't have a particular aspect to them that I think can outright dominate us like, for example, the Bucs' defense. The way the 'Skins defense is playing right now, they will have a chance in any game they play, anywhere. That said, if the 'Skins offense fails to show up again they have no right to expect to win on the road against a team that has a RB that can pound the ball and run the clock with a lead.

 

[Hamstring]

The Seattle O line is amazing.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

In 1984 the Seahawks had their best year in franchise history (prior to 2005) by finishing 12-4. This was despite losing RB Curt Warner in the first game of the year vs the Browns to an ACL. Dan Doornick filled in and Dave Krieg had the best year of his career leading the Seahawks to a fine year. Unfortunetely the Hawks finished second in the AFC West to a 13-3 Denver due to a week 16 loss to the Broncos at Seatlle and only managed a wildcard.

In the wildcard game the Hawks owned the Raiders 13-7 and then headed to Miami where a young Dan Marino dominated the Hawks 31-10.

They have not won a playoff game since.

 

[jwvdcw]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now. This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

 

[Iron_Far]

It pains me to say this, but Josh Brown is NOT a "big game" kicker and will lose the game for us

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Since that last playoff win here is a list of the Seahawks playoff loses:

1987: 23-20 wildcard loss in overtime at Houston

1988: 21-13 loss in divisional game vs Super Bowl bound Cincy

1999: 20-17 loss in Wildcard game to Miami in the last game ever at the Kingdome. This loss made me physically sick.

2003: 33-27ot loss in wildcard at Green Bay. It was the famous/infamous Matt Hasselbeck "we''ll take the ball, we're gonna score" comment during the coinflip.

2004: 27-20 loss to the Rams in Seattle. Seahwaks could have tied it but Bobby Engram flat out dropped a pass that should have been thrown to Jerry Rice.

That is the life of a Seahawks fan. I've been a fan since I was 6 and they were 2. I'm not from Seattle and just being a fan has always made me "special/special-ed" because no one could ever understand why I would pick, then stick with them. Well I guess it was for this. I've never been so fired up for a game as I am for next weeks game vs the Redskins. Go Hawks!

 

[seahawk 17]

It pains me to say this, but Josh Brown is NOT a "big game" kicker and will lose the game for us   

Really he has won at leats three games this year.Washington had better find some offense before next weekend.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now.  This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

 

[mad sweeney]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now. This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

The 'Hawks were pretty owned on 3rd down for the whole game. It wouldn't have come down to a bonked FG if the Skins didn't convert so often. Something like 14 or 15 3rd down conversions. I wouldn't say we outplayed them. BUT since then we've gotten MUCH better, our O and Tampa's O aren't in the same class. Our D isn't as fast as TBs, but they sure aren't slouches. I think Phillip Daniels will think he's back on the Seahawks and forget how to get to the QB. And we've got about 8 mllion times more rest the last 4 weeks than the Skins and by the way they were dropping out there that will be a huge difference. Skins are playing blessed ball but they are sorely outmatched and need a miracle to win.Seahawks 24-10.

 

[Iron_Far]

It pains me to say this, but Josh Brown is NOT a "big game" kicker and will lose the game for us

Really he has won at leats three games this year.Washington had better find some offense before next weekend.

Missed FGs in FedEx and those missed FGs against the Giants before finally making one.

 

[mad sweeney]

It pains me to say this, but Josh Brown is NOT a "big game" kicker and will lose the game for us

Really he has won at leats three games this year.Washington had better find some offense before next weekend.

You're thinking of Ryan Lindell. He's been money for us, with several 50+ers (2 game winners I think) on all kicks but 1. I've got more faith in him than any other kicker we've had that I can remember.

 

[mad sweeney]

It pains me to say this, but Josh Brown is NOT a "big game" kicker and will lose the game for us

Really he has won at leats three games this year.Washington had better find some offense before next weekend.

Missed FGs in FedEx and those missed FGs against the Giants before finally making one.

What missed FGs in the Giants game? I don't remember them and the gamelog on NFL.com shows him 1 for 1 on FGs. Did he try a 58 yarder or something?

 

[jwvdcw]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now.  This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

They completely outplayed them? Go take a look at the stats and please tell me how you can possibly say that.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now.  This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

They completely outplayed them? Go take a look at the stats and please tell me how you can possibly say that.

I overstated. It was 14-3 Redskins. From that point on the Seahawks were the better team and lost on a missed FG. That is more accurate. Take a look at the 2nd half stats or drive chart. It doesn't matter anyway. That was week 4 and it was at Washington. Seahawks no matter how little they scare Redskins fans, are a much better team at home. Much, much better.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

While I'm somewhat confident in the 'hawks when I look at the two teams, there's a couple of things that are causing me a lot of concern.

1. Our recent history against Washington. Go ahead, look four or five years back. It's ugly.

2. The memory of the playoff losses that were oh so close in the last two years.

3. They're the Seahawks.

The thing that I feel the best about is home field. I wish we were still in the kingdome - they didn't call it the thunder dome for nothing, and dammit, the kingdome was just cool.

Edit: Josh Brown isn't anywhere close to this list.

We gotta look at the positives. I personally think Washington is the best matchup. I certainly didn't want to see Carolina next week. They have a better defense than Washington and their offense although streaky, scares me much more. Seattle has allowed one 100 yard rusher all year. If they can shut down Portis, I like their chances. That, by itself...is a change for the Seahawks.

 

[mad sweeney]

While I'm somewhat confident in the 'hawks when I look at the two teams, there's a couple of things that are causing me a lot of concern.

1. Our recent history against Washington. Go ahead, look four or five years back. It's ugly.

2. The memory of the playoff losses that were oh so close in the last two years.

3. They're the Seahawks.

The thing that I feel the best about is home field. I wish we were still in the kingdome - they didn't call it the thunder dome for nothing, and dammit, the kingdome was just cool.

Edit: Josh Brown isn't anywhere close to this list.

1 This is a different team. We played them to a bonked FG in THEIR home. Also look at our recent past (3 years) at home.B. Fuel for the fire. This team is about winning. Taste of defeat will make the vets dig deep.

and 4. That's right, they're the Seahawks. NFC's best team. They're the best Seahawks in our 30 year history.

I too am confident. Not over confident, but not worried whatsoever.

edit: Before the game, the Skins were the team I least wanted to face. But after watching them play today, my worries floated away. They're a good team and no pushover, but we should come out on top in this one.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

BUCS fans are welcome in this thread!

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

BUCS fans are welcome in this thread!

LOL. I don't think I'll be cheering for the Redskins any time soon.Good luck next week. Both our team joined the league at the same time and I remember all through the 80's being jealous because the Seahawks were clearly the better expansion team. After our success with Dungy, and then the SB win with Gruden, I've stopped rooting against Seattle as a sort of sister city and I'm now hoping they have success and give their long suffering fans a record season.

Good luck.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

BUCS fans are welcome in this thread!

LOL. I don't think I'll be cheering for the Redskins any time soon.Good luck next week. Both our team joined the league at the same time and I remember all through the 80's being jealous because the Seahawks were clearly the better expansion team. After our success with Dungy, and then the SB win with Gruden, I've stopped rooting against Seattle as a sort of sister city and I'm now hoping they have success and give their long suffering fans a record season.

Good luck.

Thanks. It's not easy being a fan of a team with so little success but we need to make it our year. I always liked the Bucs because they were bad and when they won the Super Bowl, I too was jealous because we came in at the same time. I wanted Washington in the 2nd round so I hope I was right. Us Seahawk fans don't talk a lot of crap due to history but I hope to mix it up with Skins fans this week.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

REDSKINS @ SEAHAWKS is the 4:30 game on SATURDAY JANUARY 14th.

 

[seahawk 17]

Seahawks already 8.5 favorites.

 

[2133]

Even though I'm having knee ligament reconstruction surgery on Monday (my 34th birthday as well ) I'll be at the bar cheering for the 'Hawks...

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Even though I'm having knee ligament reconstruction surgery on Monday (my 34th birthday as well ) I'll be at the bar cheering for the 'Hawks...

Hopefully it's not an ACL. It's not the ideal birthday present but a Seahawks win would do. 8.5 seems about right for a spread but I don't bet my team anyway. Although sometimes it's tempting.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Seahawks Offense vs Redskins Defense

This is the key matchup to most people.

Seattle was #1 in scoring while the Skins were 9th in scoring defense.

Seattle 2nd in total offense while the Skins were 9th.

Seattle had the third best rushing attack in the league while the Skins were 13th against the run.

Seattle was 13th best passing the ball while the Skins were 10th best in defensing the pass.

I think it comes down to running Alexander enough to wear the Skins down and to open up the playaction pass. If Hasselbeck is on it's hard to see Washington stopping them just by looking at what they've done all year against whomever they've played. Washington allowed 15 rushing TDs and 15 passing but throwing the ball on them, especially downfield is not easy with Williams' great sets. Obviously the Skins are going to need turnovers and this game will likely come down to those. If the Seahawks do not turn the ball over they will be nearly impossible to beat. The Skins were only +1 in the regular season with turnover ratio and Seattle turned it over just 17 times.

 

[jwvdcw]

Seahawks Offense vs Redskins Defense

This is the key matchup to most people.

Seattle was #1 in scoring while the Skins were 9th in scoring defense.

Seattle 2nd in total offense while the Skins were 9th.

Seattle had the third best rushing attack in the league while the Skins were 13th against the run.

Seattle was 13th best passing the ball while the Skins were 10th best in defensing the pass. 

I think it comes down to running Alexander enough to wear the Skins down and to open up the playaction pass.  If Hasselbeck is on it's hard to see Washington stopping them just by looking at what they've done all year against whomever they've played.  Washington allowed 15 rushing TDs and 15 passing but throwing the ball on them, especially downfield is not easy with Williams' great sets.  Obviously the Skins are going to need turnovers and this game will likely come down to those.  If the Seahawks do not turn the ball over they will be nearly impossible to beat.  The Skins were only +1 in the regular season with turnover ratio and Seattle turned it over just 17 times.

Seattle has definitely been better than the Skins over the entire season. However, if you look at where the Skins rank over the past 6 games, then you'll see that this Skins team is much different than the team they were earlier in the year.Washington's defense the past few weeks:

Went to St Louis and held them to 7 points.

Went to ARizona and held them to 13 points. Their D/ST scored 7 points as well.

Shut out Dallas during all meaningful time, and let one TD in garbage time.

Allowed 13 points to the Giants, 7 of which came off a completely fluke tipped pass with a few seconds left in the first half.

Allowed 20 points at Philly, but their defense scored 7 points also

Allowed 10 points at TB, but their defense was responsible for 14 points.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Seahawks Offense vs Redskins Defense

This is the key matchup to most people.

Seattle was #1 in scoring while the Skins were 9th in scoring defense.

Seattle 2nd in total offense while the Skins were 9th.

Seattle had the third best rushing attack in the league while the Skins were 13th against the run.

Seattle was 13th best passing the ball while the Skins were 10th best in defensing the pass. 

I think it comes down to running Alexander enough to wear the Skins down and to open up the playaction pass.  If Hasselbeck is on it's hard to see Washington stopping them just by looking at what they've done all year against whomever they've played.  Washington allowed 15 rushing TDs and 15 passing but throwing the ball on them, especially downfield is not easy with Williams' great sets.  Obviously the Skins are going to need turnovers and this game will likely come down to those.  If the Seahawks do not turn the ball over they will be nearly impossible to beat.  The Skins were only +1 in the regular season with turnover ratio and Seattle turned it over just 17 times.

Seattle has definitely been better than the Skins over the entire season. However, if you look at where the Skins rank over the past 6 games, then you'll see that this Skins team is much different than the team they were earlier in the year.Washington's defense the past few weeks:

Went to St Louis and held them to 7 points.

Went to ARizona and held them to 13 points. Their D/ST scored 7 points as well.

Shut out Dallas during all meaningful time, and let one TD in garbage time.

Allowed 13 points to the Giants, 7 of which came off a completely fluke tipped pass with a few seconds left in the first half.

Allowed 20 points at Philly, but their defense scored 7 points also

Allowed 10 points at TB, but their defense was responsible for 14 points.

The way the Giants look today I think we can eliminate them from being considered any kind of offensive juggernaut at the end of the season. The Dallas win was very impressive without a doubt but the others, including letting Philadelphia and Mike McMahon get anything, doesn't impress me.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

I'm definitely weary of Seattle, but when you look at the schedule, you can't be too impressed:

Sun 9/11 at Jacksonville L 14-26

Sun 9/18 Atlanta W 21-18

Sun 9/25 Arizona W 37-12

Sun 10/2 at Washington L 17-20

Sun 10/9 at St. Louis W 37-31

Sun 10/16 Houston W 42-10

Sun 10/23 Dallas W 13-10

bye

Sun 11/6 at Arizona W 33-19

Sun 11/13 St. Louis W 31-16

Sun 11/20 at San Francisco W 27-25

Sun 11/27 NY Giants W 24-21

Mon 12/5 at Philadelphia W 42-0

Sun 12/11 San Francisco W 41-3

Sun 12/18 at Tennessee W 28-24

Sat 12/24 Indianapolis W 28-13

Sun 1/1 at Green Bay L 17-23

They played 4 playoff teams and went 2-2, but one of those was when Indy was resting their starters so it really was 1-2. Contrast that with the Redskins who have played 7 playoff teams and went 4-3.

I guess this takes the playoff win as the 4th win. Two wins came in the first three games and if we are talking schedule, let's look at home losses to the RAIDERS and Chargers then a 36-0 loss to the Giants. I hear schedule this and schedule that but the Redskins beat the Rams, Cardinals, and 49ers also and beating the Eagles twice after the Eagles had "packed it in." I will give them for road losses at Denver and @ KC which were games they played extremely well. Also the second win vs the Cowboys which was overwhelming. But this results table doesn't scare anyone, not even the Oakland Raiders. Sept. 11 vs. Bears 1:00pm ET FOX / 707 W 9 - 7

Sept. 19 @ Cowboys 9:00pm ET ABC W 14 - 13

Oct. 2 vs. Seahawks 1:00pm ET FOX / 707 W 20 - 17

Oct. 9 @ Broncos 4:15pm ET FOX / 714 L 19 - 21

Oct. 16 @ Chiefs 1:00pm ET FOX / 712 L 21 - 28

Oct. 23 vs. 49ers 1:00pm ET FOX / 712 W 52 - 17

Oct. 30 @ Giants 1:00pm ET FOX / 708 L 0 - 36

Nov. 6 vs. Eagles 8:30pm ET ESPN W 17 - 10

Nov. 13 @ Buccaneers 4:15pm ET FOX / 707 L 35 - 36

Nov. 20 vs. Raiders 1:00pm ET CBS / 707 L 13 - 16

Nov. 27 vs. Chargers 1:00pm ET CBS / 711 L 17 - 23

Dec. 4 @ Rams 4:05pm ET FOX / 716 W 24 - 9

Dec. 11 @ Cardinals 4:05pm ET FOX / 715 W 17 - 13

Dec. 18 vs. Cowboys 4:15pm ET FOX / 708 W 35 - 7

Dec. 24 vs. Giants 1:00pm ET FOX / 713 W 35 - 20

Jan. 1 @ Eagles 4:15pm ET FOX / 714 W 31 - 20

 

[mad sweeney]

I'm definitely weary of Seattle, but when you look at the schedule, you can't be too impressed:

Sun 9/11 at Jacksonville L 14-26

Sun 9/18 Atlanta W 21-18

Sun 9/25 Arizona W 37-12

Sun 10/2 at Washington L 17-20

Sun 10/9 at St. Louis W 37-31

Sun 10/16 Houston W 42-10

Sun 10/23 Dallas W 13-10

bye

Sun 11/6 at Arizona W 33-19

Sun 11/13 St. Louis W 31-16

Sun 11/20 at San Francisco W 27-25

Sun 11/27 NY Giants W 24-21

Mon 12/5 at Philadelphia W 42-0

Sun 12/11 San Francisco W 41-3

Sun 12/18 at Tennessee W 28-24

Sat 12/24 Indianapolis W 28-13

Sun 1/1 at Green Bay L 17-23

They played 4 playoff teams and went 2-2, but one of those was when Indy was resting their starters so it really was 1-2. Contrast that with the Redskins who have played 7 playoff teams and went 4-3.

I guess this takes the playoff win as the 4th win. Two wins came in the first three games and if we are talking schedule, let's look at home losses to the RAIDERS and Chargers then a 36-0 loss to the Giants. I hear schedule this and schedule that but the Redskins beat the Rams, Cardinals, and 49ers also and beating the Eagles twice after the Eagles had "packed it in." I will give them for road losses at Denver and @ KC which were games they played extremely well. Also the second win vs the Cowboys which was overwhelming. But this results table doesn't scare anyone, not even the Oakland Raiders. Sept. 11 vs. Bears 1:00pm ET FOX / 707 W 9 - 7

Sept. 19 @ Cowboys 9:00pm ET ABC W 14 - 13

Oct. 2 vs. Seahawks 1:00pm ET FOX / 707 W 20 - 17

Oct. 9 @ Broncos 4:15pm ET FOX / 714 L 19 - 21

Oct. 16 @ Chiefs 1:00pm ET FOX / 712 L 21 - 28

Oct. 23 vs. 49ers 1:00pm ET FOX / 712 W 52 - 17

Oct. 30 @ Giants 1:00pm ET FOX / 708 L 0 - 36

Nov. 6 vs. Eagles 8:30pm ET ESPN W 17 - 10

Nov. 13 @ Buccaneers 4:15pm ET FOX / 707 L 35 - 36

Nov. 20 vs. Raiders 1:00pm ET CBS / 707 L 13 - 16

Nov. 27 vs. Chargers 1:00pm ET CBS / 711 L 17 - 23

Dec. 4 @ Rams 4:05pm ET FOX / 716 W 24 - 9

Dec. 11 @ Cardinals 4:05pm ET FOX / 715 W 17 - 13

Dec. 18 vs. Cowboys 4:15pm ET FOX / 708 W 35 - 7

Dec. 24 vs. Giants 1:00pm ET FOX / 713 W 35 - 20

Jan. 1 @ Eagles 4:15pm ET FOX / 714 W 31 - 20

 

[DoctorDetroit]

This was posted by Knowledge Reigns Supreme discussing an alternative to the NFL formula to determine strength of schedule. Enjoy...

Here is the Thread: http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=219831

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted this a couple days late (since I wanted to get it in before the playoffs), but here's the results:

1: Indianapolis 12.73998309

2: Seattle 12.33158778

3: Denver 11.72657562

4: Carolina 11.62150062

5: Pittsburgh 11.61200227

6: New York (N) 10.69313026

7: Jacksonville 10.68097484

8: San Diego 10.66675555

9: Chicago 10.32398683

10: Kansas City 9.996202598

11: Washington 9.889491453

12: Cincinnati 9.723496483

13: New England 9.078746561

14: Tampa Bay 8.856090406

15: Dallas 8.508626784

16: Atlanta 8.273890579

17: Miami 8.029848218

18: Minnesota 6.89735056

19: Baltimore 6.863355775

20: Green Bay 6.65213073

21: St. Louis 6.436684877

22: Arizona 5.972487011

23: Philadelphia 5.921132865

24: Cleveland 5.607082773

25: Oakland 5.454605372

26: Buffalo 5.242901996

27: Detroit 5.218110878

28: Tennessee 4.922812775

29: New York (A) 4.533918104

30: Houston 3.709608781

31: New Orleans 3.566828298

32: San Francisco 3.213809086

Of the top 12 teams, 7 AFC/5 NFC. Last year it was much more lopsided for the AFC (6 of the top 7 were AFC).

Biggest overachievers:

Tampa Bay +2.14 games (8.85 expected wins, 11 actual wins)

Minnesota +2.10 games (6.89 expected wins, 9 actual wins)

Biggest underachievers:

Green Bay -2.65 games (6.65 expected wins, 4 actual wins)

PWT says teams that over/underachieve should return to their expected range the following year.

Let's check how PWT did for 2005:

Biggest overachievers:

#1) Pittsburgh 11.48 expected wins, 15 actual 3.518 difference

#2) Atlanta 8.083 expected wins, 11 actual 2.916 difference

#3) St. Louis 6.084 expected wins, 8 actual 1.915 difference

PWT was money as all three teams hit their expected win total in year N+1

And just for jwvdcw who swore last year that Atlanta didn't overachieve last year, but was just good at winning close games... well here's some proof that they just got lucky (I mentioned the reasons why in another thread which boiled down to INT returns for TDs and an abnormal fumble recovery rate).

Biggest underachievers:

#1) Tampa Bay 9.233 expected wins, 7 actual -2.233 difference

#2) Kansas City 8.987 expected wins, 7 actual -1.987 difference

#3) Buffalo 10.977 expected wins, 9 actual -1.977 difference

Money on KC, pretty good on Tampa (who underperformed for two consecutive years and have now overperformed this year) and completely missed the boat on Buffalo.

 

[Mr. Jinx]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now.  This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

Not sure what game you were watching, but the box score doesn't support your claim. The Hawks outgained the Skins by a "whopping" 2 yds in week 4 (354 to 352)...

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now.  This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

Not sure what game you were watching, but the box score doesn't support your claim. The Hawks outgained the Skins by a "whopping" 2 yds in week 4 (354 to 352)...

I reposted to mention that I overstated things there. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...dpost&p=4139219 But they did outplay them in the second half and should have won. Shoulda, woulda, didn't.

 

[seahawk 17]

Just as a reminder, here were some comments before their first meeting:

What happened last time Seattle played @ Washington?

I don't think it has happened recently enough to have any relevance. I'll check though.

I'll tell you, 2003 Seattle driving Hasselbeck throws a rocket that hit's D-Jax in the chest...of course it bounces off, is intercepted. Defense chokes, and Washington wins by 7.Those days are over, Seattle is improved...Washington is an illusion.

Seattle wins this 24-10 and where is my sig bet

And then after the game:

jwvdcw, I like most of your posts but let me tell you that you, and every other Skins fan will be brought down back to earth this weekend.

Seattle will beat them by at least 10 points, and Jackson is going to go wild on that has-been ex hawk Springs.

Seattle offense and defense ranked in the top ten right now.  This will expose the Skins for the team that they really are.

My team let me down again...no, check that Josh Brown let me down. :X

So what? The Seahawks lost on a missed FG and they completely ouplayed Washington at FEDEX. Post that crap on your thread.

Not sure what game you were watching, but the box score doesn't support your claim. The Hawks outgained the Skins by a "whopping" 2 yds in week 4 (354 to 352)...

I reposted to mention that I overstated things there. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...dpost&p=4139219 But they did outplay them in the second half and should have won. Shoulda, woulda, didn't.

Who cares what happened in this game on both sides? That game was played week 4.Both teams should care about what has happened lately. Redskins are on a hot streak, and the Seahawks offense and defense has improved since week 4.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

The Seahawks are probably the franchise people know the least about so I'm trying to educate people while the iron is hot.

BEST AND WORST TRADES IN SEAHAWKS HISTORY:

The worst is very easy. In 1977 the Seahawks traded their top pick in the draft to the Dallas Cowboys for 3 2nd round picks. The Cowboys used the pick to select RB Tony Dorsett and the rest is history. Considering the Seahawks were formidable in the early to mid eighties Dorsett if in fact they would have picked him, could have been the difference between getting over the hump known as the Broncos, Raiders, and Dolphins.

The best trade is also easy; it was the payback to the Cowboys for the 1977 Dorsett trade. That of course is the 2000 trade of Joey Galloway to the Dallas Cowboys for two first rounders in the 2000 and 2001 drafts. In 2000 the Seahawks took one Shaun Alexander from the University of Alabama. In 2001 the Dallas pick was swapped several times and the Hawks took Koren Robinson with the 9th pick but that allowed them to also pick up ProBowl Guard Steve Hutchinson from the University of Michigan at #17. Although Galloway had a return to glory in the 2005 campaign, Alexander and Hutchinson are two of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions. This trade worked out pretty well for Seattle. Hopefully a playoff win or three would make it seem even better!

 

[ericttspikes]

Any Darrell Jackson news? Full speed? Ready to go?

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Any Darrell Jackson news? Full speed? Ready to go?

Seahawks Insider says he is feeling better than he did in preseason so that's gotta be good. He's a big part of an offense that to me, is nearly impossible to stop if they are clicking. Gonna need it vs a pretty good Redskins D.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

I'm getting no help from my Seahawk brothers here so I have to resort to stealing stuff from the Hail to the Redskins thread to bump this.

At least I refuse to bump with just the word "bump." Good info here...

X-factor: For a second consecutive week, Washington's regular cycle will be disrupted, since the Redskins play a second straight Saturday contest. Plus, the Redskins will have to make a long flight to the Pacific Northwest, never an easy trip. Seattle won all eight games this season at Qwest Field, and the Seahawks are now 24-10 at home since the stadium opened in 2002. The home field, from a scoring standpoint, has been worth about a touchdown more per game for the Seahawks. Seattle lost its only playoff game at Qwest Field (last year to the Rams).

• X-and-O factor: The play of each team's defensive tackles figures to be a key to the outcome of the game. Not many people watch the interior line play in any game, let alone a postseason contest, but keep an eye on the trench battles in this game. The Washington tandem of Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salave'a played with great intensity in the Redskins' wild-card victory at Tampa Bay, and will face a terrific Seattle interior trio of center Robbie Tobeck and guards Steve Hutchinson and Chris Gray. The Seattle tackles are a bit more active, but Rocky Bernard, the best penetrator of the bunch, has now gone six games without a sack.

• Rx factor (health): Washington -- Lost starting left defensive end Renaldo Wynn to a broken right forearm on Saturday and his steadiness as an excellent two-way player will be missed. Cornerback Shawn Springs missed the wild-card game with a hamstring strain and might still be gimpy. The Redskins, of course, will be without right guard Randy Thomas, who suffered a broken leg last month.

Seattle -- A pair of cornerbacks, Marcus Trufant (back) and Andre Dyson (ankle), have been slowed by nagging injuries. And linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee) is also less than 100 percent.

• Numbers cruncher: Matt Hasselbeck's completion rate for December, 76.1 percent, was the highest in league history for the month. In his last four games, Hasselbeck threw only 16 incompletions and had nine touchdown passes. In that stretch, his passer rating was 104.2 or better every week, and three times he had a rating of 127.0 or better. The seven-year veteran, who operates what is arguably the purest version of the "West Coast" style offense in the NFL, has been uncannily accurate down the stretch and unflappable. The Redskins are going to have to come up with something to disrupt his rhythm.

• The Redskins will win if: They gain more than the 120 yards on offense they managed last week. OK, seriously, Washington needs to control the clock with Clinton Portis, keep Mark Brunell's attempts at about 20, and avoid third-and-long situations, where their veteran quarterback tends to get happy feet and his lack of arm strength is more obvious. A few takeaways wouldn't hurt, either.

• The Seahawks will win if: They continue to move the ball offensively with the kind of peak efficiency they have demonstrated much of the season. Seattle is a unique offense, one that leads the NFL in scoring drives of 80 yards or more and is also near the top of the statistics in so-called "explosive" plays. Oh, yeah, the Seattle defense definitely must limit the big plays by Washington wide receiver Santana Moss, the Redskins' one notable home-run hitter on offense. Moss had six catches for 87 yards in the regular-season game.

-- Len Pasquarelli

 

[valhallan]

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

 

[Kilgore Trout]

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

1983:

In the Wild Card game the Seahawks would use a balanced offensive attack led by Dave Krieg to beat the Broncos 31-7 at the Kingdome. A week later the Seahawks drive 66 yards in 5 plays late in the 4th quarter to capture divisional playoff win over the Dolphins 27-20 in Miami. They lost the next week in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Raiders.

I was at that Bronco game----the Kingdome was the loudest that I've ever heard it.

Good ol' Ground Chuck. Seattle was my favorite team growing up. I also have a relative on the SeaGals, so the connections are still there. My adult life has been spent in North Carolina, so while I am now a Panthers fan, I will always root for the Seahawks otherwise. They deserve a playoff win. A Carolina-Seattle NFC Championship would make me very happy.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

I'm not following the face. Can you expound?EDIT TO NOTE:

Ah, I see. Yes I changed my handle after 2.4 years with the same name.

 

[redman]

Seahawks Offense vs Redskins Defense

This is the key matchup to most people.

Seattle was #1 in scoring while the Skins were 9th in scoring defense.

Seattle 2nd in total offense while the Skins were 9th.

Seattle had the third best rushing attack in the league while the Skins were 13th against the run.

Seattle was 13th best passing the ball while the Skins were 10th best in defensing the pass.

I think it comes down to running Alexander enough to wear the Skins down and to open up the playaction pass. If Hasselbeck is on it's hard to see Washington stopping them just by looking at what they've done all year against whomever they've played. Washington allowed 15 rushing TDs and 15 passing but throwing the ball on them, especially downfield is not easy with Williams' great sets. Obviously the Skins are going to need turnovers and this game will likely come down to those. If the Seahawks do not turn the ball over they will be nearly impossible to beat. The Skins were only +1 in the regular season with turnover ratio and Seattle turned it over just 17 times.

Everything you've written here is spot-on. There are some details you should add though to complete the picture. The 'Skins +1 net turnover ratio for the season is a bit deceptive. For the first 8-10 weeks of the season, they were among the league leaders in fumbles caused, but recovered only a fraction of them. They literally were just not getting the bounces. That trend has flipped during their win streak.

Also, turnovers notwithstanding, they are if anything better than their defensive stats and rankings. First of all, they're just plain flat playing inspired football, and defense is all about attitude which they have right now. Second, and just as important, they're healthy on defense. Yes, they lost Wynn, but he's one of the most replaceable guys on defense that they have. Springs looks like he's back. There were games this year, especially in the early and middle part of this year, where they were playing with one healthy DT for example, and that was Salave'a who was playing with an extremely sore foot. That's not a problem right now.

I think the plan will be very simple - contain Alexander and force Seattle to throw the ball to beat them. This will allow the 'Skins very good secondary to come into play, and allow the blitzes to take effect against a pocket passer. Also, the 'Skins are among the best in the league at tipping passes at the line of scrimmage, which often result in INT's (there have been 3 or 4 such INT's the last 3 weeks, including 2 @ Tampa).

If Alexander runs wild, this will be a long game.

 

[seahawk 17]

I'm getting no help from my Seahawk brothers here so I have to resort to stealing stuff from the Hail to the Redskins thread to bump this.

At least I refuse to bump with just the word "bump." Good info here...

X-factor: For a second consecutive week, Washington's regular cycle will be disrupted, since the Redskins play a second straight Saturday contest. Plus, the Redskins will have to make a long flight to the Pacific Northwest, never an easy trip. Seattle won all eight games this season at Qwest Field, and the Seahawks are now 24-10 at home since the stadium opened in 2002. The home field, from a scoring standpoint, has been worth about a touchdown more per game for the Seahawks. Seattle lost its only playoff game at Qwest Field (last year to the Rams).

• X-and-O factor: The play of each team's defensive tackles figures to be a key to the outcome of the game. Not many people watch the interior line play in any game, let alone a postseason contest, but keep an eye on the trench battles in this game. The Washington tandem of Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salave'a played with great intensity in the Redskins' wild-card victory at Tampa Bay, and will face a terrific Seattle interior trio of center Robbie Tobeck and guards Steve Hutchinson and Chris Gray. The Seattle tackles are a bit more active, but Rocky Bernard, the best penetrator of the bunch, has now gone six games without a sack.

• Rx factor (health): Washington -- Lost starting left defensive end Renaldo Wynn to a broken right forearm on Saturday and his steadiness as an excellent two-way player will be missed. Cornerback Shawn Springs missed the wild-card game with a hamstring strain and might still be gimpy. The Redskins, of course, will be without right guard Randy Thomas, who suffered a broken leg last month.

Seattle -- A pair of cornerbacks, Marcus Trufant (back) and Andre Dyson (ankle), have been slowed by nagging injuries. And linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee) is also less than 100 percent.

• Numbers cruncher: Matt Hasselbeck's completion rate for December, 76.1 percent, was the highest in league history for the month. In his last four games, Hasselbeck threw only 16 incompletions and had nine touchdown passes. In that stretch, his passer rating was 104.2 or better every week, and three times he had a rating of 127.0 or better. The seven-year veteran, who operates what is arguably the purest version of the "West Coast" style offense in the NFL, has been uncannily accurate down the stretch and unflappable. The Redskins are going to have to come up with something to disrupt his rhythm.

• The Redskins will win if: They gain more than the 120 yards on offense they managed last week. OK, seriously, Washington needs to control the clock with Clinton Portis, keep Mark Brunell's attempts at about 20, and avoid third-and-long situations, where their veteran quarterback tends to get happy feet and his lack of arm strength is more obvious. A few takeaways wouldn't hurt, either.

• The Seahawks will win if: They continue to move the ball offensively with the kind of peak efficiency they have demonstrated much of the season. Seattle is a unique offense, one that leads the NFL in scoring drives of 80 yards or more and is also near the top of the statistics in so-called "explosive" plays. Oh, yeah, the Seattle defense definitely must limit the big plays by Washington wide receiver Santana Moss, the Redskins' one notable home-run hitter on offense. Moss had six catches for 87 yards in the regular-season game.

-- Len Pasquarelli

I was going to get this on the first page this morning, I work nights...I am tired of the Redskin talk(and it's only Tuesday) Why are we talking about the 6th seed?

SA is going to run wild to prove to the nation that he was deserving of the MVP. I think they will throw to Stevens early (Like they have been the first few weeks) to softned up that hardcore defense. Arrington had a good game last week, but he is a loose cannon, and SA will make him pay for not "staying home" on run coverage.

My only concern (like in week 4) will be 3rd down conversions. Washington was constantly in 3rd and 15-19yards and the defense could not stop them.

I really think Seattle wins this game by double digits.

 

[redman]

The best trade is also easy; it was the payback to the Cowboys for the 1977 Dorsett trade. That of course is the 2000 trade of Joey Galloway to the Dallas Cowboys for two first rounders in the 2000 and 2001 drafts. In 2000 the Seahawks took one Shaun Alexander from the University of Alabama. In 2001 the Dallas pick was swapped several times and the Hawks took Koren Robinson with the 9th pick but that allowed them to also pick up ProBowl Guard Steve Hutchinson from the University of Michigan at #17. Although Galloway had a return to glory in the 2005 campaign, Alexander and Hutchinson are two of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions.

This trade was amusing to me as a 'Skins fan. First of all, it was the classic example of an owner trying to squeeze one more title run out of a veteran roster (Aikman was still the QB when it was made). But I also took note of the fact that Galloway was 2 years removed from a good season. Since then, I've thought about how good Alexander and Hutchinson would have looked in Cowboys uniforms given their overall dissatisfaction with their line and their RB's in recent seasons.

 

[valhallan]

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

So those of you not familiar with the brief Seahawks playoff history let's just consider our first two wins:

I'm not following the face. Can you expound?EDIT TO NOTE:

Ah, I see. Yes I changed my handle after 2.4 years with the same name.

Oh. I didn't know that was possible.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Here's a decent article about how the loss to the Redskins turned the ship around. You certainly have to think they took the loss hard because a week later they started an 11 game win streak. Loss to Redskins changed Seahawks' seasonSEATTLE (AP) — For once, what happened in the regular season does matter in a playoff rematch.The Seahawks are looking back on their Oct. 2 loss in overtime at Washington as the turning point in which their season went from so-so to oh-so-special. “We were sort of at a crossroads after that game,’’ quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said while in on the players’ final off day before Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game with the Redskins at Qwest Field.“We were 2-2. We felt like we were pretty good. We had some confidence in our offense to make plays,’’ Hasselbeck said. “But we really hadn’t done it yet.’’They sure have since.“We’ve had a lot of wins and not a lot of losses since then,’’ said NFL rushing leader and Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander.Alexander then chuckled at the absurdity of what followed that 20-17 loss at FedEx Field 15 weeks ago: Eleven consecutive Seattle wins. A franchise-best 13-3 record. A first-ever top seed for the playoffs.“Looking back, I don’t think anyone would have predicted such a good rebound after that game,’’ Hasselbeck said.Seattle’s only other loss since was Jan. 1’s meaningless regular-season finale at Green Bay. Seahawks starters played two quarters or not at all that day.The loss to the Redskins also changed Seattle’s season because of other losses during it.Starting receivers Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram went out with injuries, leaving the Seahawks scrambling at the end of the game to find enough receivers for some formations, Hasselbeck said.Those injuries prompted the revelation named Joe Jurevicius, whom former Tampa Bay personnel man and first-year Seattle president Tim Ruskell had quietly signed from the Buccaneers in March.That small investment of $700,000 in base salary paid off after Washington.Jurevicius went from one reception for 17 yards receiving against the Redskins to a career-high nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown the following week at St. Louis. Jurevicius went on to establish career highs with 10 TDs receiving — tied for second in the NFC — and 694 yards.Also after the Washington loss, the Seahawks began making Jerramy Stevens their primary pass-catching tight end. Stevens, whom Seattle had been waiting to emerge since drafting him in the first round in 2002, had four of his five receiving scores after Oct. 2 — one fewer than in his previous three seasons combined.Now, teams that stack the line of scrimmage to challenge Alexander must also devote a defender to Stevens. That wasn’t true in October.“He is definitely a threat that people are aware of at all times,’’ Hasselbeck said.The Seahawks and their second-ranked offense are keenly aware of the Redskins’ smash-mouth, ninth-ranked defense.“They are physical. They are going to make you pay,’’ Hasselbeck said. “You may catch a ball and get a first down, but they are going to put a hit on you.There was one other Seattle turning point from that Washington loss, one that could potentially be a huge factor if Saturday turns rugged: Brown.The Seahawks kicker recovered from his Washington miss to beat Dallas on the final play of regulation and the New York Giants in overtime.“That was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Up to that point I had, knock on wood, never missed a game-winner,’’ Brown said of the Redskins game, knocking on his wood-paneled locker.“History’s played out great for us ... We’re going into a game where the way our guys have been playing for the last 13 weeks, we should have no problem.’’

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Seahawks Offense vs Redskins Defense

This is the key matchup to most people.

Seattle was #1 in scoring while the Skins were 9th in scoring defense.

Seattle 2nd in total offense while the Skins were 9th.

Seattle had the third best rushing attack in the league while the Skins were 13th against the run.

Seattle was 13th best passing the ball while the Skins were 10th best in defensing the pass. 

I think it comes down to running Alexander enough to wear the Skins down and to open up the playaction pass.  If Hasselbeck is on it's hard to see Washington stopping them just by looking at what they've done all year against whomever they've played.  Washington allowed 15 rushing TDs and 15 passing but throwing the ball on them, especially downfield is not easy with Williams' great sets.  Obviously the Skins are going to need turnovers and this game will likely come down to those.  If the Seahawks do not turn the ball over they will be nearly impossible to beat.  The Skins were only +1 in the regular season with turnover ratio and Seattle turned it over just 17 times.

Everything you've written here is spot-on. There are some details you should add though to complete the picture. The 'Skins +1 net turnover ratio for the season is a bit deceptive. For the first 8-10 weeks of the season, they were among the league leaders in fumbles caused, but recovered only a fraction of them. They literally were just not getting the bounces. That trend has flipped during their win streak.

Also, turnovers notwithstanding, they are if anything better than their defensive stats and rankings. First of all, they're just plain flat playing inspired football, and defense is all about attitude which they have right now. Second, and just as important, they're healthy on defense. Yes, they lost Wynn, but he's one of the most replaceable guys on defense that they have. Springs looks like he's back. There were games this year, especially in the early and middle part of this year, where they were playing with one healthy DT for example, and that was Salave'a who was playing with an extremely sore foot. That's not a problem right now.

I think the plan will be very simple - contain Alexander and force Seattle to throw the ball to beat them. This will allow the 'Skins very good secondary to come into play, and allow the blitzes to take effect against a pocket passer. Also, the 'Skins are among the best in the league at tipping passes at the line of scrimmage, which often result in INT's (there have been 3 or 4 such INT's the last 3 weeks, including 2 @ Tampa).

If Alexander runs wild, this will be a long game.

Good input from a Redskins fan. Thanks. I think you're right and the Skins will force the Seahawks to pass which is fine with us. If Hasselbeck is on, D-JAX is indeed near 100 percent, and Stevens finds the soft spots I like this to open up the running game in a big way. Hasselbeck was the #1 rated passer in the NFC so he knows what he's doing. His 24 TDs and only 9 INTS to me represents a phenomenal year considering what Alexander did week in and week out. I think in any other year Hasselbeck throws for 32 TDs but there just wasn't enough paydirt to go around.