The Seattle Seahawks proved that a productive run game and solid defense travel well in the playoffs. Their winding road to the Super Bowl resumes Sunday afternoon against the well-rested and top-seeded Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome.
Seattle gave the Washington Redskins a double dose of ground and pound in last weekend's 24-14 win at FedEx Field, where the Seahawks overcame a 14-0 deficit and picked up right where they left off in the regular season. The Seahawks, in the playoffs for the fifth time since 2005, persevered after a pair of four-yard touchdown passes from gimpy Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III by tightening up their defense and getting Marshawn Lynch going.
Lynch was in his alter-ego 'beast mode' with 132 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Had it not been for Lynch's hard running, the Seahawks could be in early-vacation mode.
Washington's top-rated ground attack was held to 104 yards on the night as rookie running back Alfred Morris carried the ball 16 times for 80 yards. RG3 had just 21 yards and completed 10-of-19 passes for 84 yards and was intercepted once by Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas. Defensive end Bruce Irvin, whose role will now increase with Chris Clemons done for the season with a torn knee ligament, posted one of Seattle's two sacks.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll discussed Irvin's new responsibilities.
"Bruce Irvin will step up and take a bunch of those snaps," Carroll said. "This is Bruces opportunity. It's what we drafted him to play. We'll see how he does. We expect him to really play well as he steps up."
Irvin led all NFL rookies with eight sacks during the regular season and, according to Carroll, understands the scheme and closes in on the quarterback. While the Seahawks will miss Clemons and his 11 1/2 sacks from the regular season, they're confident in Irvin's abilities.
Coming off their first playoff road win since 1983, the No. 5 seed Seahawks have lost their last three appearances in the divisional round. They haven't reached the conference championship since going to the Super Bowl in 2005 with Mike Holmgren at the helm. Holmgren had a seasoned veteran at quarterback then with Matt Hasselbeck, and now the Seahawks have rookie Russell Wilson. Wilson has turned heads and could be a darkhorse winner for Offensive Rookie of the Year among other candidates such Griffin and Colts QB Andrew Luck.
Wilson has led the Seahawks to six straight wins and eight in the last nine, including three in a row away from the 12th man. His elusiveness doesn't garner as much attention as his arm, and Wilson owns 16 touchdown passes to two interceptions in the past eight games. He has accumulated a passer rating of 100 or better in seven of those contests, and is excited to get back to work in preparation for the Falcons.
"The great thing is, we get another opportunity to get back this week and continue to practice and continue to focus on the little details and how we can execute," Wilson said. "When you're in the playoffs, the goal is just to win. No matter what the circumstances are. Obviously if we make those plays, that will give us an even better chance. So we're looking forward to this week of practice."
The former Wisconsin star has 27 touchdown passes, most by a rookie in NFL history, including the postseason. He only needed one against the Redskins because Lynch and the defense handled most of the load. Expect Seahawks receivers Sidney Rice and Golden Tate to play a bigger role Sunday.
Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/10/3176269/nfl-playoff-preview-seattle-12.html
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