The Seattle Seahawks upset the New Orleans Saints, 41-36, in Saturday’s NFC Wild Card game and silenced all those critics who said they didn’t belong in the playoffs. The Seahawks, 11-point underdogs prior to the game, looked eerily reminiscent of a playoff team en route to their surprise victory and will either play in Atlanta or Chicago next week. For the Saints, it’s a brutal loss for a team looking to defend their Super Bowl championship.
Early on, it looked like the Saints would run away with this game as they jumped out to a 17-7 lead and appeared to be in control, forcing a Seahawks turnover. This was not the same Seahawks team that had been blown out nine times this season by double-digits though and Matt Hasselbeck looked like he jumped in the wayback machine throwing for three first-half touchdowns.
After the Saints cut the lead to four late in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks tried to run the clock out but their running game hadn’t been that productive all game. That was, of course, before Marshawn Lynch activated BEAST MODE and single-handedly destroyed the Saints defense with a bruising run that rivals the best Earl Campbell could offer. Just ask Tracy Porter who ended up as a bug on the windshield of Lynch’s grillpiece.
Now, as Falcons fans, we root for the Eagles to win since that would bring the Seahawks to Atlanta. Sure they looked good today but this is not the same team on the road and a Seattle visit would be an easy walk into the NFC title game.
For more on this game visit Canal Street Chronicles and Field Gulls.