Tough-Luck Seahawks Finally Catch Break
Sunday, January 7, 2007; 8:04 PM
SEATTLE -- The same Seahawks who all season couldn't buy a break with all of team owner Paul Allen's Microsoft zillions finally got lucky. But now they're going to have to be good, too. Or at least better than they've been.
All of Seattle _ players, coaches and fans alike _ reveled in advancing to the NFC's divisional playoffs. The day of exhale Sunday was time for reflection upon the Seahawks' eight-point rally over the final seven minutes of the previous night's amazing 21-20 win over Dallas.
  Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux (27) reacts as teammates Chuck Darby, left, and Rocky Bernard celebrate behind as they beat the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC wild card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 21-20. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (Elaine Thompson - AP)   The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Raiders Release L. Jordan • Cowboys Decide to Cut T. Glenn |
It was also part appreciation for Jordan Babineaux preserving the season by tripping Tony Romo with a shoe tackle after the Cowboys quarterback and holder dropped the snap on a 19-yard field goal attempt with 1:19 to go.
"The players certainly deserve Sunday off. And I'm looking forward to spending Sunday with my family," coach Mike Holmgren said late Saturday night.
But Sunday also included some important evaluation.
Seattle (10-7) will face top-seeded Chicago (13-3) on the road next Sunday. The Bears routed Seattle 37-6 at Soldier Field during the regular season.
"Obviously, that was probably the worst we have played as a team this year _ and for sure me," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said of that October night.
He was 16-for-35, a season low 45.7 completion percentage, with two interceptions at Chicago, the first of six games Shaun Alexander missed with a broken foot.
"The best defense in the NFL. You might have to be crazy to want to play them, I don't know," Hasselbeck said of the Bears.
The Seahawks, winners of just two of their last five games, know they must improve immediately to return to the NFC championship game for the second consecutive January.
"We have to worry about ourselves," defensive Bryce Fisher said. "We are our own biggest enemy."
Foremost, Hasselbeck must improve.
