Sunday, January 6, 2008

Overturned

The Redskins appeared to have forced a turnover in the first quarter when linebacker Marcus Washington tackled Shaun Alexander and pried loose the ball. Fred Smoot recovered the ball and ran it back 24 yards to the Redskins 35, but Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren challenged, and officials ruled that Alexander was down before the ball came out.

6

Teams in the playoffs this season that did not qualify last season, including the Redskins. Washington made its first playoff appearance since the 2005 season, when it won its final five games to qualify.

The notoriously feisty Seahawks fans were eager for a target, and they accepted any burgundy object presented to them before the game. Which is why long snapper Ethan Albright was greeted with an avalanche of boos when he jogged out to assist place kicker Shaun Suisham with pregame warmups.