On to Atlanta
After falling behind very early on Sunday, it took a fumble by Russell Wilson to turn things around for the Seattle Seahawks.
After getting hit in the back field, Wilson fumbled the ball, for what looked like another advantage for the Redskins.
But, Johnny on the spot Marshawn Lynch picked up the sure loss, and rumbled through the Skins D for a pickup of 18 yards, and the momentum never swayed again.
Now it’s off to Atlanta to take on the Dirty Birds in the next stop on the road to the Super Bowl.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s focus on the goodness that was the Wild Card game on Sunday.
Offensive game ball
The poise and collection of Russell Wilson after the Seahawks went down early was a thing of beauty.
I, for one, was panicked after the second Skins TD. And was cursing the TV when Wilson fumbled the ball in the second quarter.
But sure enough, I told my boss that that was the play that was going to turn around the Hawks, they marched down the field and scored a FG, and never looked back.
As good as Marshawn Lynch was, making the biggest of plays when called upon, and the play of Zach Miller in the crunch, this game ball goes to Wilson.
This was the game that should cement his OROY trophy, but better yet, it was his coming out party as an elite QB that led the Hawks to their first road playoff game since 1983.
Marshawn Lynch was once again Beast Mode like in Sunday’s game (Photo: Daily Republic)
As much as we all love Matt Hasselbeck, he never did this for us. Remember the whole “we want the ball, and we’re gonna score” bit?
Matt will forever be enshrined in our hearts for his tenure in Seattle, but it’s time to pass the torch to the next great thing in town.
Wilson went 15/26 for 187 yards and a TD. He added 67 yards rushing including a long of 28 yards, the longest of the game for the Hawks.
More rushing stats were as followed: Marshawn Lynch 20/132 with a TD run. Robert Turbin 8/22, and Michael Robinson 1/3, but he also had what could have been the most important catch of the game.
Receiving stats were: Zach Miller 4/48, Doug Baldwin 2/39 including the games longest of 33 yards, Golden Tate 4/35, Sidney Rice 1/27, Michael Robinson 2/23 with a TD.
Defensive game ball
Earl Thomas gets my pick this week for his momentum saving interception in the second quarter.
On a play that RGIII seemed to just heave the ball up into coverage, Thomas waltzed his way into the line of fire and picked off the ball without incident.
Though the Skins retained the lead for the half, they played as a defeated team after that play. Not to go all Bounty Gate on you all, but picking on an injured QB the way the Hawks did was great.
The whole defense was in form from the beginning of the second quarter till the final whistle.
Honorable mention goes to both Bruce Irvin for coming up with the biggest sack of his career, and Bobby Wagner once again for leading the team in tackles with 5.
Other defensive stats were: Brandon Browner 3 tackles, Alan Branch 3 tackles including the other Seattle sack, KJ Wright 3 tackles, Marcus Trufant 2 tackles.
Despite the slow start, the Hawks went all Flava Flav on the Redskins faithful and said we “Don’t Believe the Hype.”
This kind of performance is exactly the kind of defense that can, and hopefully will, lead us all the way to New Orleans this February.
Stats
One game down, two more to go.
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