packinpatland
01-06-2008, 06:41 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22522687/
OPINION
By Steve Greenberg
updated 1:01 p.m. ET, Sun., Jan. 6, 2008
SEATTLE - Here in the Emerald City, where fans -- get this -- cheer lustily atpro football games (such a novel concept!), a ridiculously big deal is made of what is known as the "12th man." So you'll see 12s on sweatshirts, caps, banners, bare chests, Qwest Field scoreboards and the like.
Sadly for the Seahawks, they won't see any 12s next weekend in their divisional playoff game at Green Bay. Other than on Packers backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers' uniform, that is, and there hasn't been a bigger waste of detergent in all of sports the past 15 years than the uniform worn by the Packers' backup quarterback.
So, without the greatest NFL fans anywhere, or at least in the entire Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks will have to try to topple Brett Favre, the blustery Wisconsin weather and their own history of futility on the road in the playoffs.
Not to mention the real best fans in footbal. (Come on, I had to do it. As if any stadium isn't a zoo at playoff time.)
The question is: Are the Seahawks just a bunch of one-trick ponies? We know they can win out here -- 6-2 all-time in the playoffs and five straight dominant regular seasons at home --but can they hold it together in a different time zone?
"I think so," says perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones. "But that's what we have to find out. We have to go out and fight and deal with a tough environment in Green Bay."
Matt Hasselbeck remembers that tough environment well.[ Not only because he once was Brett Favre's nameless, faceless backup but because the last time he took the Seahawks there for a playoff game, he threw the first interception he would take back if there were such a thing as take-backs in the NFL.
"We're going to take that ball the first time we get it and score," Hasselbeck joked Saturday night, mimicking his famous last words that blared over the Lambeau Field P.A. system heading into overtime that day.
As Hasselbeck and all Seattle fans know, there is such a thing as a take-back -- in a manner of speaking. The Seahawks took two interceptions back for touchdowns against the Redskins on Saturday, and Hasselbeck's INT in Green Bay four postseasons ago was taken back by Al Harris for a game-ending touchdown.
Four years ago already. Hard to believe, huh? Since then the Seahawks have been to a Super Bowl, but they haven't erased any of the doubts about their ability to win a big game on the road. A win in Green Bay would be the franchise's second on the road in the playoffs in seven tries.
Ironically, Seattle's best defensive player, end Patrick Kerney -- the NFC's leader this season in sacks -- has won a playoff game in Green Bay before, with the Falcons in January of 2003. And if the Seahawks are going to reverse their road curse, their strong pass rush, led by Kerney and Julian Peterson, will have to lead the way.
"I think we can get to Favre," says defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, "and we'd better get to him. Because when he gets to slinging that thing around, there's no stopping him."
During their run of five straight years in the playoffs, the Seahawks have been seen around the league as a finesse team -- even when Shaun Alexander was pounding the rock for first downs and touchdowns. Now, they are pretty one-dimensional on offense, with Hasselbeck throwing the football more than ever. Finesse football is coach Mike Holmgren's way.
And there's no turning back now; Alexander clearly doesn't have a whole lot left in the tank. So the Seahawks will try to move the ball with rhythm and tempo in the passing game, and hope their pass rush can get to Favre and force the league's all-time passing leader into some bad decisions.
Maybe it's a long shot, but it's the only shot the Seahawks have.
OPINION
By Steve Greenberg
updated 1:01 p.m. ET, Sun., Jan. 6, 2008
SEATTLE - Here in the Emerald City, where fans -- get this -- cheer lustily atpro football games (such a novel concept!), a ridiculously big deal is made of what is known as the "12th man." So you'll see 12s on sweatshirts, caps, banners, bare chests, Qwest Field scoreboards and the like.
Sadly for the Seahawks, they won't see any 12s next weekend in their divisional playoff game at Green Bay. Other than on Packers backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers' uniform, that is, and there hasn't been a bigger waste of detergent in all of sports the past 15 years than the uniform worn by the Packers' backup quarterback.
So, without the greatest NFL fans anywhere, or at least in the entire Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks will have to try to topple Brett Favre, the blustery Wisconsin weather and their own history of futility on the road in the playoffs.
Not to mention the real best fans in footbal. (Come on, I had to do it. As if any stadium isn't a zoo at playoff time.)
The question is: Are the Seahawks just a bunch of one-trick ponies? We know they can win out here -- 6-2 all-time in the playoffs and five straight dominant regular seasons at home --but can they hold it together in a different time zone?
"I think so," says perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones. "But that's what we have to find out. We have to go out and fight and deal with a tough environment in Green Bay."
Matt Hasselbeck remembers that tough environment well.[ Not only because he once was Brett Favre's nameless, faceless backup but because the last time he took the Seahawks there for a playoff game, he threw the first interception he would take back if there were such a thing as take-backs in the NFL.
"We're going to take that ball the first time we get it and score," Hasselbeck joked Saturday night, mimicking his famous last words that blared over the Lambeau Field P.A. system heading into overtime that day.
As Hasselbeck and all Seattle fans know, there is such a thing as a take-back -- in a manner of speaking. The Seahawks took two interceptions back for touchdowns against the Redskins on Saturday, and Hasselbeck's INT in Green Bay four postseasons ago was taken back by Al Harris for a game-ending touchdown.
Four years ago already. Hard to believe, huh? Since then the Seahawks have been to a Super Bowl, but they haven't erased any of the doubts about their ability to win a big game on the road. A win in Green Bay would be the franchise's second on the road in the playoffs in seven tries.
Ironically, Seattle's best defensive player, end Patrick Kerney -- the NFC's leader this season in sacks -- has won a playoff game in Green Bay before, with the Falcons in January of 2003. And if the Seahawks are going to reverse their road curse, their strong pass rush, led by Kerney and Julian Peterson, will have to lead the way.
"I think we can get to Favre," says defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, "and we'd better get to him. Because when he gets to slinging that thing around, there's no stopping him."
During their run of five straight years in the playoffs, the Seahawks have been seen around the league as a finesse team -- even when Shaun Alexander was pounding the rock for first downs and touchdowns. Now, they are pretty one-dimensional on offense, with Hasselbeck throwing the football more than ever. Finesse football is coach Mike Holmgren's way.
And there's no turning back now; Alexander clearly doesn't have a whole lot left in the tank. So the Seahawks will try to move the ball with rhythm and tempo in the passing game, and hope their pass rush can get to Favre and force the league's all-time passing leader into some bad decisions.
Maybe it's a long shot, but it's the only shot the Seahawks have.