Seahawk hopes rest on their defense

Before this NFL season started, the Seattle Seahawks were the trendy pick by experts to be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. They came into the season with a high-powered offense and what looked to be a greatly improved defense. In their first three games, the Seahawks looked like a title contender, beating New Orleans and Tampa Bay on the road and then blowing out San Francisco at home -- their defense giving up just 13 points in the three games. In week five against St. Louis, everything pointed towards the continuation of this trend as the Seahawks were leading the Rams 27-10 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. However, Seattle proceeded to give up the final 23 points of the game, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime. That catastrophic late-game meltdown led a season full of so much promise to turn into a season of letdowns and player injuries. The season implodedas Seattle went on to lose their next two games and the rematch with the Rams five weeks later. Luckily, playing in the weak NFC kept them in the playoff race. The Seahawks finished the regular season at 9-7, winning the NFC West division title. Now they get a chance to exorcise their demons in a rematch with the Rams in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at Qwest Field. Appearing in the postseason for the second consecutive year, Seattle has not won a playoff game since 1984 when, in the AFC, they beat the Los Angeles Raiders to advance to the second round. Last season, the Seahawks lost in the first round against Green Bay as Packer Mike McKenzie returned a Matt Hasselbeck interception for a touchdown in overtime. The determining factor for a Seahawks victory is the play of the defense. St. Louis has one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, led by a pair of receivers with 1,200-yard seasons in Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger threw for just under 4,000 yards, even after missing two full games due to injury. One area where the Seahawks do hold a strong advantage is with their touchdown-machine running back Shaun Alexander, whose 1,696 yards was one yard shy of best in the league He also had 16 rushing touchdowns this year. Also playing in the first round of the NFC playoffs are another pair of division rivals as NFC North opponents Minnesota and Green Bay play Sunday in Green Bay. The two teams have had almost opposite seasons. The Vikings got off to a quick 5-1 start before dropping seven of their next 10 to finish at 8-8. Meanwhile, the Packers started at a dismal 1-4 before a six game winning streak in the middle of the season propelled them to a 10-6 record and NFC North crown. The game will feature a pair of high-powered offenses from up north as Dante Culpepper and Brett Favre go at it again for the third time this season. Meanwhile, in the AFC, a match-up of surprising teams takes place Saturday as the San Diego and the New York Jets face off in southern California. The Jets beat the Chargers 34-28 in teams' meeting back in week two. It will be a showdown of top running backs as LaDainian Tomlinson and NFL rushing leader Curtis Martin try to lead their teams to the second round. The final game this weekend is the Sunday battle between the Indianapolis and Denver. The Colts and Broncos played each other Sunday as Denver came out on top, 33-14, though Indianapolis was resting most of its starters, including single-season passing touchdown record-holder Peyton Manning. While tough opponents are ahead of them in the playoffs, for the Seahawks, anything is possible at this point. In the NFL, the postseason is a chance to start all over again. Just ask last year's Carolina Panthers or the New England Patriots of 2001. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

Seahawk hopes rest on their defense

Disruptor interrupts Psych 210, professor and students chase man on to Red Square

2025 Seattle and King County primary election endorsements

UW mechanical engineering students are now required to pay $250 quarterly fee to participate in department-affiliated RSOs

College Inn Pub reopens under new ownership