Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (-3 ½, 40 ½)
Sour ending
The Seahawks’ season finale left a bad taste in the mouths of Seattle backers after the club surrendered 44 points to the lowly Atlanta Falcons. The poor showing can’t be attributed to a mismatch of Seattle backups against Atlanta starters.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren left his first-string defense in until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Seattle had nothing to gain from the contest but it was still a shock to see a good Seahawks’ defense play its worst game against the offensively-challenged Falcons.
“We were playing basic defense,” linebacker Julius Peterson told reporters afterwards. “We shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers. We still have a great defense.”
Peterson and his mates were actually on pace to break the franchise record for fewest points allowed in a season before last weekend’s meltdown.
“Every game means something to me,” Deon Grant said. “I don’t care if it’s against my little sister.
“I don’t like to be embarrassed. We had them 10-0, and they had just three games. We gave up 44 points. That’s definitely not good.”
Getting the most out of Moss
The Redskins played the majority of 2007 without their top big-play threat. Santana Moss suited up for 14 of Washington’s 16 matches but it was clear he was not 100 percent.
But Moss is now running at full strength with the ‘Skins first playoff game just days away.
“Early in the year, me and Coach (Joe) Gibbs talked,” Moss told USA Today. “He knew I was nicked up a little bit. He was like, ‘We go as far as you go.’ Sometimes you have to get healed.
“I stayed in the treatment room and made sure I could patch up some of the things that were nicked up and go out there and play my best football. I’m a professional. If I can go out there and be productive regardless of what’s bothering me, I will do that.”
Moss’ patience is starting to pay off. The wide receiver has grabbed 18 balls for 290 yards and two touchdowns over Washington’s last four games (all wins straight up and against the spread).
“Santana’s a big-play guy,” Gibbs said. “When we do get plays over 20 (yards), chances are he’s a guy who’s going to get a bunch of them. I don’t know of anybody that is better adjusting to a deep ball. He has GPS. He can find it when other people can’t. He’s not a big guy, but he plays big.”
Wristy business
The Redskins’ fourth-best run defense coupled with the Seahawks inability to run the ball consistently this season means Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren will continue rely on the passing game.
“At this point, we’re going to do the things that work for us,” Holmgren said. “So we’re not going to change that much. And I think how far we go will be dependent on how well we do those.”
The NFC West champs seem unconcerned about the right wrist injury Matt Hasselbeck suffered in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Falcons.
“I was throwing the ball away and hit the ground,” Hasselbeck told the Seattle Times. “I don’t know if I landed on it or somebody landed on it, but I just kind of fell awkwardly.”
The three-time Pro Bowler shook off the pain a tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Engram shortly after the incident. He’s practiced all week and there’s been little indication the wrist is giving him any additional problems.
Head-to-head
The Seahawks and Redskins last met in divisional round of the NFC playoffs two years ago. Seattle won the elimination contest 20-10 and covered as 9 ½-point favorites. Washington had won and covered in the previous four meetings.