2008 NFL Playoffs – Seattle Seahawks Dump Washington Redskins, 35-14

The four game win streak and improbable ride has come crashing to a halt in the Pacific Northwest for the Washington Redskins.     Their 35-14 loss sends Washington back home cross-country at the hands of Seattle, who played with heart and made less mistakes than the Redskins.     Washington Head Coach Joe Gibbs, entered the game with a sterling 17-6 post-season record as a Head Coach, but it was not the Skins’ day.    Redskins Running Back Clinton Portis, healthy for the first time all season, was held in check to the tune of 52 yards on 20 carries.

 

Washington was shut out in the first-half, while Seattle scored 22 points in the deciding fourth-quarter.    This although the Washington defense held Shaun Alexander to 46 yards on only 15 carries for Seattle.    

 

Meanwhile, Matt Hasselback led the Seahawks with 20-32 passing, for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day.     This while the Redskins actually controlled the ball to the tune of over 34 minutes.     Washington Quarterback Todd Collins helped guide his team to the playoffs but was 29-50 passing, for 266 yards, and threw the game-deciding interception to Marcus Trufant in the final quarter.   Trufant picked off the Collins pass and returned it 78 yards for the backbreaking score for Seattle.   

 

The spirited Seattle crowd got what they came for, and now the Seahawks advance to the divisional-playoff round next week on the road in either Green Bay or Dallas, depending on what happens in the Tampa Bay-New York game on Sunday in Tampa Bay.      This ends a tumultuous season for the Redskins, who must now face an off-season with the memory of fallen teammate Sean Taylor in their minds.     This off-season will also feed speculation as to the future of Head Coach Joe Gibbs.   There has been much speculation as to whether or not Gibbs will return to Washington next season.

 

Knowing Gibbs, going out on this kind of low note will not sit well with the proud, 3-time Super Bowl Champion.    However, the decision may not be his to make in the end.     Washington was hot and cold this season and needed a make-or-break run, highlighted by last week’s win over Dallas just to enter the playoff picture.    All in all it was a quality season for Washington, who did well to just stay focused and make the post-season given their start and the death of Taylor.