NFC Divisional Playoff Preview and Prediction: Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons

Road-tested Seahawks looking to add to Falcons’ recent playoff woes

The Seattle Seahawks bring their road show to the Georgia Dome to take on the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC Divisional Playoff showdown that kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. In beating Washington 24-14 in last Sunday’s Wild Card matchup, the Seahawks have already accomplished something the Falcons haven’t since 2004 – win a postseason game. The Falcons, champions of the NFC South and who tied the Broncos with 13 wins in the regular season are no stranger to having success in the months of September through December.

COMMENTS

NFC Wild Card Preview and Prediction: Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins

Second game in NFL postseason history with rookie starting quarterbacks on both teams

Record-setting rookie quarterbacks will be on full display when the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins square off in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card matchup at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX. The Seahawks (11-5) enter this contest on a five-game winning streak, while the Redskins (10-6) won their final seven games to capture the NFC East division title and first postseason berth since 2007.

COMMENTS

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Preview and Prediction

49ers look to sew up NFC West title by handing Seahawks first home loss this season

The NFC West could be decided when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 p.m ET tonight on NBC. A win would clinch a second straight division title for the 49ers (10-3-1), while handing the Seahawks (9-5) their first home loss of the season. The Seahawks are currently seeded fifth in the NFC playoff bracket, but four teams are right behind them at 8-6, so they still have work to do to secure their postseason berth.

COMMENTS

Aaron Rodgers on Referees: "It was awful."

The Green Bay Packers quarterback doesn't need to double-check his opinion of the referees.

The NFL’s replacement referees hit a new low on Monday night, as the Seattle Seahawks were awarded a controversial 14–12 victory over the Green Bay Packers — despite a game-deciding final play that had even the on-field officials ruling in a split-decision.

On 4th-and-10 from the Packers’ 24-yard-line with eight seconds left in a 12–7 game, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary into the crowded end zone. From there, all bets were off — or, if Vegas’ numbers are accurate, all wagers were impacted to the tune of $150 million.

COMMENTS

Fantasy Football: Breaking down the Seattle Seahawks

SEATTLE
• Inside the Locker Room
With freelance writer Dan Raley

Mike Williams was able to make a comeback in Seattle with his former USC coach Pete Carroll. Should fantasy players be concerned that this was just a one-year wonder situation?
Williams was motivated to get in shape and play for Carroll again, and he rescued what was a lost career. Nothing should change in terms of his Seahawks performance the second time around — unless, of course, he got fat again during the lockout.

Marshawn Lynch moved to the top of the running back pecking order after coming over from Buffalo, and he finished the year with over 500 yards in a Seattle uniform. Is it Lynch as the workhorse, or is a committee expected?
Lynch should be the workhorse over a full season. Carroll prefers a big, bruising back, which Justin Forsett and Leon Washington aren’t and Lynch is. And the coach has made upgrading the offensive line his No. 1 priority — last year and in this year’s draft.

• Fantasy Playoff Run — Weeks 14-16: STL, @CHI, SF
All three opponents were in the top 12 in defending fantasy RBs last season. The matchup with the 49ers during the fantasy title game weekend is interesting for the Seahawks WRs, as San Francisco ranked 31st in the league in points allowed to WRs (31.0 ppg). All three opponents were in the top half against TEs as well.

• Athlon Best Bets
Sleeper: Golden Tate, WR
Deep-Sleeper: Ben Obomanu, WR
Overvalued: Sidney Rice, WR
Top Rookie: None
Bounce-Back: None
Top IDP: Earl Thomas, DB

• Try to Avoid
Justin Forsett, RB
He was given the chance to carry the load in 2010 (36 carries in Weeks 3 and 4) and failed to secure the job, prompting a trade for Marshawn Lynch. Pete Carroll will ride his new workhorse in 2011.
WAIT UNTIL: 13th RD

• Draft Class Fantasy Impact
Seattle’s draft certainly wasn’t flashy but should go a long way towards upgrading its chances to repeat as NFC West champs. James Carpenter and John Moffitt could start right away on the offensive line. Kris Durham had a quiet career at Georgia and was a surprise pick in the fourth round. Outside of Mike Williams and Sidney Rice, playing time is up for grabs in Seattle’s receiving corps.

More Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets and Rankings:
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 280
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 240 w/ IDPs
2 011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
2 011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defense/Special Teams