Any Given Sunday

There’s no surprise that the laughingstock team of the playoffs pulled off a miraculous win over the defending Superbowl champions. It doesn’t matter that the Seattle Seahawks come from arguably the least competitive league in the NFC if not the NFL. Nor does it matter that the NFC West division champs still managed to make the playoffs despite having a sad 7-9 record and that most NFL fans hardly know any of the starters on their team. The playoffs are a new ball game and no team has any advantage or disadvantage besides home-field.
As former NY Jets coach, Herman Edwards said, “You play the game to WIN.” That’s why the Seahawks are preparing for the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints are joining me as we watch the remainder of the post season from the couch.
Seahawks quarterback, Matt Hasslebeck, may be old and washed up to some, but his senior leadership proved to be the catalyst to the win against the Saints. After just being cleared to play two days ago from a hip injury, Hasslebeck aired out four touchdowns as he torched New Orleans secondary.
The Seahawks win over the Saints was the first in the playoffs for a team with a losing record. It was a tremendous effort put on by an underdog team which is the perfect display of the “Any Given Sunday” quote. Maybe even more impressive or just as was Marshawn Lynch’s run which clinched the game up for the classic David vs. Goliath matchup. It was pathetic to watch the lack of technique and pride that the Saints displayed on this play. Lynch willed himself past every defender as if his life depended on it as the Saints nonchalantly made an effort to wrap him up. Even after the Lynch broke several tackles, Tracy Porter (the guy who got stiff armed like a child) had another change to go after him, but gave up. This play summed up the defensive effort by the whole Saints team.
Either the Saints defense didn’t eat their Wheaties that evening or just underestimated their opponent. Whichever it was, the defensive coordinator didn’t predict this outcome. When you underestimate your opponent, this is what can happen. Playoffs is where amazing can happen. No one cares that the Saints are the previous champions; it’s just a respect that is given from last year. Key word being last year.
You can’t ask too much from Drew Brees who threw over 60 passes and 400 passing yards along with two touchdowns. The offense looked pretty good despite the absence of a ground attack due to injuries. The offense put up 36 points, can you really ask for more? This is part of the game though; you can’t expect to win every game by relying on one side of the ball. You have to play both O and D. Offense wins games; defense wins champions as a wise man once said.