The Seahawks defeated the Redskins 20-10 in the 2005 divisional playoffs. This was their last meeting. Things looked bleak after the host Seahawks lost league MVP Shaun Alexander in the first quarter to an injury. But QB Matt Hasselbeck took over, throwing for one touchdown and running for another as Seattle began its march to Super Bowl XL.



Redskins CB Shawn Springs was a first-round pick (No. 3 overall) by Seattle in 1997 and spent seven years with club. Springs is tied for fifth in Seahawks history with 20 interceptions.



“I wouldn’t want to play us right now,” Washington defensive end Phillip Daniels said. “To be honest with you, I wouldn’t. Because of the things we’ve done. We’ve played solid defense, the offense has played great, special teams. We’re hitting on all cylinders right now.”



“There were difficult times, there’s no question about it,” said Collins, the NFC offensive player of the month for December. “A lot of times the game isn’t fun and it’s just all work. You work, work, then the reward is the game, and for so many years I put in the work as if I was going to play and didn’t get the reward in the game.



The Redskins were two games under .500 at 5-7 when Taylor died on Nov. 27, one day after being shot during an invasion in his Florida home. After his slaying, though, Washington went 4-0 by dominating both sides of the ball.