The highlights package I promised is cancelled for lack of content. I was truly spellbound by the complete lack of good play, even in isolation, by Seattle. Even when the D was 9/10ths to doing something right, it was undone by a blunder or Favrian heroics. The Hawks were beat in about every way a team can be beat. Still, rewatching the tape today something useful jumped out at me.

A few years back, when I lived w/ my best friend Ian, we'd hold regular "parties". The quotes are because as far as parties go, they were pretty pathetic. Rarely more than a dozen people, and almost always people we knew. One of our favorite drinking games was something called "Presidents and Assholes" or "Big Man/little man". The particulars aren't important, but if one suffered early defeat and thus became "little man" not only were the odds stacked against them, but they were likely to get so drunk that they'd have a heck of a time playing back up the chain of command. The Hawks had their own Big Man/little man dilemma on Saturday, one so thoroughly botched, you'd think John Marshall had played a pregame round of Edward 40 Hands w/ Dwaine Board.

Seattle has two basic tackle configurations, Brandon Mebane and Rocky Bernard, their Big Man unit, and Craig Terrill and Howard Green, their little man unit. Green isn't exactly a small guy, but he plays a bit like a small guy, especially from a run stuffing standpoint. Generally speaking, the Hawks' Big Man unit plays most snaps and their little man unit plays third downs and passing downs. Or, that's the thinking anyway. I couldn't tell any particular rhyme or reason to Seattle's substitutions on Saturday, and boy did they pay. The following two lists are of all runs, 1st quarter to the start of the 4th quarter. Apparently, when my fiancé unplugged our home entertainment power strip mid-game, it stopped the VCR from recording. It's too bad, too, because I wanted to relive this nightmare to the bitter end. But seriously, it was all over but the crying by the time the tape cutout, so I don't think I missed a ton. The list includes yardage, whether the run was successful or not, FD and anything else important like fumbles. Goal line carries are omitted because they fit neither category.

Big Man: 8S, 6F (FF), 4S, 7S, 2F, 15 S (FD), 3F, 6S, 0F, 4F, 43S (FD)

little man: 4S, 7S, 26S (FD), 3S (FD), 24S (FD), -1F, 10S (FD)

The Big Men weren't exactly kicking butt, but a 60% success rating allowed is considerably better than the little men could muster. The 15 and 41 yards runs were both off left end. Hardly the tackles' fault. Both of the long runs allowed by the little men were up the gut. The little man group allowed 86% of all rushes to be successful. They were thrown from the line, and, with few exceptions, did more to screen their own linebackers than anything that slowed Ryan Grant. In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, you'd think fixing the tackle rotation so that your pass rushing package was only on the field on obvious passing downs would be a pretty high priority - especially when they were clearly a liability against the run. But, nope, they were out for all sorts of down and distance combinations, and nothing changed after the half.

Not much else to add. Seattle had its brains beaten out for nigh 56 minutes dtraight. I'm taking tomorrow off, and then I'll post the first edition of my offseason checklist on Wednesday.

Hey folks, it would seem we packed up our coffee grinder in the move yesterday, meaning that I feel tired to pair with my sick. I've watched the tape, and beyond being stomach turning, it was also almost entirely uninformative. Pretty much no one on the Hawks roster played like themselves. The Seattle Seahawks are a warm weather team. Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest might take umbrage to our weather being called "warm", but the average January temperature in Seattle is not unlike Memphis, Tennessee. Brian Russell is the only regular on defense who has played in an open-air, cold weather environment in the last 5 years. He was also the only defender who played better yesterday than he usually does. On the offense, Deion Branch, Marcus Pollard and Bobby Engram all have substantial pro experience playing in the cold. Branch was hurt. Pollard played most of his career in a dome, and had his production crater the last two seasons in winter home games in Detroit. Engram played 5 seasons in Chicago many seasons ago, and had the best game among Seahawks receivers, but was also the target of 4 incomplete passes and was charged with a hold.

The point is, when the snow began to fall in Lambeau, the Packers home field advantage vaulted from sizable, to dominating.

I'm going to take the rest of today off to lick my wounds. I'll piece a highlights package together for tomorrow, as now that the season's over, I see no reason to rip anyone. It might be short.

I have some plans for the offseason, but, in general, my posting is going to decrease in frequency and length. Season reviews for each of the Seahawks regulars will be posted sporadically. I'll do my best to keep up with all the hot rumors in free agency, along with any news, in whatever form it takes. Sometime next week I'll post an offseason checklist: Goals for the offseason, prioritized and with suggestions. I figure an offseason "plan" falls apart the second a team makes a move not on your original "plan", but a checklist provides a list of goals, that can be revised and updated as a team's needs and opportunities change. It's not so pass/fail.

Thank you everyone for the support, it's an honor to write for such great fans, Seahawks or otherwise.

The Seahawks were beat by a better opponent. Sometimes that's the truest analysis you can give. The Packers, in Lambeau with the snow and Favre playing out of his mind? Yeah, that'll beat about anyone.

I think it's fair to say this was the perfect ending for Holmgren's career. Really, I know nothing about Mike Holmgren, Packer's coach, but I know what he did for the Seahawks. The day he signed, a moribund franchise was given the big name coach promise of contention. Unlike so many, 'Gren fulfilled that promise. Seattle has enjoyed its greatest run of success in its short history under Holmgren. He brought the refined Walsh offense. Hasselbeck. He recognized Steve Hutchinson's talent. A guard so good, he was the second best or best player taken in his entire draft class.

It's tough to see him go out like this. He, like all great NFL coaches, is an unhealthfully competitive man. I think a few weeks from now when he's playing with his grandchildren instead of worrying about free agency (and after Hutch, you know that keeps him up) it'll start to be okay. Until then, well, the Walrus is known to bark.

The next coach of the Seattle Seahawks has a lot of talent to build from, but a hell of a legacy to live up to. For the next Super Bowl run, it's pretty clear the Hawks will need homefield throughout. Seattle's offense was significantly worse on third down than it was on 1st and 2nd down. Regression to the mean can and usually does mean a big offensive bounceback the next season. Simply removing Chris Gray and Shaun Alexander with league average players will provide a huge boost. The defense is very young. Essential players like Marcus Trufant, Leroy Hill, Kelly Jennings, Lofa Tatupu, Brandon Mebane and Darryl Tapp can be expected to play better next year. Tubbs will contribute.

Seattle's front office faces some big challenges but also big opportunities this offseason. Seattle enters the offseason with its head pushing the cap. But the Hawks have become very adept at hoarding talent, especially wide receiver talent, and moving it for extra picks. Then turning those picks into difference makers, contributors and depth. The Seahawks have the core of talent and weak division to compete in 2008, and a front office with a commitment to accurate, modern talent-evaluation.

We'll tackle the first half Tape on Sunday. Second half Monday.

Game Balls: Beck, who held up, kept his poise and played very well all game, despite innumerable drops by his receivers. Brian Russell, who brought some of his late season gains into the postseason. Guy really showed up. Russell can't consistently wrap up and takes some bad angles, but he had a number of nice plays.

Cuts: Marcus Pollard who looked downright arthritic out there. Sayonara, Time Machine. Jordan Babineaux is not an NFL caliber talent. I really like Babs and I bet he brings it in practice, but he was nearly the worst player on the field every time he took the field. He might float around on various team's benches for awhile or just enjoy his 6 figure savings. I'll always remember you for taking Tony Romo down a notch, man.

A few notes in this little space I reserve for commentary. Looks like DPOY belongs to Bob Sanders. I would agree that few players mean as much to their D as Sanders, who's a personal favorite of mine. Frankly, I don't think Kerney cares. Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth were a capable team. I was especially happy with Hammond, who sounded like a real football fan. Personally, I was dreading Hammond, because I don't even like his Kentucky Derby coverage. Something like enthusiasm bleeding into smarminess. Collinsworth was pretty eh with the occasional "galvanized" mixed it. I thought the officials did an excellent job.

• This is about as close as you'll ever see to me breaking news: Beck was playing hurt. Oh, you knew that? Well allow me to elaborate. On Beck's first pick, he sidearms the throw. An not just a little bit, but so that his arm is almost flat. I noticed a stretch of plays where he was throwing almost every pass this way. Beck does stare down Bobby Engram and that allowed Landry to jump the route, but the pass was slow, floated and so underthrown that Engram breaks his ankles trying to get back to it. Funny, too, because that's the last pass Beck threw like that. Maybe it just hurt less, and as a long as he could get away with it, he would.
• Beck's next pick is a little more complicated. Beck was back to throwing overhand, and suddenly the zip was back, too. A 1st down draw to Alexander put Seattle in excellent down and distance, 2nd and 2. What some commentator, years ago, described as "an offensive coordinator's dream." Seattle sets up 3 wide w/ split backs. One back is Weaver, natch, the other Alexander, er. The Skins send an outside blitz, Weaver wiffs his block allowing Marcus Washington straight to Beck, but Beck rolls right, Washington falls down, and - nope, Alexander trumps Weaver's sucky display of blocking by not blocking at all. No block, just stands, kinda moves out on a route afterwards. No block, none attempted. Then Beck has a meltdown, throws a duck off his back foot, Obomanu gets mugged, and Landry makes his name known to IDP players everywhere. Still, I'll take stupid over stupid and injured every day.
• On the very first play of the quarter, touchdown pass to Antwan Randle El, involved some pretty cool under the radar play by Julian Peterson. At the snap, he gets a real nice push on Chris Samuels, jumps, and by jumping blocks Collins passing lane, comes back to earth, pushes Samuels back again and then gets around the Pro Bowl tackle and provides pressure. Peterson’s value added as a nickel defensive end is another reason that he’s among Seattle’s least replaceable players.
• I don't think Burly committed offensive pass interference against Shawn Springs. I watched his leaping, 15 yard reception a few times, and at first, that is, on the first viewing from the long angle lens, it looks like Burleson pushes off. But on the replay, right up next to the two, you see a little hand fighting, but no penalty. That was maybe the most important offensive play of the game for Seattle, and it shouldn't be sullied if it's not deserved.
• Speaking of mis or dis-information (pick your level of paranoia), Landry may have bit on Beck's playfake right before Hacks' touchdown reception, but its sorta irrelavent. Hacks had about a 10 yard radius of open field all around him. Without question the blown coverage is on Pierson Prioleau, the man covering Hackett. If you've watched much of DJ, he does his stock and trade move, the same one he used on Trumaine McBride of the Bears, a little inside deek, then a two armed swim move. He hardly makes contact with the DB, but for whatever reason, DBs charge through it like a bull and Hacks gets unbelievable separation. The play fake looks nice to Seem Heads, but crediting it for the score seems like missing the forest for the trees.
• Two notes about Kelly Jennings, he had a real nice open field tackle (how often do I get to say that?), and the one reception Reche Caldwell did get, was against a prevent D.
• You know what's great? How much use Craig Terrill has strangled from that spin move of his. I've watched it all season, and yet, again and again he shoots past guards with that silly little spin move. When he sacked Collins, Kerney looked mad/confused, and even put a hand down on Collins, like he couldn't believe Guitar Man got the sack. Good stuff.
• Let's get to the play of the game. So, I've mentioned looking for a place where Rocky Bernard "breaks-out" and I think I found it, but it's pretty unconventional. In the second play of the Redskins 4th drive, counting the touchdown pass as a drive, 2nd and 12, Portis rushed for 2 yards. It was a messy run, with the Hawks having a couple shots to stop him for a loss, but him squirting out the right side after starting on the left. Bernard lunges for the tackle, looks real stiff, misses, and can be seen slowly picking himself up after the play. On the next play, Mebane runs to the sideline, Seattle is using a 3-3 Nickel formation, and Bernard or Terrell usually play the tackle, head-pin spot. But Bernard is out, and Mebane must rush back on the field to substitute. That's your breakout, I think, a chance to breath, followed by a brief Hawks drive. Because on the very next defensive play for Seattle, Bernard explodes through Fabini, using the guard to club his own quarterback and force the pick. It's priceless, too, the Skins have a back back to help double Kerney, but single block Bernard. He responds by employing one of the more novel pass rush moves I've seen: He puts his hands on the 6-7 guard's shoulders, squishes him down, and then walks him into Collins. It likely already has a name, but I want to call it the "crush" move, because it crushed Fabini, crushed Collins, and crushed the Skins comeback hopes. Tru, really, just moves under the floated pass for the pick. The rest is fun, and meaningful, but not terribly instructive. And, yes, Bane planted someone on the return.
• Finally, since we all like to talk about turning points and whatnot, what stands out most for me is that after a pick, a botched kickoff return and another pick, Seattle's defense took the field without a hint of defeat. Before the very first snap, every member of the Hawks D was rallying the crowd, especially Kerney who was giving that crazy eyed stare he gives, and the Qwest faithful boomed in response. It wasn't we're the Hawks and the league always shits on us. It wasn't we're the Hawks and we always choke. No it was a double barreled roar, and the very next play, the 12th man forced its first and only false start of the day.

Maybe I'm just grumpy. The hours I've been keeping would give Millay pause. But I refuse to believe I'm the only one who doesn't give a crap about Seattle's supposed "homecoming". So Mike Holmgren was the coach of the Packers, 9 years ago, and Matt Hasselbeck was once on the Packer's roster, as Favre's backup. Was the Hawks contest in Atlanta a homecoming then, too? Tim Ruskell was once their assistant GM and Kern - oh wait, they really did run that angle, didn't they? Anyway, I won't turn this into a full-blown tirade, but let me say once and for all, I watch football, I watch sports, for the sport, not the underlying soap opera.

Very slow quarter, a few notes, and then I'll throw up the Tape for the wild and wacky fourth quarter in a little bit.

• I'm not a scouting genius, I just watch the tapes, take notes and present my best possible opinion. In the second quarter, on the second play of the Hawks second to last drive, I jotted down a little asterisk and wrote: "Alex looks slow again." After having a pretty nice start to the game, this run seemed to signal to me that Shaun Alexander was hitting a wall, winded, breaking down, pick your cliché. Here's Alexander's rushing line from that point onward: 0, 1, 3, 0, 4, 8, 3, 2, 0, -3. Alexander was also targeted on two pass plays: 0, -1. So, the question is, ignoring the insanity of Alexander being targeted in the passing game, if I can tell that Alexander is clearly out of gas, and, at the very least, should be spelled for a couple series, why then did Morris and Weaver have 2 combined touches from that point onward? The Hawks offense looked awful on Saturday, and, clearly, Hasselbeck was in his full, atavistic, circa 2001 splendor, but Alexander, riding Alexander, is killing this rushing game. If the Hawks want to make a surprise Super Bowl run, they must stop forfeiting an entire offensive unit because of loyalty/apathy/incompetence.
• Leroy Hill rocks. Being able to chase down Clinton Portis, coming from the right end to a rush being run around left end, is just something else. He's also improved markedly in coverage. On back-to-back pass receptions by the Skins, Hill held close coverage and then, kind of counterintuitive really, broke his tackle. Hill's a good tackler, who can hit, he's developed into a good coverage linebacker, but I guess he's yet to combine those skills. But, you know what, I think he can. And then, like Lance Briggs, he should be able to force fumbles by laying the wood to preening slot receivers.
• Rock obviously showed up at just the right time in the 4th quarter. I decided to give him extra focus, see if one play was his "breakout": Proof that he was beginning to win his matchup. In the 7th play of the Skins final drive of the 3rd, I thought I saw it. First viewing, I see Fabini getting ripped apart by a maddog Seahawks tackle and think "bingo" Bernard's back. But, nope, it was Mebane nailing a stunt. Bane takes a couple slow steps left, offensive right, bends his knees and then just explodes into Fabini, driving him back towards Collins quick enough and decisively enough that Collins is forced to check down. Now, an 8 yard reception to El on first and 10 is by no means a success for the Hawks defense, but it was nice play, nevertheless.
• Finally, further proof that Brian Russell rots. It's 4th and 1, the Skins are on the Hawks 27, a stop for Seattle gives them the ball and a 13 point lead with about 16:00 minutes left in regulation. Important, yousay? The Hawks D is in a base formation, the Skins run a PA out of a heavy package. Russell reads the PA, at the line of scrimmage assumes man coverage on Sellers, and then is Cajun cooked by Washington's 32 y/o, 284 pound fullback. That Russell had to interfere with Sellers to prevent a touchdown reception is, is, - Jesus, Russell, it's just pathetic.  Russell pitches a fit to the official, but on replay you can see Russell grabbing Sellers' leg with his right arm. A real "heady" move by a player that would make a better coach.

A bit slower quarter, and I'm wearing down after gettin' kind of rowdy last night, so this might be a little shorter.

• Team effort: On the Skins 10 play drive that ended the 1st and opened the 2nd quarter, the Hawks were just tearing through Washington's line. And not because of any one mismatch, either. Mebane, Peterson, Kerney, Bernard, Terrill, Tapp again and Howard Green each recorded a penetration. Green's likely prevented a long reception.
• Burly just shed Shawn Springs on, get this, a really nice route run by Nate. Springs was clearly off yesterday, perhaps feeling his age, but the story for Hawks fans is that Burly has now shown clear, consistent improvement over the last few weeks. Good to see.
• Redskins rushing revisited: Since we spent so much time ripping through the Skins rush packages, I thought a follow up was in order. Portis rushed for 13 on this play.

1. Hawks are in a base defense, The Skins 3 wide with an I-formation. At the snap, Heyer blocks out, Fabini and Rabach combo block in right, and Kendall and Samuels combo block in left.
2. Grant is walked up. Fabini disengages and takes on Tatupu. Peterson hits Sellers just out of the hole.
3. Portis gets skinny, runs between an almost invisible seem, breaks arm tackles by Grant and Tatupu. Is taken down after a gain of 13.

• The key to this run is Fabini being able to block, disengage and the seal of the inside edge on the second level. It helps that Portis is a really special back, if only his line could run block.
• Two plays later Peterson gives Fabini his paralysis stare, then runs untouched to Collins for a sack.
• Jennings was lined across from Reche Caldwell for most of the game. Caldwell caught one pass for 7 yards, and was the target of 3 incompletes. Caldwell isn't any great shakes, but Jennings is good. Real good.
• Beck just didn't have any touch on his short passes: I'm not an orthopedist, but that likely has something to do with the wrist. He had no feel for the underneath stuff, and in Holmgren's offense that's a capital offense. On the third play of the Hawks' final series of the half, Seattle set up a modest screen to Leonard Weaver on 2nd and 15. I say modest because only Spencer was out lead blocking, but, boy, what a determined, dominant block Spencer was dishing out. Spencer, quietly, has really improved. He's not falling over, he's diagnosing blitzes and disengaging combo blocks to pick up free blitzers, and he's beginning to show his huge potential as a pull blocker.
• All Hail Plackemeier!: Plack had a tremendous, tremendous half. In the 1st quarter he twice pinned the Skins behind the 5, and I say "he" pinned the Skins, when I almost never emphasize a player over a team, because Ryan Plackemeier pwned. The 1st hit within the 5 and just died. The second went out at the 2, and it was possibly the best punt I can ever remember seeing. I can't even fathom how someone drop kicks a ball so that it crosses out of bounds within the Skins five yard line, the margin of error there is non-existent. Plack wasn't done, though. In the 2nd he punted a ball from the Hawks 5 to the Skins 45, from the Hawks 10 to the Skins 35, and from the Hawks 35 to the Skins 9, that were each punted so high, that they were unreturnable. Distance doesn't mean shit if your special teams can't set up, being able to combine good distance with great height is how you shutdown the Skins 6th ranked punt return unit.
• Finally, a blitz: I know we haven't talked about Kerney much, he had a good game and we'll get to him in time. He plays a bit part in this blitz, but Leroy Hill is the star and Lofa Tatupu the mastermind.

  Tapp rushes straight ahead. Terrill, rushes hard right. Kerney drops into a short zone. Hill runs up behind Tapp and lets the play develop. Here's the meat: Tatupu engages his man, but stops attempting to rush the quarterback. Instead, he turns right and moves his blocker into the pile. That allows a lane to open for Peterson and eventually Hill. And the gravy: Pete ends up blocked out of the play, but Hill charges into Mike Sellers, pushes him into Collins, jumps above the staggered Sellers, grabs Collins by the jersey and curls him to the ground. That's a play for the highlight reel. From Tats unselfish execution to Hill's freakish strength and agility, an impressive display of team defense.

With us moving, school starting, a 2nd job starting, etc.; there is no way I'll have the kind of time to write previews this week like I did last. I'll still do my best to spread the knowledge, but I can't promise any 11 hour post-a-thons. With that in mind, no time for an off day. We'll throw down the Tape for the first half today, finish up tomorrow, hopefully transition into some game previews, and continue those into Saturday. Cool? Let's get started.

• The words out on Mebane, but it doesn't matter: Very first play of the game, Hawks in base D, Gibbs calls for a run behind left tackle from a power formation. Rabach and Kendall double Bane, Bane turns his left shoulder in and splits the two O-linemen in what's truly an excellent pass rush move, gets behind the line of scrimmage, loses the tackle on Portis but blows up the play. Tats cleans up after a 3 yard gain. Bane declares: "I will not be contained;" Just an excellent opening salvo from Bane.
• Next play: Gibbs attempts a run to the right, Bernard reminds Gibbs that he too is an excellent run stuffer. Penetration, wraps up Portis after 1 yard, Hawks force a third and long.
• Factoid!: In the next series Alexander, Burly and Beck each break a tackle.
• Whoever screwed up, on a blown coverage Beck should have thrown it to Obomanu, not where he's supposed to be: Obo's just short of being a rook, that's on Beck for not adjusting.
• The Truth: On the Skins second rush of their second drive, the Hawks gang tackled Portis after 6 yards. The Hawks have Portis wrapped, so Tru, the freakin' brilliant player that he is, goes for the strip. Nothing came of it, but it's a really heady play, and a compliment to Jim Mora Jr's coaching.
• Tapp dislodges Ross Tucker, makes a great 3rd down stuff.
• Hooray, Babs!: I don't get to write that too often, and the guy's still miserable in coverage, but I have to applaud him for steering Torrence into the ball. It was a little gutsy, maybe too gutsy, but it ended up netting the Hawks 33 yards of field position. As Krusty's accountant said: "Gambling's the finest thing a man can do, if he's good at it."
• Mercury Rising: Lost in the mix, Morris' broken tackle to help Seattle convert a first on their first scoring drive was an excellent display of quick feet and efficient run route running. In Peewee they'd reward that effort w/ more touches. Stump? Stump?
• Weapons Grade Plutonium: A lot of things went right to allow Weaver to rush 17 yards for the score. Foremost, Weaver is an excellent rusher for a fullback. After the snap, Spencer pulls out, but doesn't engage his man. Nevertheless, his presence still functions as a pick, with which Weaver exploits perfectly, running behind Spencer until he has a clear angle to the right, then cutting towards the sideline. That's where Engram is performing a very determined downfield block. Not dominant, and maybe not even legal, but the officials were extremely permissive of holds, and what Engram did was by no means the the worst display of holding I saw in this quarter. (That would be Stephon Heyer grabbing a hold of Kerney's jersey and then falling backwards to the ground, taking Kerney with him.) At this point it's all up to Weaver to smell endzone, and he's does so admirably. Even getting airborne to cross the pylon.

  Here's something you might not have seen, though. Collinsworth noted that the Skins were playing pass. In fact, they had a defensive end, Demetric Evans, playing left defensive tackle opposite Gray. Evans is an end/tackle hybrid and a situational pass rusher. At the snap Evans gets a step on Gray, but Gray gives Evans a big push that knocks him back and away from the center draw. It looks like a week off helped Gray, but how long will it last?

• More love for Babs: That rarest of notes somehow etched into my notebook: GC = Babs. Not a Jennings tip, or a Trufant enveloping, but on the 4th play of the Skins 3rd drive, Babs used a well timed jump to screen Santana Moss and force the incompletion. Little things. Tats, likewise, harried Chris Cooley forcing an incompletion. Both Skins should have made their respective catches, though.
• Walter Jones looked fleet, spry.
• Weaver: Right now, Weaver is a better rusher and receiver than Mack Strong ever was. That's not dig on Strong either, who had some solid seasons. What Weaver can't compare to Strong on is awareness. As a blocker, Weaver runs readily and makes solid contact. Because of his feet and overall strength, Weaver has the potential to be a very good blocker, but he just doesn't always know who to block. That's pretty crucial, of course. On the 3rd play of the Hawks 3rd drive, Morris was dialed up to run off tackle. The Skins' Marcus Washington is walked up to the line, clearly positioned for a run blitz, or a read/react run blitz, but Weaver, whose lead blocking out of the "I", runs past Washington and engages an irrelevant DB. Washington shoots in untouched, and Morris must eat it for a loss of 3. Good discipline by Mercury here to not attempt to escape a broken play, but the result still effectively kills the drive.

Don't let others knock your pride, the Hawks may not have dominated, but they squarely beat the Redskins. Collins was hit 12 times. 15 of Portis' 20 rushes went for 2 or fewer yards. That's huge. That's a shutdown. The inevitable pick 6 barage to end the game was the product of excellent coverage, opportunistic coverage, a shutdown rush D, and consistent pressure. That's how a D wins a football game.

Beck was wobbly. Hopefully whatever was bothering him so bad (wrist) is healed by next Saturday. Alexander has benefited from being spelled, but for crissakes, spell him, Stump. Weaver, Mo, they're good. I give Beck credit for manning up, he didn't play well, but he did compose himself at the half, and his subtle improvement in the second was enough to allow the D to end it.

The Hawks are for real. The D will not play as well in GB, we can accept that. They were incredibly dominant tonight. They could play worse and allow more points - if! If they can bring some of the pass rush to Green Bay. The Pack play a downfield passing attack, a little pressure and we see what a couple forced bombs can turn into. From both teams, in fact. No pressure, and we get Jennings running untouched into the endzone. That's a big if, but don't underestimate this team. The offense is average-above average, but the D and the special teams are capable of an elite showing any given game.

Game Ball: Leroy Hill had an excellent showing. A big sack. A pass stop for 2. A pass stop for -2. Hill has become a well rounded linebacker with a few elite skills. Young, developing. This D is going to be good for quite some time, folks.

Okay, the sky probably isn't falling, and this game probably won't have a major impact on anything that will happen in the playoffs. Not trying to be alarmist, but the Hawks did hurt themselves, literally and figuratively, and in a game where nothing else of import happened, it's what I had to write about. So...

Beck, injured right, throwing hand. Even if it doesn't keep him from playing, it will affect his play. If you believe in momentum, well...it's lost. Many injuries are not fluke, or single play injuries, but the cumulative effect of being hit over and over again. This game has injured Seattle and made it more likely they will suffer injuries throughout the playoffs.

Leonard Weaver and Maurice Morris sure have looked awesome, huh? Bad defense, sure (26th to be exact), but kicking butt is kicking butt. The Falcons are not Oberlin, y'know?

Not much else to say, this game was meaningless, and all it cost us was the health of our quarterback, nickelback and pro bowl corner.

I don't get it, but I like it.

I'm not going to pretend one games means Alexander is back, but his showing today was heartening. The key, if I could hazard a guess without scrutinizing the tape, he hit the hole. Sometimes it wasn't there, but he trusted his blockers and exploded forward. Great rushers, and I'm not sure I've ever thought Alexander was a great rusher, but great rushers redefine themselves as their signature skills diminish. Alexander, in his prime, could weave between defenders using his smarts and agility to pick through a defense. On most runs, against most defenses, he no longer can. But, if today is an exemplar, a performance to build from rather than the flash and fizzle before the true end, it will be because he trusted his blockers, hit his hole, and kept the cuteness to a minimum. How much that could mean for Seattle can't be understated, and, as such, I'm excited, but counting on nothing.

Something we can count on is that this defense, in Qwest, is a force of nature. The Hawks' weakest link in the starting 11, Brian Russell, has performed ably the past few weeks. That's worth a lot, because the other 10 are kicking ass and kicking ass as a team. Because of their depth, their teamwork and the way they demand excellence from each other, saying that the Hawks' D is more than the sum of its parts is more than just a cliché. "Team" really defines this D. If Josh Wilson can stay healthy and assume Jordan Babineaux's duties, the Hawks will not only replace their worst defensive regular with a substantial upgrade, they will add a true pick 6 threat to a D that already panics quarterbacks and blankets receivers. Watch out.

Matt Hasselbeck may not have had his best game as a passer, but as a quarterback, a captain and play caller, it was among his finest.

The Hawks, unit to unit, coach and players look like they got it today. They looked like a winner.  The rest of the contenders in the NFC are sputtering. The Pack was rocked by an average at best Bears squad. The Cowboys are without their best player for, well, however long the muscle bound and suspiciously fast healing Terrell Owens decides not to play. The Hawks have been a maddening team. Hot, cold, dominant and dumb, but this roster, Alexander, Babs and all, is among the class of the NFC. They are healthy and hot when it counts. That guarantees nothing, but it's all you can ask for, and it's pretty damn sweet.

Game Ball: Patrick Kerney/Matt Hasselbeck. I've spoken of Beck, but Kerney, who's been so good, who must now be a front runner for defensive player of the year, has been a season changing free agent addition. I truly hope he can defy the usual decline defensive ends of his age endure, because he's a great player, a great leader and truly at home among his teammates in Seattle.

I'll see you all after the holiday. Merry Christmas.