NFL Playoffs: Seahawks Pull off Major Upset, Dethrone Saints 41-36

Two days ago, I wrote an article in which I gave three reasons why I believed that the Seattle Seahawks could potentially upset the defending Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/565489-2011-nfl-playoffs-seahawks-have-all-the-makings-for-a-giant-upset

On Saturday afternoon, they did just that, knocking off the Saints 41-36 before a raucous crowd at Qwest Field. With the win, the Seattle Seahawks became the 1st team in NFL History to win a playoff game with a loosing record and the 1st team in NFL history with a losing record to knockoff the defending Super Bowl Champions.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who was questionable entering the Wild Card game, was magnificent, completing 22 of 35 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns to a defense that only allowed 13 total passing touchdowns all year!

The Seahawks, who were down twice by 10 points early in the game at 10-0 and 17-7, went on a 27-3 run between the second and third quarter to take 34-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

On the strength of their passing game, the Saints made a furious comeback in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 34-30, and with 5:36 left in the game, were a possession away from taking the lead. But starting from their own six yard line, against the Seattle defense and the 12th man, the Seahawks defense came up big with a three and out stop of the Saints to get the ball back with under 4:20 left on the clock.

Then, Marshawn Lynch happened. Lynch broke up the middle, to the right, stiff armed Saints defensive Back Tracy Porter and 67 yards later, stumbled his way into the end zone, sending the Seahawks to the Divisional Playoffs next week.

Drew Brees, who remains win less on the road in the playoffs, did just about everything you could ask out of your MVP quarterback, finishing 38 of 59 for 398 yards and two touchdown passes to zero interceptions, but injuries to running backs Pierre Thomas, Christopher Ivory, both of whom didn't play, and the loss of Reggie Bush in the third quarter, was too just to much for Brees and the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints, who are one and done.

The loss drops the Saints to 0-4 all-time on the road in the NFL Playoffs, while Seattle improved to 5-1 in playoff games at Qwest Field.