SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
"That place has to be miked up because the last time we played there, it
was ridiculous -- we couldn't hear ourselves talk," said Sellers, a native
of the Pacific Northwest. "For a stadium that small, it can't be that loud."
In fact, though, Qwest Field is that loud, causing a league-high 68 false start
penalties by opponents since the 2005 season.
"For one thing, everyone that knows us and has been here knows that we don't
pump in anything artificial," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "It's
all our fans. They have learned to do that. I think it's a learned activity for
them and they realize how much they help us so you don't have to encourage them
a lot.
"Now I would suspect that if they think people are accusing us of doing something
like that they might even come with a little more voice."
The Seahawks are 7-1 at home this season, second only to their 8-0 record in 2005,
when they went to the Super Bowl. They have outscored opponents by an average
of 16.7 points in those seven victories.
The Seahawks players just laughed when they heard about Sellers' comments.
"Oh man, that's the worst thing he could possibly say," linebacker Julian Peterson said. PLAYER NOTES
--WR Deion Branch, who has a strained calf, did not practice on Thursday, though
he ran on the side. Holmgren said Branch, who missed the last game, was a game-time
decision.
--LB Niko Koutouvides, who missed the last game and two practices this week
with a knee injury, practiced on Thursday and is expected to play on Saturday.
--QB Matt Hasselbeck, who injured his wrist on Sunday, practiced for a third
straight day and will play on Saturday.
--RB Shaun Alexander, who has a cracked bone in his wrist and suffered a minor
rib injury Sunday, practiced on Thursday and will play on Saturday.
--DT Rocky Bernard, who has skipped several practices a week for six weeks and
has missed the past two games with a sore groin, has practiced all week and
will play Saturday.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The popular explanations for how the Redskins rebounded from
a 5-11 season in 2006 and a 5-7 record on Dec. 5 involve quarterback's Todd
Collins' stardom after 10 years of obscurity and the players playing in honor
of murdered safety Sean Taylor.
But the untold keys to the turnaround were the late-summer acquisitions of linebacker
Randall Godfrey and receiver Keenan McCardell.
Both veterans have now made the playoffs with five different teams, one shy
of the NFL record according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Former cornerbacks Tim
McKyer and Terrell Buckley reached postseason with six teams.
Godfrey's previous playoff teams were Dallas, Tennessee, Seattle and San Diego.
McCardell's were Cleveland (previous incarnation), Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and
San Diego (with Godfrey).
"When you get chemistry right, it's not just me, it's everybody in this
locker room," McCardell said. "People ask me why I keep coming back.
They say, 'You've already won a ring (with the 2002 Buccaneers).' You play this
game to be in the playoffs. You play this game to have a chance to win the title."
Unlike the 37-year-old McCardell, Godfrey has yet to do at 34.
"That's what's driving me," Godfrey said. "I realize how hard
it is to get one and my years are numbered. Last year was so disappointing for
me to go 14-2 and lose in the first round."
McCardell, middle linebacker London Fletcher (1999 St. Louis Rams) and receiver
Antwaan Randle El (2005 Pittsburgh Steelers) are the only Redskins with rings.
PLAYER NOTES
--WR James Thrash is in a walking boot with a left high ankle sprain. Thrash
didn't practice on Thursday and likely won't play in Saturday's wild card game
at Seattle. He missed four games in November and December with a similar injury.
--QB Jason Campbell remains sidelined with a dislocated kneecap and won't play
against the Seahawks.
--LB H.B. Blades is the son of Bennie Blades and the nephew of Brian Blades,
both of whom once played for the Seahawks.
--CB Shawn Springs was Seattle's first pick (third overall) in the 1997 draft
and started seven seasons for the Seahawks.
--DE Phillip Daniels was Seattle's fourth pick in the 1996 draft and played
four seasons for the Seahawk, starting three.