SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jan 6, 2013
Seahawks 24, Redskins 14: Rookie Russell Wilson threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and visiting Seattle rallied from a 14-0 deficit to end the magical run of Washington, which lost star rookie Robert Griffin III to a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
Marshawn Lynch rumbled for 132 yards - his fifth straight 100-yard effort - and a touchdown on 20 carries and the Seahawks (12-5) extended their winning streak to six games to advance to a divisional-round matchup next Sunday at top-seeded Atlanta.
The Redskins (10-7) got a pair of 4-yard scoring passes from Griffin (10-for-19, 84 yards) on their opening two possessions and appeared headed for a rout, but the first-year signal caller aggravated his right knee injury before the second touchdown and was ineffective the rest of the way.
Griffin's season came to an end when his right knee buckled under him while trying to field a low snap and Seattle recovered at Washington's 5-yard line with 6:19 to play. That led to Steven Hauschka's third field goal - a 22-yarder - and a 24-14 lead that ended the Redskins' seven-game winning streak.
Facing a 14-0 hole - their largest of the season - the Seahawks rallied behind Wilson, who also rushed for 68 yards on seven carries. His 4-yard scoring pass to Michael Robinson cut the deficit to 14-10 with 4:32 left in the second quarter, and Hauschka pulled Seattle within 14-13 with a 29-yard field goal as the first half ended.
The Seahawks had a chance to take the lead but Lynch fumbled at the goal line on the opening drive of the third quarter. They finally forged ahead when Lynch broke loose on a 27-yard run down the right sideline to take their first lead at 21-14 with 7:08 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Seattle ended Washington's season in the playoffs for the third time in the past eight years and snapped an eight-game road losing streak in the postseason dating to 1983. ... There was a pregame stir when noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews told USA Today that he did not give the OK for Griffin to return to a game against Baltimore on Dec. 9 after he initially injured his knee. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said the day after the game that Andrews cleared the quarterback on the sideline. ... Hauschka injured his left ankle in the second quarter but still managed to convert all three field goal attempts.