Thanks for the props guys. Like a lot of you, I've been pretty anxious for this game. Here's what's rolling around my mind here at 5:30am -- December 31, 1983. The Seahawks went on the road and beat a Miami Dolphins team led by Dan Marino who had posted what were incredibly impressive offensive numbers for a rookie QB at that time ... 3,045 Yards ... 57% pass completion rate ...
28 touchdowns ... and only 11 interceptions.
The Seahawks meanwhile, had a good offensive team that year, as like this 2012 club they could run the ball (Curt Warner won Rookie of the Year rushing for 1,449 yards and 13 TD). And like this 2012 club what they were really became known for (like this 2012 team) was their defense. Seattle's Defense finished 2nd in the NFL in the Give Away/Take Away Turnover battle with a +16 margin that year (they led the NFL with a +24 in 1984). Their secondary (like this one) had some phenomenal players back there who really made that team special -- CB Dave Brown (who went to the Pro Bowl in 1984) ... FS John Harris ... and the best SS in Seahawks History bar none -- Kenny Easley.
If you never saw Easley play, he was a real man among boys. He was one of the most physically talented secondary players I've ever seen honestly. Though he may never get mentioned in the same breath as guys like Ronnie Lott or Jack Tatum, he should honestly -- he was that good. He was very fast, an incredibly hard hitter, and had a big time nose for the football (he had 7 interceptions in 1983). If I could snap my fingers and magically have him at his peak ... and I had a choice between Easley and Kam Chancellor at SS for this game today, there would be no hesitation -- See ya Chancellor. His career was cut short due to kidney issues caused by too much ibuprofen before games. Otherwise, he'd have been a sure Hall of Famer. I found this uploaded video awhile back -- an old NFL films highlight of Kenny Easley. I'd encourage you just as a pure football fan to watch this guy and what he could do. There is no question he could step on a football field today and dominate just the same way he did back then.
Kenny Easley Youtube Highlight Video
Anyway, December 31, 1983 ... the Seattle Seahawks went in to Joe Robbie Stadium as heavy underdogs in that game ... and knocked off the high powered Dolphins team 27-20, shocking the nation.
Courtesy of some unknown 12th Man out there, here are the highlights of that game ...
1983 Seahawks-Dolphins NFL Films Highlights
And that is exactly what I believe this Seahawks team is going to do today. That game was the last time that the Hawks won a road playoff game ... 29 years ago. You know what -- it's history. Though I know this is the playoffs and that anything can and does happen on Any Given Sunday ... today I feel confident that the Seahawks will make history as a new era of Seahawks Football dawns -- an era marked by annual trips to the post-season and hopes of multiple Super Bowl Titles.
Back to the Present here and focusing on this game ... what thoughts/keys/whatever have you guys got on this match-up today?