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Redskins bring momentum to Seattle

Jan 5, 2008 - 12:53 PM Washington (9-7) at Seattle (10-6) Saturday 4:30 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Washington Redskins are undefeated since Sean Taylor's funeral.

After a storybook run to the postseason, the sixth-seeded Redskins face the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday in a rematch of a 2006 playoff game won by the Seahawks.

As it prepares for the playoffs, Washington has a hot quarterback - albeit an unlikely one in Todd Collins - and plenty of confidence and momentum.

After beating the Dallas Cowboys, 27-6, on Sunday to clinch the NFC's final playoff spot, the Redskins pointed out something else. The 21-point margin of victory represented the uniform number worn by Taylor, who died on November 27 after being shot during a burglary at his home.

"You know, it's strange," running back Clinton Portis said. "The strangest things have been happening to us all season, especially to finish the season winning by 21 points against Dallas."

Washington dropped to 5-7 following a last-second lost the Buffalo Bills - the Redskins' fourth straight defeat - but they are 4-0 since Taylor's funeral.

Collins, a 36-year-old journeyman who hadn't started in 10 years, has led the Redskins to three straight victories. Since replacing starter Jason Campbell, Collins has thrown five touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 64 percent of his passes.

While Portis rushed for 104 yards against the Cowboys - his second 100-yard game in three seasons - the Redskins also have been playing inspired defense.

Washington surrendered only 147 total yards against the Cowboys, who were held to one yard rushing on 16 carries.

"To get in the playoffs was a dream of ours," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "Four weeks ago, everybody would have said, 'It looks impossible.'"

The Seahawks (10-6) are no strangers to the playoffs, having won their fifth straight NFC West title.

Two seasons ago, Seattle lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10, in Super Bowl XLI Last season, they defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 21-20, in a wild card game before falling to the Chicago Bears, 27-24, in the divisional round.

The Seahawks, who are seeded third, were not too concerned that they ended the regular season with a 44-41 loss to the lowly Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

While coach Mike Holmgren rested many of his starters, including quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who only played the first half, the 44 points were the most allowed by the Seahawks in four years.

Still, Seattle's ground game appears to be peaking at the right time as the Seahawks ran for 167 yards - the second straight week in which they rushed for a season high.

Maurice Morris ran for a season-high 91 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Morris has emerged as another option to addition to Shaun Alexander, who was slowed this season due to a series of injuries.

"We're just trying to establish some consistency in the running game going into the playoffs," Morris said.