Darrell Jackson came through with several big catches to help Seattle overcome Shaun Alexander's absence. AP

Three hours earlier, the Seahawks fell victim to almost the same fate, but still pulled out a 20-10 victory over the Redskins. Their running game was on hold, even before Shaun Alexander (six carries, nine yards) left the game with a concussion in the first quarter.

The Washington defenders simply had their number, much in the same way that the Patriots swarmed the Denver ground game. The Hawks' whole offense, for that matter, took almost a half to warm up. What kept them in the game, though, was the fact that the Redskins' offense, featuring a very tired-looking Mark Brunell and Clinton Portis, was just as bad. The teams traded three-and-out series for nine straight possessions in the first half, and it was only a fumbled punt by Seattle's Jimmy Williams that broke the scoring ice and set up three points for the Skins.

You could see it coming. The Redskins, undermanned on the offensive side, made up for it by the vicious hitting of their special teams. Williams, in particular, felt their force, and then he fumbled. The difference was that the Seahawks managed to pull themselves together and Washington never did. Plus, Seattle got a magnificent performance from wideout Darrell Jackson, who had missed nine games with a bone bruise in his knee. He caught nine passes for 143 yards and a score, and seemed to come up with a big play when most needed.

The Redskins had their own big-play receiver, Pro Bowler Santana Moss (seven for 103 and a TD), who had a chance to make a play on a pass in the end zone with a little more than eight minutes left in the game and the Seahawks leading by seven. But strong safety Michael Boulware got a hand in their somewhere and Moss couldn't come up with the ball. John Hall hooked the ensuing 36-yard field goal, the Hawks drove for a field goal of their own and it was over.

Player of the game? It had to be a defensive Seahawk, since it was their defense that really won it for them. And he wasn't hard to find -- rookie middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who cruised behind the line making tackles on anything that sneaked through, and, amazingly enough, was able to chase wideouts deep downfield and actually knock away a couple of balls.

The Hawks' running game can be stopped, even with Alexander in there. The Redskins proved that. Jackson gives them an element they didn't have most of the season, and the defense is better than it showed for much of the year. Or maybe it was just that it was facing a very tired, worn-down Redskins offensive line. Fresh legs. Can't beat 'em.