The last time the New Orleans Saints faced the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs, Marshawn Lynch did something insane. Almost three years later to the day, the two teams will face each other again, this time with the Saints playing the role of the plucky underdogs. The game will once again be played at CenturyLink Field, which created a minor earthquake during Lynch's run and has been one of the toughest places to play in the NFL this season.
Uffsides: Saints vs. Seahawks Divisional round preview
It’s not just a rematch of Week 13’s Monday night 34-7 shellacking, it’s also the three-year anniversary of Marshawn Lynch’s famous “Beastquake” run against the Saints in the playoffs. Can the Seahawks continue their home dominance and make it three in a row against Sean Payton and Drew Brees in Seattle? Or can the Saints overcome their road woes for a second consecutive week? Matt Ufford and the crew preview the games and make their predictions.
The Saints struggled mightily on the road during the regular season, with all five of their losses coming away from the Superdome. They looked impressive in Philadelphia last week, however, defeating the Eagles in bitter cold to earn the first road playoff win in franchise history. Drew Brees wasn't his usual scintillating self during the game, but the running backs picks up the slack. Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson and Darren Sproles combined for 171 yards rushing on 30 carries.
The Seahawks’ defense should be a stiffer challenge, however. Seattle relinquishes 101.6 yards rushing per game, and has allowed a league-low four touchdowns on the ground this season. Brees will need to be on point if the Saints are going to pull out the upset. He struggled when the two teams met at CenturyLink earlier this season, however, going 23-for-38 passing for 147 yards during the Saints’ 34-7 loss.
For more on the Divisional round, check out Matt’s full breakdown of the weekend.
