It’s cliché week in the NFL, which means fans and reporters get to hear the same old tired phrases about not looking ahead and doing or dying. The postseason does that to player and coaches alike, as if Bill Belichick has stepped inside their bodies as soon as a microphone is near.
A few of the clichés do have some merit. After all, it’s hard to take games beyond one at a time if you don’t know who your next opponent is. But there are also those oft-used lines that really don’t make any sense.
Win or go home? Last time I checked, the losers aren’t the only ones to go home after a game. Matt Hasselbeck is sleeping at the Hasselbeck house — win or lose — on Saturday night.
It’s time to separate the men from the boys? Guess that means both teams will line up on one sideline, while the kids who fetch the kicking tees will have the other sideline to themselves.
Just in case some of these phrases have become so ingrained that you can’t see through them, here is a look at some words that come out this time of year … and why they make less sense than we think.
“Do or die.” Perhaps the most often heard phrase of the postseason, this statement is not completely accurate. If it was, Marty Schottenheimer would be on his ninth life by now. And Eli Manning’s body parts would be strewn throughout the Bronx.
“No pre-game pep talks needed this week.” Perhaps not, but it’s safe to assume the coaches are talking anyway. Does anything raise the pressure more than uncomfortable silence? If nothing else, a little pep talk might be good to calm the postseason jitters.
“It’s a must-win game.” The Seahawks lost to Chicago last year, and yet Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and Mike Holmgren still had jobs. A win will carry a team into the next round of the playoffs — that’s it.
“One and done.” The phrase makes sense in hindsight, at least for those teams that lose (although it is a bit of an exaggeration, seeing as how the Seahawks didn’t fold up operations after struggling to win playoff games earlier this decade). But it’s inaccurate when used leading up to a game. One of the teams that play at Qwest Field will be done, but the other will play more than one.
“You’ve got to leave it all on the field.” Let’s hope not. The thought of a naked Rocky Bernard walking away from his helmet, jersey, pads and jock strap are enough to make us forget Janet Jackson forever.
“One week at a time.” Hey, I’m just trying to get through the day. In fact, if I could find my car keys right now, that would be a pretty good start.
A few of the age-old phrases were uttered this week as the Seahawks and Washington geared up for Saturday’s game. Some examples:
“This is what you dream about as a little kid,” running back Shaun Alexander said. Actually, I dreamt of monsters with sharp teeth and high places and being strangled by snakes. Would have loved to have had a wild-card game enter my subconscious, but those thoughts must’ve been chased away by a man in a dark cape.
“If you need hype for the playoffs, you might as well go get your regular 9-to-5,” safety Deon Grant said last Sunday night. Actually, football players work more “regular” 9-to-5 hours than most of us. When’s the last time you actually left at 5? Most of the players are out the door as soon as the eight-hour clock expires.
When asked this week about making it to the postseason, Washington coach Joe Gibbs busted out a cliche by saying: “That’s the good news. The bad news is, we’re going to Seattle.” Does that mean he doesn’t like the Pacific Northwest? Guess he thinks it takes thousands of sleazy politicians to make a city great.
Even Seattle’s Mike Holmgren got into the act Thursday, saying: “You’ve got to have you’re A-game.” Apparently, if neither team plays well, nobody advances.
And that would mean another bye for Green Bay, right?
Wrong. The playoffs aren’t nearly as simple as the clichés would make them out to be.
Redskins at Seahawks
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: NBC (Ch. 5)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Stars to watch: Seahawks — QB Matt Hasselbeck set franchise records for attempts (562), completions (352) and passing yards (3,966) during the regular season. WR Bobby Engram ranked fourth in the NFC with 94 receptions. DE Patrick Kerney led the NFC with 14.5 sacks. CB Marcus Trufant had a career-high seven interceptions, the second-most in the NFC.
Redskins — QB Todd Collins is 4-0 since taking over for injured starter Jason Campbell four weeks ago. RB Clinton Portis ranked third in the NFC with 1,262 rushing yards during the regular season. LB London Fletcher led the team with 156 tackles, while adding three interceptions. CB Shawn Springs, a former Seahawk, had four interceptions during the regular season.
Breaking down the game: Bill this one Motion vs. Emotion.
Seattle’s passing attack, at least on paper, appears to be the kind of active scheme that could have success against a Washington defense designed to stop the run. But any X’s and O’s involving Washington’s NFL team this season come with an asterisk because of the emotional factor.
Washington’s players have been riding an emotional wave since teammate Sean Taylor was murdered in late November. Four consecutive wins have Washington streaking like no other team in the NFC right now, and the Seahawks could be the latest victim.
But emotions aside, the Seahawks seem to have a pretty good matchup. Washington’s recent defensive success stemmed from a system designed to stop opposing runners. Washington hasn’t seen a pass-first attack like Seattle’s for a long time.
Seattle has the motion, the offensive wherewithal and the home crowd to come out on top. But Washington has the emotion, and that might be enough.
Pick: Seahawks, 17-16.
Injury update: Seahawks — WR Deion Branch (calf) missed practice time this week and will be a game-time decision. LB Niko Koutouvides (knee) is expected to play.
Redskins — QB Jason Campbell (knee) missed practice time this week. His status for Saturday’s game won’t be known until this afternoon, when the official injury report comes out.
Little-known fact: The Seahawks have never beaten another team more than once in postseason play. During a 32-year history, Seattle has beaten Denver, Miami, the Los Angeles Raiders, Carolina, Dallas and — in Jan. 2006 — Washington.
Other NFL games
Jacksonville (11-5) at Pittsburgh (10-6), Saturday, 5 p.m.: The Steelers stumbled to the finish line with a nicked-up group, while the Jags have become a popular pick to make some noise in the AFC. (Speaking of the AFC, does it really matter who wins this weekend’s games? Can’t we just get to Indy-New England already?) J-ville has had success in cold-weather stadiums, so maybe the Steel Curtain folds this weekend. Pick: Jaguars, 21-20.
N.Y. Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay (9-7), Sunday, 10 a.m.: Hey, Seahawks fans: just be glad you got the Bucs in Week 1. Tampa went on to have a pretty good season, and playing in the NFC South certainly didn’t hurt. The Giants, meanwhile, have tried like heck to fly under the radar. Once again, Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning will take some heat if — when — the Giants bow out of the postseason. And Jeff Garcia is just the man to do it, having knocked out the G-Men while with the 49ers (in 2002) and Eagles (last year). Pick: Buccaneers, 16-10.
Tennessee (10-6) at San Diego (11-5), Sunday, 1:30 p.m.: Just what the AFC needs: another legitimate contender. The Chargers might be the hottest team this side of New England, but they’re still a long shot to get to the conference championship game. If the Chargers were in the NFC, they might be a lock. In the AFC, San Diego is just another step on the Patriots’ road to perfection. Pick: Chargers, 31-10.
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