Saturday's Divisional Round playoff game between the Seahawks and Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta will mark the second meeting between the two teams this season, with Seattle securing a 26-24 win back in Week 6 at CenturyLink Field. During his Monday morning segment on 710 ESPN Seattle following his team's 26-6 Wild Card win over the Detroit Lions, Pete Carroll said that early-season matchup serves as an advantage for both sides heading into this weekend.
"Just in preparation it's a relative advantage that we're going to try to whip them at during the week and take more out of it than they get out of it," said the Seahawks head coach. "But they'll be battling, too. They've got a great staff, they've had a fantastic year, and there's a lot of great matchups now inside of this game and it's going to be fun to watch."
The Falcons finished the 2016 regular season with an 11-5 record, winning five of their final six games to close the year. That late-season success earned them the No. 2 seed in the postseason and the first-round bye that comes with it. Carroll said there's "tremendous scheme familiarity" between the Seahawks and Falcons, with Dan Quinn, Seattle's defensive coordinator during its back-to-back Super Bowl appearances from 2013-14, now holding the head-coaching job in Atlanta, where several former Seahawks assistants are also employed, a list that includes Falcons offensive line coach Chris Morgan, assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter, linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich, and secondary coach/senior defensive assistant Marquand Manuel.
"Their blocking principles, their concepts, their relationships — we know each other so well," Carroll said. "I think this is really, really fun. It's like the chess game against the guy that you really got to battle at because he's really good and we know we're up against it, so it's great fun."
Saturday's game will also mark the Seahawks' second postseason meeting with the Falcons. The other came during the 2012 season when the Carroll-coached Seahawks were coming off of their first road playoff win since 1983, dispatching the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round behind rookie quarterback Russell Wilson before moving on to the Divisional Round at Atlanta. Seattle dug itself into a 20-0 hole at halftime of that game before rallying in the fourth quarter to stake a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds left to play. But Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan needed just two plays to get his team in field goal range, completing passes of 22 and 19 yards to set up what proved to be the game-winning field goal from 49 yards out, as Atlanta moved on to the NFC Championship game with a 30-28 win.
"It was a significant game," Carroll recalled of what that postseason game meant to his team's current run of five Divisional-Round appearances in a row. "Russell, remember how he talked about it coming off the field into the tunnel before we even got to the locker room he was already talking about next year. We all were ready to go there because we had done so much that year to explode as a team and come together and 34 seconds takes that thing away from you. We were rolling.
"We were not wavered by that," Carroll added. "If anything it gave us a resolve that catapulted us."
Carroll went on to compare the end of that Falcons playoff game, and more significantly the feeling that followed, to the way the Seahawks were eliminated from postseason contention last year, when Seattle lost 31-24 in the Divisional Round to the Carolina Panthers, a road game that also featured a second-half surge by the Seahawks that wound up falling short.
"It's not unlike what happened at the end of last year. Last year was very similar," Carroll said. "We all talked about it. It felt very similar. We didn't come out of that game with a big negative feeling. We came out with a positive feeling and an awareness of what we could become and what we could do that really interjected a whole spirit during the offseason."
The Seahawks return to practice on Tuesday this week with a 'Competition Wednesday' workout — and they’ll do so with rookie running back C.J. Prosise in the mix — and will practice again on Wednesday and Thursday before departing for Atlanta on Thursday afternoon. Monday acted as a pseudo-Tuesday for the Seahawks, which traditionally signals the players' day off and a preparation day for the coaching staff, something Seattle wasn't afforded last week with a Sunday regular-season finale followed by a Saturday Wild Card game.
"I can't wait to get back upstairs to tell you the truth," Carroll told 710 ESPN hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk. "There's a lot of stuff going on right now. [Today] is huge. We didn't have this day last week, we missed it, and so it feels like we're rewarded with a great opportunity to really dig in."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive behind-the-scenes images from the Seahawks' 26-6 win over the Detroit Lions in an NFC Wild Card playoff game on Saturday, January 7 at Seattle's CenturyLink Field.
Jimmy Graham arrives at CenturyLink Field at 145pm, some 3 1/2 hours before kickoff for the wild card playoff game against the visiting Detroit Lions.
At 3:20pm, punter Jon Ryan pauses to sign autographs as he heads back to the locker room after working out on the field.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was named All-Pro this week, acknowledges fans as he heads to the field for his early warmups.
New return specialist Devin Hester fields punts two hours before kickoff.
In the locker room defensive players Frank Clark, Cassius Marsh and Kelvin Taylor relax and hydrate.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, lit by a television light, prepares to the the field for warmups.
Free safety Earl Thomas returned to CenturyLink Field for the first time since injuring his leg, and he joined his Legion of Boom teammates outside the locker room for their pregame huddle.
Earl Thomas watches the Seahawks warmup on the field while in his boot and crutches after injuring his leg during the regular season.
Defensive end Frank Clark takes a moment and walks to a line of fans and family members during pregame warmups.
Doug Baldwin finds space alone in the locker room before kickoff.
Michael Bennett rallies his teammates just before the Seahawks left the locker room for kickoff.
Seahawks players wait impatiently in the tunnel to run onto the field during pregame ceremonies.
Cornerback DeShawn Shead walks through fog and lasers as he waits for his name to be called during pregame introductions.
The arches of CenturyLink Field are temporarily bathed in red, white and blue as a giant American flag is held by military personnel during the playing of the national anthem.
Richard Sherman gathers his teammates around on the Seahawks sideline just prior to kickoff.
Bobby Wagner fights through blocks to tackle Detroit's Zach Zenner in the first quarter.
Russell Wilson tries to fire a pass as he is being dragged down by Detroit's Kerry Hyder.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll shouts instructions during the first half.
12s let their voices be heard during the first quarter.
The run game began to find its footing in the second quarter as Justin Britt (68), George Fant (74) and company opened holes for running back Thomas Rawls (34).
With the game still scoreless, the Seahawks went for it on fourth down, and receiver Paul Richardson reached around his defender to make this acrobatic touchdown catch.
Seattle's DeShawn Shead deflects a pass just before it reaches Lions receiver Anquan Boldin in the first half.
Thomas Rawls rumbles free up the left side in the second quarter.
In the locker room at halftime, Cliff Avril and Cassius Marsh listen to instructions from defensive coordinator Kris Richard.
Members of the defense pay attention as halftime instructions and adjustments are given in the Seattle locker room.
New Seahawks long snapper Tyler Ott (with ball) recovered a Jon Ryan punt at the four-yard line in his debut with the team.
Thomas Rawls heads upfield on a long run up the right side. Notice quarterback Russell Wilson running behind him.
Near the end of the play, quarterback Russell Wilson provides a block as Thomas Rawls cuts back for a 32-yard gain that would set up a Seattle field goal.
Kicker Steven Hauschka nails a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend Seattle's lead to 13-3.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin gets free in the secondary to haul in a 42-yard reception in the third quarter.
Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls leaps in the end zone after scoring on a four-yard touchdown run to extend Seattle's lead to 19-6 over Detroit.
Seaahawks receiver Doug Baldwin stiff-arms Lions Don Carey in the fourth quarter.
The Sea Gals perform in the south end zone between quarters.
Seattle's Paul Richardson gets a step on Detroit's Nevin Lawson and makes a one-handed catch for 27-yards.
With Detroit's Nevin Lawson holding his right arm, Seattle's Paul Richardson uses his left hand to complete the one-handed catch.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin manages to catch a pass from Russell Wilson with one hand and his leg for a first down on a play that was initially ruled incomplete then overturned on review.
Doug Baldwin signals "first down" as officials review his catch in the fourth quarter.
Receivers Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse celebrate after Baldwin's touchdown gave Seattle a 26-6 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Cliff Avril sacks Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford just prior to the two-minute warning.
On the Seahawks sideline, defensive backs Neiko Thorpe and Kam Chancellor celebrate the victory.
Running back Thomas Rawls, who finished the night with 161 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, walks onto the field after the final whistle.
Former teammates and still friends Jermaine Kearse and Golden Tate pose for a photo together after the game.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin stops to acknowledge a young fan on his way back to the locker room after the win.
Seahawks Doug Baldwin and Bobby Wagner shake hands with Bert Kolde and team owner Paul Allen as they enter the locker room postgame.
Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam shakes hands with safety Kam Chancellor while in the background Richard Sherman talks with GM John Schneider.
Offensive architects Tom Cable and Darrell Bevell chat in the locker room after the win.
Running back Thomas Rawls acknowledges teammates and especially the offensive line including Germaine Ifedi, Justin Britt, Mark Glowinski and Garry Gilliam after the game.
Right tacker George Fant shakes hands with running back Thomas Rawls after the the Seahawks rushed for 177 yards in the win over Detroit.
Michael Bennett brings the Seahawks together in the middle of the locker room postgame.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman offers a wave and a smile to the media during his postgame press conference.
Friends and family of receiver Doug Baldwin listen as he speaks to the media after the game in which he caught 11 passes on 12 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown.
