NFL Round-Up, Divisional Play-Offs

Seattle Seahawks 20, Washington Redskins 10
Matt Hasselbeck threw for a touchdown and ran for another as the Seahawks advanced to the NFC title game next week against the Carolina Panthers.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said he was optimistic that Shaun Alexander, who was injured in the first 10 1/2 minutes, will be able to play.

"I told Matt at halftime that he had to shoulder the load," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "We always put a lot on his shoulders, but I told him that now he had to do a little bit more."

"I told Matt at halftime that he had to shoulder the load," Holmgren said. "We always put a lot on his shoulders, but I told him that now he had to do a little bit more."

Denver Broncos 27, New England Patriots 13
Trying to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, the Patriots simply didn't have enough to overcome Denver's steady play, a few bad breaks or their own five turnovers. That was one fewer than they had during their entire, record-setting 10-game playoff winning streak that ended at the hands of the Broncos.

"When you lose, you want to go down fighting," Brady said. "You want to go down playing your best and we didn't do that. We made it easy for them."

Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Indianapolis Colts 18 Physical usually always beats finesse and that was the case on Sunday. The Colts proved that they really have not changed any. The 13 game winning streak was a farce and just as New England had done in year’s past the Steelers just beat them up.

"It is disappointing. We had a great regular season, didn't play well enough in the playoffs," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "That is disappointing, we have to pick it up from here. Pittsburgh came in and ratcheted things up and played a great game."

Carolina Panthers 29, Chicago Bears 21
It was the Steve Smith show on Sunday as the vaunted Bears defense failed to even slow down the man Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher described as, “the best offensive player in the league.”

Smith had 12 catches for a career-high 218 yards and two long touchdowns, including a 58-yard scoring reception on the second play from scrimmage.

Sunday’s win sends the Panthers to their second championship game in three years. But they'll go without running back DeShaun Foster, who broke his ankle late against the Bears, leaving Smith as their only true offensive threat.

"All we've got to do is keep plugging," Smith said. "Guys got to step it up and I think they will. We will play it by ear after that."

Smith carried the Panthers this entire year, his comeback season after missing 15 games in 2004 with a broken leg. He returned better than ever and ended the regular season as the NFL leader with 1,563 yards receiving.

"He is as tough a competitor as you can find at any position," Carolina coach John Fox said. "He does well home or away."