Seahawks 28-13 Colts - Verdict

After the death of Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy's son, any symbolic significance was taken from this game even before kickoff. The Seahawks wrapped up home field advantage through the NFC half of the playoffs while the Colts looked to get the game over as quickly as possible before heading to the funeral. Of vital importance for Indy, though, is that they now pick themselves up and rediscover their momentum going into the postseason.

Even without defensive stars Cato June and Bob Sanders, both at home with minor injuries, and with Dwight Freeney playing sparingly, the Colts should have been able to hold Shaun Alexander to less than his stellar 139 yards and three touchdowns. Even with Marvin Harrison rested and Peyton Manning only playing for the first two drives, they should have gained more than 41 yards from Edgerrin James.

If these sides face each other in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks will be without their inspirational crowd but carrying a strong psychological boost from this encounter. However, if the Colts get as far as the final game of the NFL season, they will be far better prepared to take Seattle on.

NFLBriefing.com