The NFL playoffs are well under way, and while the Seattle Seahawks are not participating in them this year, their presence is still felt. The Seahawks went on quite the run under head coach Pete Carroll, enjoying the golden age of the franchise. In those glory years came plenty of iconic playoff moments, but perhaps the greatest was Seattle’s heroic comeback over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.
It is truly hard to believe this happened 10 years ago to the day. In many ways, it feels like a lifetime ago, and yet… just like yesterday.
The Seahawks were on the verge of defending their NFC crown from the previous year. The only thing that stood between them and repeating as conference champions was the team they beat to kick off the 2014 season: Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers. Seattle obliterated Green Bay to the tune of 36-16 in Week 1, but Pack were not so easy to dispatch the second time around.
Green Bay had the Seahawks offense in football Hell, shutting them out for nearly three full quarters as they had built a 16-0 lead that felt considerably wider than merely two scores. Seattle’s fortunes officially began to shift once punter Jon Ryan threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal to Garry Gilliam to get the Hawks on the board. It was the jolt of life Seattle desperately needed.
10 years ago today.
🎥: @NFLLegacy pic.twitter.com/kClogD68v5
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 18, 2025
The Seahawks trailed 19-7 late into the fourth quarter. Seattle had managed to cut it to 19-14 thanks to a Russell Wilson touchdown run. Still, the Seahawks’ hopes were entirely dependent upon a successful onside kick…
…which they got! The ball bounced through the hands (and facemask) of Packers tight end Brandon Bostick and into the waiting arms of Seattle receiver Chris Matthews. Suddenly, the Seahawks felt dangerous. Marshawn Lynch powered his way into the end zone and a miraculous Wilson pass to Luke Willson gave Seattle an unimaginable 22-19 lead.
The fireworks did not end there. Aaron Rodgers maneuvered Green Bay into position to kick a game-tying field goal to send it to overtime at 22-22. Fortunately for the Seahawks, they won the coin toss and got the ball first. Wilson had arguably the greatest play in his career when he found wide receiver Jermaine Kearse for the game-winning walk-off touchdown pass to send the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl.
This will forever be a moment in Seattle sports history no one will ever forget.
10 years ago today, the @Seahawks pulled off an all-time playoff comeback. pic.twitter.com/JZ2dP0wxbp
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2025
