Photo: The Post and Courier

In another instant classic the Seattle Seahawks battled back late to take a one point lead with seconds left. In what was thought to be another debacle for the Falcons, the Seahawks defense allowed Matt Ryan to make two deep passes to allow the Falcons in field goal range for the winning score. As usual in the NFL, coaches will try to ice the kicker with a last minute time out. But what we have seen in the last couple of years, this has gone to backfire because the although the timeout is called, the kicker still gets a chance to kick the field goal and basically gets a practice shot to make the real one.

This is what happened Sunday as Pete Carroll waited until the last second to call the timeout. As it happened, kicker Matt Bryant missed wide right but a timeout was called. On the subsequent kick, Bryant nailed it right between the uprights sending the Falcons to the NFCCG.

So why did Pete Carroll call the timeout? According to him at his press conference, he was told before the game that the kicker would not be allowed to kick the ball. Well that didn’t happen and the rest is history.

Let’s see if any coaches will pull a last second timeout next week.

Much of the NFL world is still talking about RGIII’s injury but the Seahawks suffered a significant injury losing DE Cris Clemons to a torn ACL & meniscus. According to Seahawks.com,

Chris Clemons will need surgery, coach Pete Carroll said on Monday, to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and damaged meniscus in his left knee. The team’s sack leader in each of the past three seasons and a Pro Bowl alternate this season was injured during the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-14 victory over the Washington Redskins in a wild-card playoff game at FedEx Field.

With Clemons out, first-round draft choice Bruce Irvin will start at Leo end in this week’s divisional playoff game against the Falcons in Atlanta.

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