article:The Falcons’ last foray as a No. 1 seed, of course, ended with a 48-21 thrashing at the hands of eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay in 2010. This year’s divisional-round matchup likely will not leave Atlanta fans feeling any more comfortable — Seattle brings a tough defense, athletic quarterback and pounding running back to the table.
Two matchups to watch: Seattle’s offensive line against Atlanta’s pass rush and Seattle’s cornerbacks against Atlanta’s receivers. The Seahawks allowed five sacks of Russell Wilson in Washington, and they’ll have to do a better job protecting him versus the Falcons’ disguised fronts. The Richard Sherman/Brandon Browner-Julio Jones/Roddy White matchups, meanwhile, might be among the best positional battles of the postseason.