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Sports

Past week filled with firsts for football

Stat Boy

Jong Lee

Your firsts are always the most memorable. Like the first time you experience a rush of adrenaline, the first time you score that winning basket or even your first steps as a child. Firsts can also be tiny in stature, like the first time you try pushing for that extra yard and get it, or when you win your first MVP, or when you cause your first career forced fumble or when you finally get that monkey off your back.

This weekend was full of firsts in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers proved to be the first sixth seed playoff team to advance to a conference championship, after they pounded one out in Indy. For the first time this season Pittsburgh allowed more than 95 yards to a single receiver -- Reggie Wayne with seven receptions for 97 yards -- and won a game. 

It was not the first time Steelers linebacker Joey Porter opened his mouth when he called Manning and his offense "soft," but he came out and gave the Colts a huge right jab, compiling 1.5 sacks on the former MVP. 

The Colts also allowed five sacks in the AFC conference playoff game, a first this season. 1.5 by Porter, 2.5 by James Farrior and one by tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen, who, as you remember, ripped Carson Palmer's knee into shreds. 

This was also the first time the Steelers won two road playoff games in the same season, quite an accomplishment. Sunday's contest was the first time running back Jerome Bettis put the ball on the ground, which set up Manning and the Colts for a game-tying field goal, which Mike Vanderjagt hooked somewhere toward Pennsylvania.

Tom Brady lost the first playoff game of his career (10-1), while Mike Holmgren won his first playoff game as Seattle's head coach. His last playoff win came when he was still head coach for the Green Bay Packers, against the Steve Young-led 49ers in 1998, before losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII and completing John Elway's career. Speaking of Elway, Mike Shanahan won his first playoff game since Elway retired and Jake Plummer gets a nod as the winning quarterback, also a first in his career. 

Let's not forget the smaller firsts. After receiving MVP honors (first ever by a Seattle player), Shaun Alexander didn't carry the ball for more than 10 carries, a first this season because of a concussion (six carries for nine yards). Ultimately, Seattle did win their first playoff game since 1983 (AFC Divisional Championship vs. Miami 27-20), and now will host the Panthers, who were the first team, against the Bears, to gain more than 200 yards receiving by one player, Steve Smith (12 receptions, 218 yards, 2 touchdowns). Chicago known for its defense actually put up 21 points, led by first-time post season quarterback Rex Grossman (14-41 192 yards, one touchdown, one interception) and lost, which was actually the first time this season the team has suffered a defeat after scoring more than 20 points.

After this weekends firsts, what do we to look forward to next? Seattle has not lost a game this season at home (9-0) and no team has ever won three road games to advance to the Super Bowl (Carolina and Pittsburgh each winning 2).

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