Alexander puts playoff past to rest

Shaun Alexander smiled and ducked the question as easily as he had ducked defenders earlier Sunday. No, Alexander said with a straight face, he didn't pay attention to pundits pondering his postseason performances (or lack thereof) heading into this NFC Championship Game.

Sounds nice and all. But it isn't exactly true.

That news — three career playoff games for Alexander, 94 total yards, one concussion-induced departure — was impossible to miss.

All week, the critics crowed. And all week, the Seahawks listened.

"We all heard about it," tackle Sean Locklear said. "And I'm happy to say that he put that thing to rest."

In a big way. Behind big linemen that made big holes that allowed Alexander to gain more yards in this game (132) than in his three previous playoff games combined.

Funny how much of a difference a week makes. Before this game, critics considered Alexander a playoff bust. After it, he's the franchise leader in career postseason touchdowns (five), single-game rushing attempts (34) and single-game rushing yards.

Busting loose

Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander hadn't had much luck in the postseason coming into Sunday's NFC Championship Game. But in Seattle's victory over Carolina, Alexander had his best postseason game ever (listed by most yards):

132

vs. Carolina

Sunday

34 attempts

3.9 average

2 touchdowns

45

vs. Green Bay

Jan. 4, 2004

20 attempts

2.3 average

3 touchdowns

40

vs. St. Louis

Jan. 8, 2005

15 attempts

2.7 average

0 touchdowns

9

vs. Washington

Jan. 14

6 attempts

1.5 average

0 touchdowns

Before this game, critics pointed to Carolina's run defense. It boasted better statistics than the Washington defense that held Alexander to 9 yards on six carries before knocking him senseless and ending his afternoon before it really started last week. After this game, the MVP of the NFL made them believe all over again.

"He came out and ran like a man on a mission," said fullback Mack Strong, his nose busted on the bridge from opening holes that made Alexander's performance possible. "That's what you expect Shaun to do. That's the reason why he's the MVP."

Alexander never doubted. The man has that kind of confidence — along with the best offensive line in football and a fullback bound for Hawaii and the Pro Bowl.

Even during the week leading up to this game, he told everyone in earshot that he felt great from the neck down. From the head up? "Wait and see," Alexander said. But there was never really any doubt.

Even with the game plan. The Seahawks felt like they could run the ball against Carolina, despite statistics — from Alexander historically in the playoffs and from Carolina against the run this season — that said otherwise.

After they succeeded, tight end Jerramy Stevens said he didn't mean any disrespect, "but it wasn't as hard to run this week as it was last week," and "Washington was more physical."

Alexander broke free for 14 yards on his first run from scrimmage, and he gained 29 yards on back-to-back double-digit gains in the second quarter. This was vintage Alexander; regular-season Alexander; touchdown-scoring, MVP-worthy Alexander.

"Validating" is how teammates described the performance.

And when it ended, Alexander met Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren at the podium on the field. All week, Holmgren had heard the critics talking about his running back. "Unfair" is the word he used to describe their criticism.

The men have always been rumored to have a rocky relationship, and whether they do, or did, mattered little. They embraced each other — two large, grown men, hugging in a shower of confetti — and Holmgren turned to Alexander and said, "Pretty good, huh?"

"I'm just soaking it in," Alexander said.

Later, he expanded on those thoughts. He talked about dreaming big and how nearly every one of those dreams this season has been realized.

"One dream left," Locklear said, referring to the Super Bowl.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Greg Bishop: 206-464-3191 or gbishop@seattletimes.com