Seahawks make the playoffs, but it wasn't easy

KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -- For the first time since the 1999 season, coach Mike Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks are in the playoffs.
It wasn't easy.
After finishing the regular season Saturday with a 24-17 victory in San Francisco, the Seahawks (10-6) made the playoffs Sunday in a complicated BCS-like "strength of victory" tiebreaker when Dallas lost in New Orleans 13-7.
It turns out the Seahawks didn't need it. They would have made the playoffs anyway because when Minnesota lost in Arizona, Seattle finished with one of the top six records in the NFC.
"Yesterday we hoped for the opportunity to extend our season," coach Mike Holmgren said. "Today we received that opportunity. It is very exciting for not only the players, coaches and organization, but the fans and our community who have supported us so well this season."
Will play Packers
The Seahawks will open the playoffs Sunday in Green Bay against the Packers, the team Holmgren coached for seven seasons and led to a Super Bowl title. They met there Oct. 5, with the Packers winning 35-13.
"This is something we've worked for since August," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "It's great that all of our hard work has paid off. Now we need to take care of business. We have a great opportunity and we're excited."
Seattle, which started the season 5-1, was 8-0 at home but just 2-6 on road.
10-win season
Hasselbeck's improvement this season helped the Seahawks win 10 games for the first time since 1986, when they were 10-6 under coach Chuck Knox but missed the playoffs.
Running back Shaun Alexander said Sunday that "excitement is an understatement" for all the Seahawks. He said there's no doubt the team has momentum going into the playoffs.
"I'm excited with what's going to happen this year and I'm excited for us being in the playoffs," he said. "The sky's the limit with us.