Seattle's stake in today's games

Both of today's playoff games are of interest to Seahawks diehards.

Three of last year's Seattle starters will play today for Baltimore when the Ravens vie for a win in Pittsburgh.

You may not see much of TJ Houshmandzadeh, who has been reduced to reserve duty for his current team, playing behind Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin. During the regular season, Housh caught 30 passes for three scores and nearly 400 yards. He caught just one ball last week in the wild card game in Kansas City. However, the highlight of his season came in Week Four when he caught the winning touchdown in Pittsburgh.

I hope Housh manages some similar magic today.

However, when the Steelers have the ball, two ex-Seahawks will be starting for Baltimore: defensive tackle Cory Redding and cornerback Josh Wilson.

After a single unimpressive season in Seattle, Redding has had a solid year in Baltimore. He has started more games for the Ravens this season (12) than he did for the Seahawks in 2009 (3). Interior defensive linemen labor in anonymity, stoutly plugging the middle gaps, and while they make few tackles themselves, they create opportunities for other defenders. So far this season, Redding has logged forty tackles and three sacks. He also grabbed a memorable interception to seal a victory over New Orleans.

I hope Redding rips off Roethlisberger's face today.

I rue the trade of Josh Wilson more than any personnel change since Seattle let Steve Hutchinson escape in free agency.

Wilson began the season as Baltimore's third-string corner. Since then, he quickly clawed his way up the depth chart. He has started the last nine straight games. His overtime pick six gave Baltimore a Week 14 win in Houston, and another interception sealed his team's victory over Kansas City last week.

I hope Wilson grabs a clutch of interceptions from Big Ben.

Baltimore and Pittsburgh have one of the league's best rivalries. Their contests are always close and brutally hard-hitting.

NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci has guaranteed that today's Ravens-Steelers matchup will be "literally a bloodbath."

That statement tempts me to say that Mooch is literally a moron. But, of course, he's really only figuratively a moron.

Of course, the most important game for Seattle is this evening's game between Green Bay and Atlanta.

Like every Seahawks diehard, I'm rooting for the Packers to fudgify the Falcons, because that would allow Seattle to host the conference championship game if they can beat Chicago.

If the Falcons win, I fear that we might phone it in against Chicago, knowing that a road trip to Atlanta would be no fun.

Atlanta is tough at home, so the Pack have their work cut out for them.

Go, Green Bay!