Matt Hasselbeck’s OT declaration in Green Bay deserves a deep rewind

It’s January 2004 — overtime of a hard-fought game on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. The Seattle Seahawks have the ball facing a 3rd-and-long, trying to get some walk-off points to beat the Green Bay Packers and move on to Philadelphia for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Their quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, has made the ballsiest, boldest move imaginable heading into OT, declaring into referee Bernie Kukar’s hot mic after winning the coin toss: ‘We want the ball, and we’re gonna score.’

It’d be understandable why it was difficult to keep his emotions from bubbling to the surface. Hasselbeck used to be the backup to Packers legendary quarterback Brett Favre and has returned to his old stomping grounds for his first career playoff game.

There are so many tentacles intertwined between the two teams, the head coaches, the quarterbacks, and more. It’s only fitting that 60 minutes wasn’t enough to settle this one. And it’s a good thing it wasn’t, lest we be deprived the picture-perfect ending stemming from Hasselbeck’s guarantee.