9 Jan 2011

Super Bowl champions knocked out in first round of playoffs

3:11 pm on 9 January 2011

The Seattle Seahawks have stunned the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints 41-36 in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

The Saints had a 17-7 lead in the second quarter but their secondary struggled, giving up three touchdown passes and a magnificent 67-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown by Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch to secure the victory for a team that won the NFC West with a 7-9 record.