Falcons wide receiver Roddy White and Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, two players who were overlooked in the Pro Bowl voting, raged a major battle within the NFC divisional playoff game on Sunday.
White, a four-time Pro Bowler, was left in one-on-coverage against Sherman, a talented second-year player, who while he didn’t make the Pro Bowl team was voted All-Pro.
On the Falcons first drive, White got behind Sherman, who raced back and deflected the would-be touchdown pass.
Seattle elected to double cover wide receiver Julio Jones and kept a safety near tight end Tony Gonzalez.
That left White to battle Sherman for most of the game.
White got free for a 47-yard touchdown grab on Sherman to put the Falcons up 20-0 and they exchanged words.
“He’s a talker,” White said. “He’s a bit of a talker, so I just asked him to talk to me for a little while. He didn’t have too much to say after that play, so he kind of walked to the sidelines. Other than that, that was about it.”
Sherman, who earlier this season jumped in Tom Brady’s face after the Seahawks upset New England, didn’t speak to the media after the game.
White lead the Falcons with 76 yards receiving on five catches. It was a busy day for Sherman, who was targeted 10 times.
Sherman did finish with three pass breakups.
“Anytime you get a win, especially in the playoffs, and those guys have to go home, we get to move on, we have another home game,” White said. “We’ll be excited. We’ll be ready for next week.”
White, on a key catch on third down-and 14 in the first quarter, became the team’s all-time leader in playoff receptions with 24, surpassing Terance Mathis.
White’s 47-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter tied him with Mathis for the most touchdown receptions in the postseason by a Falcons.
