KIRKLAND, Wash. – Playoffs bring out the best in Seattle wide receiver Deion Branch.
He is, after all, the only guy not named Jerry Rice to have at least 10 catches in a Super Bowl twice. He caught 21 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown in the New England Patriots' two Super Bowl victories.
Branch is sporting a big smile in the Seahawks' locker room this week despite a rough December that included a four-drop performance in a loss to San Diego.
"We all look forward to these games," said Branch, who the Patriots traded to Seattle in September after a long holdout. "This is what we signed up for."
Branch's playoff success wasn't the sole reason Seattle sent New England its 2007 first-round pick and signed Branch to a six-year, $39 million contract. Coach Mike Holmgren and general manager Tim Ruskell cite Branch's steadiness and character.
"It was a very, very good acquisition for us," Holmgren said. "You don't get a chance to get a player like that very often in free agency or any time."
But Holmgren acknowledged that Branch's track record in the biggest games played a significant role in the Seahawks' pursuit of him.
"Any game we play in, he's played in bigger games," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "He's a guy you can count on."
He's also a guy that could exploit the weaknesses of a Cowboys secondary that has allowed 14 touchdown passes in the last four games.
Branch is the only member of the Seahawks' regular receiver rotation with a clean bill of health. Darrell Jackson (toe) and D.J. Hackett (hip flexor) are listed as questionable and will be game-time decisions, Holmgren said. Nate Burleson (ankle) is probable.
A key for Branch is whether Jackson, the Seahawks' No. 1 receiver who has missed the last three games, will be able to play. The presence of Jackson, who worked out Thursday, would allow Seattle to attempt to create mismatches with Branch.
The Cowboys, whose safeties are especially vulnerable in pass coverage, have allowed several secondary receivers to have big games.
Philadelphia's Hank Baskett caught three passes for 112 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown, on Oct. 8. New Orleans' Devery Henderson, Atlanta's Roddy White and Detroit's Mike Furrey are No. 2 or 3 receivers who hurt the Cowboys during the last month.
Branch didn't take the bait when asked if he thought he'd be a mismatch for the Cowboys.
"It's nothing that as a coach you go in and say, 'We're going to get Deion the ball 12 times today,'" Branch said.
Branch has had a decent season, considering he sat out the first two weeks and had to learn Seattle's offense on the go. He caught 53 passes for 725 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season.
"He's made the transition work well," offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. "Some guys would be upset with how it went, but it didn't happen like that. He's been a real big asset for us."
But Branch has gone six games without scoring a touchdown. His best statistical effort during that stretch was a five-catch, 61-yard game in a 20-17 loss to the Chargers on Dec. 24. But Branch was distraught after the game because his four drops played a large role in the loss.
Holmgren, who jokingly blamed Branch's woes in that game on a pair of bright green gloves, said Branch has lived up to the Seahawks' expectations for him.
"He's going to be a great, great player for the Seahawks for a long time," Holmgren said.
The Cowboys hope to prevent Branch from adding to his history of playoff greatness.
E-mail tmacmahon@dallasnews.com
Seahawks receiver Deion Branch excelled in the postseason with the New England Patriots. A look at Branch's best playoff performances:
| Date | Opp. | Rec. | Yds. | TD | | *Feb. 1, 2004 | Car. | 10 | 143 | 1 | | Jan. 23, 2005 | Pit. | 4 | 116 | 0 | | *Feb. 6, 2005 | Phil. | 11 | 133 | 0 | | Jan. 14, 2006 | Den. | 8 | 153 | 0 | |
*Super Bowl
A look at players who aren't their teams' No. 1 receivers who have had big games against the Cowboys this season:
| Player | Team | Rec. | Yds. | TD | | Hank Baskett | Phil. | 3 | 112 | 1 | | Devery Henderson | N. O. | 2 | 92 | 1 | | Roddy White | Atl. | 3 | 104 | 0 | | Mike Furrey | Det. | 11 | 102 | 1 | |
