In a season that may now officially be described as a fairy tale, Seattle knocked the defending champion Saints out of the playoffs with a 41-36 victory.
Having conquered the defending champion Saints and vanquished his mentor Bill Belichick, Mangini hosts the Jets, whom he coached through his metamorphosis from Boy Genius to baby-faced Machiavelli before being ripped apart by the tectonic forces of Big Apple expectations and Brett Favre egocentrism.
Why can't a guy who refuses to practice, take on a Bears defense with Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers, or the defending champion Saints, or the talented and vengeful Packers?
After the break Roger Wilson's converted try and some ferocious defending by Saints ensured they strengthened their position in third.
Stubborn defending typified Saints' first-half performance as they were forced to repel Kilmarnock's advances and try to build counter-attacks using the pace of Gwion Edwards.
"They got in the playoffs last year at 7-9 and knocked off the defending champ Saints". But with a loss to Brethren, the Lightning would be a long-shot to make the playoffs.
They will face a Seahawks team that slipped into the playoffs with a 7-9 record and knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion Saints last week behind a memorable touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch and a superb effort by Matt Hasselbeck.
In 2010, the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West at 7-9 and even won their Wildcard Round game against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints, but the "worst" team they could have met from the AFC, had they reached the Super Bowl, was a 10-6 division champion.
Carmarthen 0-0 The New Saints: Carmarthen put their 7-1 defeat at Prestatyn behind them by grinding out a goalless draw against defending champions Saints.
Marseille's form has slumped in recent weeks with only three wins in the past eight league games and the defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain, can move above their rivals if they beat Caen at home on Saturday.
McFadden's influence was growing as the half wore on, but it was Hamilton who hit the front, thanks to some slack Saints defending.
