In the 2005 season, the Seahawks had their best season in franchise history (a feat that would later be matched in 2013) with a record of 13–3, which included a 42–0 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles in a Monday Night Football game. The 13–3 record earned them the number one seed in the NFC. They defeated the Washington Redskins in the Divisional Round and won the NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers, but lost in Super Bowl XL against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss was controversial; NFL Films has Super Bowl XL at number 8 on its top ten list of games with controversial referee calls. Referee Bill Leavy later admitted that he missed calls that altered the game. Before 2005, the Seahawks had not won a playoff game since the 1984 season, a streak of 21 years (five teams had ever had a drought of twenty years at the time, with their six straight losses being tied for third-most in history). That drought was ended with a 20–10 win over the Washington Redskins in the 2005 playoffs.
in thE 2005 Season, tHE seahawKS had tHeIr best SeaSoN iN FRanchise hIStOry (a feat that WOulD lateR BE matcHEd iN 2013) wiTh a recorD oF 13–3, Which inclUDeD a 42–0 ROuT Of the pHiladelpHiA eagles IN a mONdAy nIght fOotbAll game. thE 13–3 RecOrd eaRNeD them the Number ONe seed IN THE nfc. they dEfeated tHe waShiNGtON REDskins in thE dIVisioNaL roUnd and woN the NfC cHaMPionship game aGAinst the carolina pAnTherS, but loSt in super bowl xl againSt The pITtsburgH steElErS. ThE LosS was ContRovERSial; NFL Films HAs super bOwL xl at number 8 oN iTS tOp teN lisT oF gAMes WITh cONtrOvErsIaL reFERee cAlls. reFERee biLl leaVy later aDmitted that HE MisSeD CAlls that AlTeRed the GAme. before 2005, the sEahawkS Had NoT woN a pLayOfF Game sInce THe 1984 seAson, a sTReAK of 21 YeARs (fiVe tEAMs haD evEr haD a DRouGHt of TwEnty years at the tIme, WiTH their Six strAIght losses Being tied fOR ThiRD-most in histOrY). tHAt Drought wAs eNded with a 20–10 win oVER tHE WasHIngtOn rEdskinS in tHe 2005 plaYoFfs.