Sports

Remarkable rookie QBs in capital clash

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LANDOVER, Md. — As the general manager of the Giants, Jerry Reese knows it is his job to find defensive players with enough speed and agility to at least have a chance of containing Robert Griffin III, the Redskins quarterback who figures to terrorize the Giants and the entire NFC East for years to come.

Imagine what Reese will be thinking Sunday, as his Giants failed to make the playoffs one year after winning the Super Bowl, while the surviving team in his own division got in with a rookie at the controls.

For the first time in NFL history, a playoff game kicks off with two rookie quarterbacks starting against each other, as RG3 and the Redskins face Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in an improbable NFC wild-card matchup at FedEx Field.

“It’s good for the league to have these young quarterbacks, and it makes the brand even greater to have these young guys in the playoffs,’’ Reese said.

Reese saw first-hand how RG3 gave the Giants fits, and no doubt he kept up on Wilson’s exploits for the Seahawks.

“Just like all rookies, after the league gets a playbook on these guys it will be a little bit more difficult for them moving forward,’’ said Reese, citing Cam Newton’s sophomore struggles as an example.

Perhaps, but that’s for another day. The Redskins have been to the playoffs just three times since 1994, and this is considered to be the dawn of a new day in D.C. These are two of the NFC’s hottest teams, the Redskins (10-6) riding a seven-game winning streak and the Seahawks (11-5) are winners of five straight and seven of their last eight.

“This is a big deal, to finish like this and win all these games in a row,’’ Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

History says this is the end of the line for the Seahawks (1-8 on the road in the playoffs), but somehow they are favored despite not winning away from home in the postseason since 1983. This is the first home playoff game for the Redskins since 1999, and they are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the 2011 Giants, who won the division title in Week 17 then rolled to the Super Bowl.

“We have a chance to be that team,’’ tight end Chris Cooley said.

A look inside the game:

MARQUEE MATCHUP

Seahawks DE Chris Clemons vs. Redskins LT Trent Williams. Clemens had 11 1/2 sacks this season and has 33 1/2 in his past 48 games. He also had 22 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and at 254 pounds is in line with the new-age sleek pass rushers. Williams is a 328-pound anchor who is coming into his own as a premier left tackle after he was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

RARE AIR

Since 1966, just 11 rookie quarterbacks have started a playoff game. Six lost (Dan Marino, Bernie Kosar, Jim Everett, Todd Marinovich, Matt Ryan, Andy Dalton); five won (Shaun King, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, T.J. Yates). This game features two rookie starters, and so one will win and one will lose.

PICK YOUR PHENOM

The two-horse rookie race between RG3 and Andrew Luck was a huge East Coast and Midwest storyline, but out in the Pacific Northwest, Wilson’s under-the-radar late charge truly was historic. Who had a better year, Wilson or Griffin? Some of their stats are remarkably similar. They both threw 393 passes; Griffin completed six more and Wilson had 82 more passing yards. Wilson threw more touchdowns (26-20) and also more interceptions (10-5). Wilson’s 26 TDs tied Peyton Manning in 1998 for the NFL rookie record.

Wilson (100) and RG3 (102.4) are the only rookies in NFL history to compile a passing rating of 100. Wilson ran for 489 yards and four touchdowns and is very elusive, but no one compares with Griffin when it comes to scrambling ability. His 815 rushing yards is the most by a rookie quarterback in league history. He also is the only quarterback in NFL history with four touchdown passes of 60 or more yards and a rushing touchdown of 60-plus yards in the same season.

One difference: Wilson takes aim against a suspect Redskins secondary while RG3 must throw against the league’s No. 6 pass defense, led by Richard Sherman (eight interceptions) and Brandon Browner. The Seahawks have had success this season against mobile quarterbacks, beating up the Panthers with Cam Newton and the 49ers with Colin Kaepernick.

IN A RUSH

The headliners are the first-year quarterbacks, but the game likely will be decided by the powerhouse running backs. In most any other season, Washington’s Alfred Morris would be the league’s Rookie of the Year after rushing for a Redskins-record 1,613 yards — the third-highest rookie total in NFL history. Hard-charging Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch was selected to his second Pro Bowl after amassing a career-high 1,590 yards. Lynch has something Morris does not — playoff experience. Two years ago in the wild-card round, Lynch gained 131 yards, including an electrifying, tackle-breaking 67-yard touchdown romp, in a wild victory over the Saints.

MOST VALUABLE PIERRE

A case can be made that receiver Pierre Garcon is one of the most important players in terms of Redskins’ success or failure. They were 1-5 in the games Garcon missed dealing with a foot injury and 9-1 in the games he played. In his 10 games, Garcon caught 44 passes for 633 yards and four touchdowns, and RG3 loves to hit him on first-down play-action passes.

paul.schwartz@nypost.com

Paul’s Pick

Seahawks are a different team on the road, and so is QB Russell Wilson (nine TDs, eight INTs). Redskins can be thrown on but are tough to run against, making the task difficult for Marshawn Lynch. Home cooking and RG3 a tough combo to beat.

Redskins 27, Seahawks 20