Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:29 am
I think this games comes down to two things: turnovers and success in the red zone. I think Washington will win because they have excelled in these two areas over the last month.
With turnovers, the defense is taking them away by the bunch and I don't see that changing against Seattle. Though Seattle has a lot of sacks and could create some of their own turnovers, I think Washington's offense will play ball control and move the ball with a short passing game with lots of throws to Robert Royal, Mike Sellers, and Chris
ey. The question mark here is Brunell. His play has been down since he hurt his knee even though everyone says his knee didn't impede his performance.
In the red zone, Washington's offense has been putting up 7's since the Dallas game. Washington's defense showed Tampa Bay how tough it is to score on them in the fourth quarter of that game. And keep in mind that Washington's defense had lost two starters in the fourth quarter and that the defense had been on the field for a long, long time. For them to keep the Bucs from scoring a second time was very impressive considering that the Bucs had the ball four or five times in or near Redskins territory in the fourth quarter. Shaun Alexander is a touchdown machine, but I don't see him having a multiple touchdown day which I think he needs for Seattle to win.
Yes, it is an advantage playing at home, but Washington has played well on the road this year and has now won four straight road games. But consider the games they played at Dallas, Denver, KC, and the two at the Bucs (all of which are difficult places to play). The offense put up around 400 yards of offense in three of those five games. Washington also played the second toughest schedule by winning percentage of opponents and without question they are battle tested and are comfortable in must-win games since this will be their seventh in a row.
With turnovers, the defense is taking them away by the bunch and I don't see that changing against Seattle. Though Seattle has a lot of sacks and could create some of their own turnovers, I think Washington's offense will play ball control and move the ball with a short passing game with lots of throws to Robert Royal, Mike Sellers, and Chris
ey. The question mark here is Brunell. His play has been down since he hurt his knee even though everyone says his knee didn't impede his performance.
In the red zone, Washington's offense has been putting up 7's since the Dallas game. Washington's defense showed Tampa Bay how tough it is to score on them in the fourth quarter of that game. And keep in mind that Washington's defense had lost two starters in the fourth quarter and that the defense had been on the field for a long, long time. For them to keep the Bucs from scoring a second time was very impressive considering that the Bucs had the ball four or five times in or near Redskins territory in the fourth quarter. Shaun Alexander is a touchdown machine, but I don't see him having a multiple touchdown day which I think he needs for Seattle to win.
Yes, it is an advantage playing at home, but Washington has played well on the road this year and has now won four straight road games. But consider the games they played at Dallas, Denver, KC, and the two at the Bucs (all of which are difficult places to play). The offense put up around 400 yards of offense in three of those five games. Washington also played the second toughest schedule by winning percentage of opponents and without question they are battle tested and are comfortable in must-win games since this will be their seventh in a row.
