WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE
By: Tom Hatfield from Razor Sharp Sports
The playoffs are finally here. The Redskins and Seahawks kick things off with the early match-up on Saturday. The Redskins come into the playoffs at 9-7, riding a four game winning streak, while the Seahawks are 10-6 and have lost two of their last three games. You don?t want to put too much on the Seahawks' late season swoon, because after winning five in a row in November and early December, they pretty much had their playoff spot locked in and weren?t going to be able to catch Dallas or Green Bay for the first round bye. Lets take a look at both teams a little closer.
First of all, lets look at the visiting Redskins. They may be the surprise team of the playoffs. Here is a team that lost one of their defensive leaders when safety Sean Taylor was shot to death. Then they had to go to veteran journeyman QB Todd Collins (third-stringer) to lead the offense in week 14. At that point, Washington was just 5-7 and going no where. This team rallied to beat Chicago just three days after the funeral of Taylor. They then beat the playoff-bound Giants in New York. They then had to go to Minnesota, in what looked to be a near elimination game, and they knocked off the Vikings. They finished the year by dominating the Cowboys, in a game that Dallas really had nothing to play for.
Collins has done a very nice job filling in for Jason Campbell, and even though Campbell may be ready this week, Collins will get the start. Collins? QB rating in the last four games is 106.4. He has completed 63.8% of his passes for 888 yards, 5 TDs and no ints. The ground attack is lead by Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts. Portis has run for 1262 yards and 11 scores, and caught 47 balls for 389 yards, while Betts has added 335 yards on the ground and another 174 through the air. Besides finding Portis and Betts out of the backfield, Collins can spread the air attack around with a solid group of receivers. Santana Moss leads the team with 808 yards on 61 catches and 3 TDs. TE Chris Cooley leads the team in catches (66) and TD receptions (. Antwan Randel El has also added 51 catches for 728 yards.
Defensively, the Redskins rank 4th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing just 91.3 yards/game. They have allowed more than 20 points in just one of their last six games, and that was a 21 point performance in an 11 point victory over Minnesota. London Fletcher leads the defense with 129 tackles, while Andre Carter leads the way with 10.5 sacks.
As for the Redskins' opponent, the Seattle Seahawks have been a sleeping giant. This is a very talented team that has pretty much been on cruise control though most of the season. This a veteran unit that has plenty of playoff experience. Many of them were in the Super Bowl just two years ago. QB Matt Hasselbeck has put together another solid Pro Bowl season. He has completed 62.6% of his passes for 3966 yards and 28 TDs, with only 12 ints. He spreads the ball all over the field. Eleven different receivers have at least double digit receptions this year, lead by Bobby Engram?s 94 catches for 1147 yards and 6 scores. Nate Burleson found the end zone nine times to go along with his 50 catches for 694 yards. The rushing attack, as it has been for quite a while, is led by Shaun Alexander. Alexander ran for a 716 yards and 4 scores. This year, Alexander got more help from back-up Maurice Morris. Morris added 628 rushing yards and 4 more TDs.
Defensively, Seattle has used a bend but don?t break attitude all year long. They ranked just 15th in yards allowed this season, but are 6th in points allowed, and that is what really counts. Their 18.2 points allowed per game went up dramatically last week when they allowed 44 to Atlanta in a meaningless game. Prior to that, the average was just 16.5. Lofa Tatupu continued his solid play in his 3rd season, leading the team in tackles with 109 to go along with 4 interceptions. Patrick Kerney has pressured QBs all year long with an NFC leading 14.5 sacks. CB Marcus Trufant leads the team in interceptions with 7, and is also 2nd on the team in tackles with 85.
The way the Redskins defense has been playing the last few weeks, and the way the Seashawks defense has played all year long, when it counts ou have to look for a low scoring contest here.
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