By Steven Dilsizian
Today is the day. The Washington Redskins will host the Green Bay Packers at 4:40 PM for the final NFC wild card game of the day. This is an exciting time for DC sports seeing as it isn’t too often that the hometown team makes it to the playoffs. Not only this but there is a good chance that the Redskins can win this game and move on.
The Packers come in as possibly the coldest team in the league while the Redskins are one of the absolute hottest teams while playing their absolute best at home.
The Packers are coming off of a home loss against the Minnesota Vikings who were able to take the NFC North division crown right out of Green Bay’s hands leaving the Packers with a trip to DC facing off against a red hot Kirk Cousins.
The Redskins offense has been on a tear and averages 353 yards of total offense per game with 255 of those being passing yards by Cousins. Green Bay seems to have the two offensive advantages in this game. RB Eddie Lacy leads the Packers rushing attack with the team averaging 115 rushing yards per game. What we have repeatedly addressed about the Redskins is the poor rushing defense. If they want to move onto the next round of the playoffs, stopping Lacy is the first step. The past three weeks, Lacy has struggled and has only reached the end zone three times this season. It isn’t the numbers that make him so dangerous, it is the possibility it provides of opening up the field for their QB, who by the way, is Aaron Rodgers. The Packers will look to start the ground game early with Lacy and maybe even Starks to keep the Redskins defense on its toes.
The Redskins can call the hottest QB in the NFL their own with one of the best TE’s in Jordan Reed taking the league by storm. WR’s Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson have the playoff experience to help out Cousins and the inexperienced Redskins in pressure situations. Overall, the Redskins take the advantage on offense.
Defensively, the Packers allow less overall yards, passing yards, and rushing yards compared to the Redskins. The Packers were ranked the #15 defense in the league in regards to total yards allowed with the Redskins sitting at… #28. Here lies the story of today’s game. Can the Redskins defense make a stand to the Packers offense that has struggled lately? Or do the Packers turn things around?
Players to watch:
Jordan Reed (WSH): The guy has been an absolute matchup nightmare, with 5 TD’s in the past 4 games and now one of the top TE’s in the game. Reed can knife his way into the middle of any defense and make them pay. Look for Cousins to go to Reed early and often to help get in a rhythm by using his safety net.
Alfred Morris (WSH): Morris has struggled the entire season, but what better time to have a great game then the playoff game? Rookie RB Matt Jones is out for today’s game leaving Alfred Morris to be the go to guy. Cousins can’t do it all himself and needs the run game to be established in some sort of way to open up his passing. Morris needs to be a force.
Eddie Lacy (GB): Similar to Morris, Lacy has also faced a difficult season. However, he faces a Redskins defense that has struggled to stop the run the entire season. Lacy is a power back who will run straight up the middle, lower his head and shoulder, and churn those legs till they die. You know Green Bay is going to try and run the Redskins right into the ground.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy (GB): McCarthy decided to take the reigns in play calling this season. He is the guy calling the shots and recently it hasn’t looked all that pretty. The play calling today for Green Bay will be key and it starts with the head coach. If he fails to put together a good day, the Packers could look to hire a new OC who can call the shots himself.
Prediction: Green Bay 34-27
