Wildcard week - Redskins at Buccaneers
Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Saturday, 7 January
1630 EST on ABC / 2130 GMT on Sky Sports Xtra
In arguably the weakest game of the playoff schedule, Washington travel to Florida after barely scraping past Philadelphia in the final weekend to take their streak to five games. They take on a Buccaneers side that has been running hot and cold all season. The Redskins will be out for revenge after their 36-35 regular-season loss in Tampa. They blocked a Buccs extra point to keep a one-point lead only to see a flag for offsides force another play, which the home team ran in for the game-winning two-pointer.
Tampa Bay rely heavily on rookie running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to the degree that they have not lost any of the six games this year in which he has run for more than 100 yards and won just three when he has managed less than 50, including one when he was out with an ankle injury. Look for the Buccs to run him heavily on the left-hand side of the field, as Philadelphia did successfully last week. Young quarterback Chris Simms can be susceptible under pressure, and the best way to ease that is to run often and then pass using "play action" fakes. He will know Washington can fall victim to the long ball, but only has Joey Galloway as a legitimate threat as Michael Clayton is out with turf toe.
Washington's offense has been misfiring of late, with QB Mark Brunell struggling for consistency after suffering a knee injury. He needs to rediscover his aim if H-backs Chris Cooley and Mike Sellers are to be used to best effect against a headstrong Tampa defense, creating mayhem by lining up all over the field and catching short passes on the sides of the field. Running back Clinton Portis is in fine form, with a team record with 1,516 rushing yards this season and could wear down a smallish defense as the game goes on.
They looked shaky last weekend, but Washington have momentum on their side, will control the ball on offense and intimidate on defense to come out 34-21 winners.
(Season so far 7-4)
NFLBriefing.com
Raymond James Stadium
Saturday, 7 January
1630 EST on ABC / 2130 GMT on Sky Sports Xtra
In arguably the weakest game of the playoff schedule, Washington travel to Florida after barely scraping past Philadelphia in the final weekend to take their streak to five games. They take on a Buccaneers side that has been running hot and cold all season. The Redskins will be out for revenge after their 36-35 regular-season loss in Tampa. They blocked a Buccs extra point to keep a one-point lead only to see a flag for offsides force another play, which the home team ran in for the game-winning two-pointer.
Tampa Bay rely heavily on rookie running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to the degree that they have not lost any of the six games this year in which he has run for more than 100 yards and won just three when he has managed less than 50, including one when he was out with an ankle injury. Look for the Buccs to run him heavily on the left-hand side of the field, as Philadelphia did successfully last week. Young quarterback Chris Simms can be susceptible under pressure, and the best way to ease that is to run often and then pass using "play action" fakes. He will know Washington can fall victim to the long ball, but only has Joey Galloway as a legitimate threat as Michael Clayton is out with turf toe.
Washington's offense has been misfiring of late, with QB Mark Brunell struggling for consistency after suffering a knee injury. He needs to rediscover his aim if H-backs Chris Cooley and Mike Sellers are to be used to best effect against a headstrong Tampa defense, creating mayhem by lining up all over the field and catching short passes on the sides of the field. Running back Clinton Portis is in fine form, with a team record with 1,516 rushing yards this season and could wear down a smallish defense as the game goes on.
They looked shaky last weekend, but Washington have momentum on their side, will control the ball on offense and intimidate on defense to come out 34-21 winners.
(Season so far 7-4)
NFLBriefing.com
posted by MG at
9:07 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home