Several Reasons the Seahawks Will Defeat Washington in Their NFC Wildcard Game and One Reason They Might Not…by Mark Arnold

         The Seattle Seahawks play the Washington Redskins tomorrow in our nation’s capital in the final game of the opening round of this year’s NFL Playoffs. The game will be special, much more so than a usual “Wildcard” playoff game. The reasons are simple; the Seahawks and Redskins are the two hottest teams in the NFL right now with five and seven game win streaks respectively. In addition the game will mark the first playoff game ever for two of the best young quarterbacks to come into the league in decades; Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Washington’s Robert Griffin III.

         That Wilson and Griffin III are two of the best rookie QBs ever is not a casual statement but a matter of hard stats. RG III is the 3^rd ranked quarterback in passer rating in the NFL this season (102.4) and Wilson is the 4^th (100.00). For rookies to be ranked that high in the 32 team, veteran oriented NFL is unheard of. Neither quarterback turns the ball over much with Wilson throwing only 10 interceptions all season and RG III the unbelievably low figure of 5. Both are sure ball handlers who do not fumble the ball and both are very, very fast; able to escape pressure with their feet and keep plays alive. They both are extremely accurate with Wilson completing just over 64 % of his throws and Griffin just over 65%. In addition Wilson tied Peyton Manning’s record for touchdown passes in a season by a rookie with 26 scoring throws while RG III tossed 20. Having the ability to run as well as pass both quarterbacks are literally re-defining how the position is played in the NFL with their use of “read-option” plays that take advantage of defenses collapsing down to stop the run which opens up the edge to the fleet footed QBs.

         With these two running their teams it should be a very special game indeed, and though the game will be hard fought and the Redskins will enjoy a distinct home field advantage in front of a raucous crowd, I still think the Seahawks should win. My reasons for this are as follows:

1.   Robert Griffin III is not 100 per cent physically. A couple weeks ago RG III injured his knee and he is not completely recovered. He will play this game with a knee brace on his right knee. Based on what I saw of him in the Redskin’s game against Dallas last week, his speed and mobility will be impaired at least a little and this can only help the Seahawk’s cause.

2.   The Seahawks defense is the fastest and best defense RG III will have seen all season and with the return of Brandon Browner after a 4 game suspension is now at full strength. Cornerbacks Browner and Richard Sherman are capable of shutting down the Redskins top receivers which could force Griffin into some tough spots with his injured knee.

3.   The Seahawks, as the season has gone on, seem to have mastered winning games away from “The Clink” (Century Link Stadium) having won their last two on the road against Buffalo and Chicago. That fact plus their recent superb offensive play and series of “blow-out” wins has their confidence at a sky high level.

4.   Russell Wilson is healthy, has gotten better and better and better as the season has progressed and is now playing at a “lights out” level. This does not bode well for the Redskin defense, which at times has struggled this season.

         For these reasons I think the Seahawks will win this game by something like a 24 to 17 score. I think they are the better team. That said, if they do lose, it will be because they have reverted back to their road woes from earlier in the season. They are a very young team with many players in their first NFL playoff game ever and in a very hostile environment. If they do lose…that will be why, but I don’t think it will happen.

         I have a feeling the Seattle Seahawks will play like champions tomorrow!

         Go Hawks!

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By Mark Arnold

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