2013 NFL Wild Card Playoff Picks: Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Redskins Vegas Odds and Predictions – Free NFL Playoff Picks 1/6/2013: For just the second time in NFL history, a pair of rookie quarterback will face off when the Seattle Seahawks (11-5) go on the road to play the Washington Redskins (10-6) in Sunday’s NCF Wild Card matchup. The game is also the first time two teams will play in the opening round when both sides have won at least five consecutive games coming into the playoffs. Obviously, one of those streaks will be coming to an end this weekend. Washington is also coming off the high of clinching the NFC East on the final week of the season while Seattle finished as the only team with a perfect home record this season. The Seahawks won’t have home-field advantage of their side Sunday, but they are still three-point favorites in this matchup.
Give Seattle coach Pete Carroll credit. He has assembled a team that is arguably the most physical on both sides of the ball. Led by power back Marshawn Lynch and a stout offensive line, Seattle’s offense ranked third in the league in rushing and ninth in scoring this season. The surprising element of the offense has been rookie QB Russell Wilson. After winning the job in training camp, Wilson improved throughout the year and finished with more than 3,000 yards passing and almost 500 rushing yards to go along with 30 total touchdowns and just 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, the defense ranked in the top 10 against the run and the pass, and the Seahawks gave up the fewest points in the NFL.
For Washington, the rookie tandem of QB Robert Griffin III and running back Alfred Morris helped the Redskins finish the regular season with the top rushing attack and fourth-best scoring offense in the NFL. Griffin finished the year with 27 total touchdowns and had more than 800 rushing yards to go along with 3,200 passing yards. Meanwhile, Morris finished second in the NFL with 1,613 rushing yards. Defensively, the Redskins ranked fifth against the run. However, the unit also ranked 30th against the pass and is missing its two best pass rushers. On the plus side, Washington did finish in the top five in interceptions this year.
The Seahawks Win If:
Seattle’s defense has been tough in the trenches, and if the Seahawks are able to shut down Washington’s ground game, they are going to be in the driver’s seat. Almost all of the Redskins’ big plays are set up because of the team’s ability to run the ball consistently. If Seattle takes that away, Washington’s offense will become much less explosive. When the Seahawks have the ball, Wilson needs avoid any rookie jitters and continue his strong play. Washington’s secondary can be exploited, and if Wilson does so while avoiding turnovers, Seattle’s balance on both sides of the ball will be too much for the Redskins to handle.
The Redskins Win If:
The Redskins are the top rushing team in the league, but no team is going to be able to simply line up and run over the Seattle defense. If Washington is going to put points on the board, Griffin is going to have to throw the ball effectively. In particular, he needs to be able to extend plays and allow his receivers time to beat the one-on-one coverage the Seahawks play a majority of the time. Defensively, the Redskins need to slow Lynch and the ground game and force Wilson into a few mistakes. Washington’s secondary may struggle mightily at times, but the Redskins also intercepted 21 passes. If Washington’s defense can create a couple of turnovers and Griffin can burn Seattle’s single coverage on the outside, the Redskins can get past the Seahawks.
Bottom Line:
While Griffin got a majority of the accolades this year, Wilson actually accounted for more touchdowns than the Heisman winner and helped Seattle win one more game than Washington. More importantly, Griffin didn’t appear to be the explosive player in regular season finale that he was prior to his knee injury. Yes, Griffin led the Redskins to a big win over Dallas despite the injury to his knee, but let’s be honest, he could have probably played in a wheel chair and the Cowboys would have found a way to lose. Seattle has the physical cornerbacks needed to play one-on-one coverage against Washington’s receivers and the nasty front seven needed to contain Morris and a slightly-hobbled Griffin. Meanwhile, Wilson and the Seattle offense are playing their best football just in time to face a struggling Redskins’ secondary. Griffin just won’t be able to make enough plays in this one to overcome the balanced offense and stingy defense Seattle brings to the table.
Prediction: Seattle Seahawks (-3) Cover the Spread
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Redskins
Line: Seattle -3
Total: Over/Under 46.5
Time: 4:30 PM EST on FOX
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