Who We'll Face in the 1st Round

by Will Kier on Dec 23, 2007 8:36 PM PST

With the Redskins' win tonight, our playoff picture narrows considerably. The Giants clinch the #5 seed, which leaves the Redskins, the Vikings, and the Saints as potential opponents for the Qwest home game.

If the Redskins win against Dallas, a team that's clinched the #1 seed and should be resting starters, they take the 6 seed either outright or through tonight's head to head tiebreaker.

If the Redskins lose to Dallas, and the Vikings win against the Broncos, the Vikings take the 6 seed.

If the Redskins and Vikings both lose, the Saints must win against the Bears to take the 6 seed through the conference record tiebreaker of three 8-8 teams.

If all three teams lose, the Redskins take the 6 seed through tonight's head to head tiebreaker.

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for the record (my opinions)

The Redskins are a mediocre/slightly above average team. Honestly, I didn't even know they were still in playoff contention until they won tonight. I can't see any tremendous strengths they have, and should be at a disadvantage starting a sketchy/young QB on the road making his first playoff appearance.

The Vikings are closest to us in DVOA, but I'm not terribly impressed by them either. They can certainly run the ball, but Washington rang up over 100 yards rushing on their vaunted defense today and they have the same "sketchy/young QB making his first playoff appearance" factor the Redskins have. RBs this season have had a trend of setting career/season long rushes against us, I'd expect Peterson to get loose once or twice for long ones, but a casual glance at Tarvaris Jackson's DPAR/DVOA doesn't inspire fear that he can punish us for 8 in the box.

The Saints? These guys actually have the best offense of the three teams, but also far and away the worst defense. Their game plan will be trying to win a shootout at Qwest Field- that might work on the road, but at home? Hell, no.

I'll bite my nails over the divisional opponents- the Hawks should justifiably be favored by a lot over any of the 3 teams. Any criticism?

formerly captain morgan

by Will Kier on Dec 23, 2007 9:30 PM PST reply actions

oops

Todd Collins is starting for the Redskins?

I don't know how that affects things.

formerly captain morgan

by Will Kier on Dec 23, 2007 9:36 PM PST up reply actions

I do

It means the Sea-Tac Denny's will have at least one guy ordering from the senior menu Sunday morning.

--Shrug

by Shrug on Dec 27, 2007 11:50 PM PST up reply actions

n/s

Like I said earlier, I was scared of facing the Vikings... until I saw them tonight. You started to see some of the pitfalls of being a one-dimensional team. I don't think it would be as close as I first thought it would be.

I think the Saints are the most loaded with weapons out of all three, so normally they'd scare me. But even if they do make it to the playoffs, I can't see them beating Seattle at Qwest twice in the same year.

The Redskins don't alarm me at all, although the recent Clinton Portis renaissance on Sunday nights has been charming.

I'm not gonna jinx anything, but let's just say I'm not that worried, especially since the Hawks have wrapped everything up and can give some of their starters a semi-bye week at Atlanta next week.

--Shrug

by Shrug on Dec 24, 2007 12:32 AM PST up reply actions

Young quarterback?

Todd Collins is 36 years old. He is a 12 year journeyman quarterback drafted by Buffalo in 1995. He only started one season, beating out Van Pelt and Hobert for the job. I believe he was supplanted by Flutie the next season and went on to be a backup in KC before ending up with the Deadskins.

He has completed 317 of 566 passes (56.0%), thrown 19 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and has a career QB rating is 73.0.

Hello, 911? It's Quagmire. Yeah, it's caught in the window this time

by Ben in Va on Dec 24, 2007 6:33 AM PST up reply actions

this might sound dumb

but the Saints actually scare me the most right now. I guess I'd take the Skins though. They aren't bad, but we should handle Todd Collins and company.

Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Dec 24, 2007 12:58 AM PST reply actions

The Saints

The big difference between the 3 teams is that the Saints have a proven quarterback in Drew Brees. The thing the saints have working against them is no stud running back with their injuries.

When we played that Sunday night game against N.O., I'd have to argue that the Boone Clutz bad punt snap leading to a touchdown really dictated the rest of the game. It fired the Saints up and shell-shocked the Seahawks. Though hindsight is easy, I think Seattle wins that game if they didn't spot N.O. those 7 points.

The games against the Cardinals, Saints, Browns, and Panthers were all quite winable. Pittsburgh wasn't even that impressive. We were just that awful on 3rd down. Seattle has had a pretty weak schedule. The truth of the matter is, they could very well be 14-1 right now had they taken care of business.

Mike Holmgre, please do the right thing...

by silkybrown on Dec 24, 2007 4:09 AM PST reply actions