Playoffs Wild Card

Week 16 Accuracy: 58% (7 out of 12)

Season Accuracy:  67% (129 out of 192)

 

1. New York Giants (13-3)

2. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)

4. Washington Redskins (12-4)

5. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)

 

1. San Diego Chargers (14-2)

2. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)

3. Oakland Raiders (12-4)

4. Denver Broncos (11-5)

5. Houston Oilers (10-6)

 

 

#5 San Francisco (8-8) +6 at Washington (12-4)

Deja Vu. This is a rematch of a Round 2 playoff game last season where #2 Washington defeated #3 San Francisco 38-28. The Redskins are 6-2 against the 49ers, with the two losses in the 2005 and 2010 seasons. If their 2011 regular season game is any indicator, this game will come down to the wire. Washington scored 31 unanswered points in the first half to go up 31-3 at half time. In the second half, the 49ers scored 21 unanswered points to make it 31-24 with 5:30 left in the game. The 49ers managed to get the ball back with 1:21 remaining but couldn't tie it up.

 

WAS Offense vs SF Defense

The Redskins have one of the top passing attacks in the league led by QB Aaron Rodgers (4,162 yds, 28 TDs), WR Terrell Owns (69 catches, 9 TDs) and WR Nate Washington (48 catches, 10 TDs). The 49ers defense does not match up well against one of the worst secondaries in the league, 23rd in yards per game (236) and 18th in passing TDs allowed (18). However, they do have 16 picks, led by S Eric Berry with 5 and they are decent at keeping the yards per completion down.

 

The 49ers only allow 94 yards a game on the ground (4th in the league) but that may be partially because opponents like to air it out against them. Still, the Redskins have an average running game (100 yds/game) so that will be an interesting factor in the game.

 

SF Offense vs WAS Defense

The 49ers have monster RB Jamaal Charles (1,594 yds, 6.2 avg, 9 tds), the top RB in the league, softening up defenses for QB Matt Ryan (3,505 yds, 24 TDs) to toss a few to WR Stevie Johnson (87 catches, 6 TDs). It's a decent, although not spectacular offense, but it gets the job done. Ryan is a high completion, low interception guy. He is vulnerable to sacks because of a weak offensive line. This is a great sequeway to describing the Washington defense who have 44 sacks for the season, #1 in the league. Opponents love to pass against them (574 attempts, most against any other team except SF) yet they are still 4th in pass yds/game (186 yds). That is one stout pass defense. They do allow some yards on the ground (99 yds/game), 22nd in the league in rushing average allowed (4.7). Charles rolled for 153 yds and a 6.4 avg when they played this year.

 

#4 Houston (10-6) +9 at Denver (11-5)

Congratulations to the Houston Oilers and their very first playoff appearance. The Broncos smoked the Oilers in week 4, 30-3, but lost to them in week 13, 27-13. Two turnovers early set up 14 points for Houston.

 

HOU Offense vs DEN Defense

The Oilers are average in putting points up (19.8/game) but have a top tier RB in Peyton Hillis (1,232 yds, 4.1 avg, 9 TDs) and WR Andre Johnson (89 catches, 4 TDs). Alex Smith and David Garrard have shared QB duties. Johnson's sidekick, WR Santonio Holmes, and TE Todd Heap are injured and are going to be very missed. The Broncos like to double team Johnson and this will only encourage them more. Houston is going to struggle sustaining an offensive attack.

 

DEN Offense vs HOU Defense

These are the strengths of these teams. The Broncos also have a top RB and WR : Chris Johnson (1,542 yds, 4.8 avg, 11 TDs) and Reggie Wayne (98 catches, 15 tds). Somehow Mile High Magic transformed QB Pair Jon Kitna and Jason Campbell into far superior QBs to their real counterparts combining for 5,778 yds and 39 tds. The Oilers have an excellent run defense but give up a lot of yards in the air.