Is there a hotter team in the NFC?

[aikemirv]

The hotter team would be the Seahawks if you ask me.

11 straight wins before losing in the last week after pulling their starters.

That said the Commanders will have a good shot in this game and have been playing well. I won't take anything from them or what they have accomplished but man I hope and pray they lose!!!!!!

 

[Duane]

You have to give the 'skins credit where it's due. They've won when they had to down the stretch. I hope they get beat horribly this weekend but it wouldn't shock me to see them win.

 

[WoodysGirl]

The hotter team would be the Seahawks if you ask me.

11 straight wins before losing in the last week after pulling their starters.

That said the Commanders will have a good shot in this game and have been playing well. I won't take anything from them or what they have accomplished but man I hope and pray they lose!!!!!!

Agreed

And I'd add the Bears as well. They've been winning w/smoke and mirrors, but only Pitt has figured them out up to this point. Grossman seems to give them an extra confidence that they didn't have w/Orton.

 

[kartr]

...play the games. Washington has made their own way to this situation in the playoffs and you can't take nothing away from them. They have had as good run to the playoffs doing the one thing all teams want to do - peak at the right time.

Both Washington and New England are in that category this year.

Exactly, both of these teams have playmakers on offense and defense. Washington has the edge at qb over Tampa and Seattle and the Pats have the edge at qb over both Denver and Jacksonville.

 

[aikemirv]

Exactly, both of these teams have playmakers on offense and defense. Washington has the edge at qb over Tampa and Seattle and the Pats have the edge at qb over both Denver and Jacksonville.

No way I would give the edge at QB to Brunnell over Hassleback.

 

[CowboyChris]

You have got to be kidding?! Hot would imply kicking *** and taking names... the Commanders blew into Tampa Bay and SET THE NFL RECORD for the WORST OFFENSIVE OUTPUT in the HISTORY OF NFL PLAYOFF FOOTBALL. These stats tell the tale: Was v. TB
Tampa completely dominated them, except for two ridiculouos turnovers in the 1st qtr that led to 14 points, and Simms knack for getting his passes 'tipped' that day.

i seem to remember them smoking the Giants, and Us along the way.

 

[Holloway805]

I dont think I have ever seen a team like the Commanders win with such mediocre talent on the offensive side of the ball. I will give you Portis, but thats it. Greg Williams deserves an award for the job he is doing. Washington scares no one. Its over for them this weekend. If the elimination contest were still going, Seattle would be my pick, no question.

 

[ravidubey]

Washington is playing their best ball at teh right time. Gotta hand it to Joe Gibbs. The things that weigh heavily against them being in the Superbowl are their road-team status and their many mounting injuries.

Washington now has to juggle serious injuries on both the OL and DL, and it's been the play of their OL that has allowed them to wear opposing teams out and keep their defense fresh. Injuries caught up with both Dallas and the Giants, but Washington only has to weather a storm of two more games to get into the Superbowl.

I think Seattle wins solidly this week because their running game not only features Alexander but also strong blocking from the LT, LG, and FB. Given Wynn's broken wrist makes DE a position of comparitive weakness going against Seattle's strength, I'd say Holmgren will be able to crack the Washington defense enough to win by 10 points.

 

[Taylor_Can_Hit21]

C'mon now folks. I think everyone is taking our horrible offense out of proportion. Gibbs loves to sit on a lead, and with our D, sitting on a 14 point lead is exactly what Gibbs wanted to do. Plus Tampa has a good D. So everyone will see a completely different offense this week.

 

[Zman5]

C'mon now folks. I think everyone is taking our horrible offense out of proportion. Gibbs loves to sit on a lead, and with our D, sitting on a 14 point lead is exactly what Gibbs wanted to do. Plus Tampa has a good D. So everyone will see a completely different offense this week.

Complete BS. Your offense stunk it up not because of Gibbs wanting to sit on the lead but because Brunell sucked azz and Portis couldn't run like he did previous weeks.
Complte BS just like your boy Sean "the Thug" Taylor saying he didn't spit at Pittman.

 

[CowboyExpress]

I have a hard time giving them credit for anything, let alone winning. However that Portis trade was something damn smart. Maybe the best move Gibbs has ever made as a NFL coach. Until the day we get a back as good to follow in Emmitt's nearly unfillable shoes, I'll be envious of that acquisition they made. I wish we had Portis!

Now imagine this; They're the other team people seem to think are in this "TO Sweepstake"...oh dear god can anyone imagine playing against Portis AND Owens 2 times a year?! Forget this year, if that happens they will be unstoppable for a couple of years to come. It would be like Irvin/Smith all over again- WHO DO D#'s WORRY ABOUT?!!!!! Oh and then don't forget Moss.

 

[dfense]

Yes, there are hotter teams. The question is, is there a colder offense? Seattle is going to really expose Washington's secondary problems. This game won't even be close. Brunnel will not be able to keep pace with Seattle's offense.

 

[clayman]

I dont think I have ever seen a team like the Commanders win with such mediocre talent on the offensive side of the ball. I will give you Portis, but thats it. Greg Williams deserves an award for the job he is doing. Washington scares no one. Its over for them this weekend. If the elimination contest were still going, Seattle would be my pick, no question.

Looking at the Skins averaging 28pts during their 5 game winning streak to end the season...last week could be more of an anomaly....but seriously to forget which i'm sure most of us want to Santana Moss from that offensive side of the ball in regards to talent or Cooley is stupid. Anyhoo, Baltimore's superbowl winning offense will always be the most horrid in history.

 

[kojak]

Yeah the skins are on a role going into Seattle. And Seattle is the best place for them to be playing. Why? Becasue the pressure that is on Seattle to win a playoff game. The Skins on the other hand have nothing to lose because win or lose there season will be viewed as a sucess.

 

[Bach]

Yes, there are hotter teams. The question is, is there a colder offense? Seattle is going to really expose Washington's secondary problems. This game won't even be close. Brunnel will not be able to keep pace with Seattle's offense.

I think Washington has everyone back in the secondary - I know Springs is going to start.

Their offense did get shut down royally last week. But Seattle's defense is no where near as good as TB's. I don't see the Commanders being that bad offensively this week.

I definitely hope Seattle jumps all over them. But, Washington's defense has been playing great, especially against the run. And they pretty much shut Seattle down earlier in the year until the 4th quarter. But the last 6 weeks they haven't been having those late game problems.

Also, I think Seattle has the monkey on their back, having not won a playoff game in over 20 years. Plus Alexander has been shut down in the playoffs the last couple of seasons. I hope they put it all together this week, but I expect a close game and wouldn't be surprised if an upset happens.

 

[Holloway805]

Looking at the Skins averaging 28pts during their 5 game winning streak to end the season...last week could be more of an anomaly....but seriously to forget which i'm sure most of us want to Santana Moss from that offensive side of the ball in regards to talent or Cooley is stupid. Anyhoo, Baltimore's superbowl winning offense will always be the most horrid in history.

Santana Moss and Cooley are good players, not the difference makers on a weekly basis that Portis is. As far as the 28pts per game, most people can score on those great defenses in Arizona and St Louis. 120 yds total offense last week makes my case.

 

[Double]

I think people are making a big deal out of 120 yards. Its not like they will put up 120 yards or less in Seattle. They got the early lead, decided to rest Portis and The Bucs were playing their Cover2 daring them to throw. The Coaching staff being the smart coaches they are decided to play smart ball and avoid turnovers. i give them credit for that.... some other coach would be chucking balls downfield with a 14 point lead and before you know it... 1 or 2 bad throws and it is 6 the other way.

 

[riggo]

there are some good points in this thread.

let me raise a few others.

since the start of december, the skins are #1 vs the run (81.6 yards a game) and #1 in scoring D (12 points a game). thats better than chicago (the same as chi in the points category if you throw out the minn game where minn scored 34 vs backups for part of the game) and better than TB.

alexander has not rushed for more than 100 yards vs a top 10 D this year (3 games- all losses). in the past 2 years, in 11 games, he has accomplished that feat twice.

in 2 career post season games, alexander has rushed for 45 and 40 yards for a combined 2.5 yard average.

the last time the hawks beat a winning team by more than 9 was week 3 of 2000. (the skins have done it twice in the last month)

the Commanders have rushed for more yards vs both the NFC east and the NFC west than the seahawks this year.


i'm not a betting man, but i would put my money on the skins to at least cover.

 

[superpunk]

the last time the hawks beat a winning team by more than 9 was week 3 of 2000.

Thank you for that little piece of betting advice. I'd take the skins to cover, but I don't think they can win. Not in Seattle, not with Brunell's steadily decreasing performances. Seattle gets after the QB, and that's gonna be the trouble, IMO.

 

[riggo]

Thank you for that little piece of betting advice. I'd take the skins to cover, but I don't think they can win. Not in Seattle, not with Brunell's steadily decreasing performances. Seattle gets after the QB, and that's gonna be the trouble, IMO.

i think the key will be the skins ability to run the ball, not so much brunells performance. the skins controlled the clock for just over 36 minutes in the first game. both brunell and portis are dinged (thats partly the reason for brunells mediocre showing the past 2 weeks).

if the skins can run the ball effectively and keep seattles O off the field, which is gibbs philosophy, that will negate a pass rush and take pressure off brunell.

double brought up a great point in the post above mine. the skins had an early 14 point lead and sat on it. even with a measly 120 yards of offense, gibbs did what he wanted to do- he milked the clock for almost 26 minutes, believe it or not, and let TB make the offensive mistakes. he was coaching to win the game, not put up 400 yards of offense.