MREAST NFL SUNDAY PLAYOFF GAME OF THE YEAR
Expert Analysis: These teams have definitely stepped it up in the second half of the season. The Seattle Seahawks have exploded offensively where they scored 40 in 3 of their last 5 on their way to 5 straight wins. There is one problem with all of that. None of their last 4 games was on the road, with the Buffalo game being played on a neutral field in Toronto. This has been a different team all together on the road, as opposed to home. The Seattle offense has gained significantly at home, 4.8 yards per carry on the season vs teams that allow 4.2. Their passing game generates 7.5 yards per attempt vs opponents that allow 6.4. Overall the offense generates 6 yards pwr play vs teams that allow 5.4. The numbers on the road are very similar. Defensively, there is a huge difference. Seattle is one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL which often disrupts opposing offenses, but that advantage is negated on the road, where the Seattle pass defense becomes average and the run defense below average. It is the main reason the Seahawks are 8-0 at home, and 2-5 on the road (Toronto neutral). The road highlight is an overtime win vs a Chicago team that was in the midst of a 1-5 skid. They suffered losses at Arizona,Miami,Detroit,and St. Louis. They out-gained their 7 road opponents by 17 yards on the season. Those 7 teams include 1 playoff team. There is a much bigger factor coming into play here, as everyone has seen the growth of Russell Wilson, and expect a big game out of him. I went back to see how rookie Qb`s have done in the post-season on the road. They include Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco (3), Andy Dalton, Bernie Kosar,Tyler Yates, Jim Everett, Mark Sanchez (3),Todd Marinovich, and Shaun King. These QB`s went 4-9 and completed 53.9% of their passes for 2121 yards at a brutal 6.43 yards per attempt, 10 TD`s and 22 INT`s. Their teams averaged 15.3ppg. Washington has become a completely different team from the one that started the season 3-6. The defense has made great strides, and their running game is going to hurt Seattle. Washington has generated 5.3 yards per attempt vs defenses that allow 4.3 so a full yard better, which is huge, and the Seattle run stop unit is negative on the season. The Washington defense is slightly positive, and slightly negative at home for the season, but down the stretch they have been positive allowing less than their opponents would average. many are worried about the knee of RG#. It has been a month and after missing a game, he was very tentative vs Philadelphia running just 2 times for 4 yards. he was much better vs Dallas running 6 times for 63 yards and a TD. His doctors have said he is back to normal and he will continue to wear the brace, and it is the brace that makes him appear to limp when he walks, not the injury. Teams that average 360 yards or more of offense is a road dog are 90-62 ATS and that includes a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS in the playoffs. This game is my one and only 3 unit pick in the $10,000.00 Vegas Wise Guy Contest, and a win, and I`ll be fortunate enough to be declared the winner after 18 weeks of football. This is for all the marbles, so no doubt is my NFL PLAYOFF GAME OF THE YEAR on Washington.