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The final playoff game for the wildcard weekend sees the in-form Washington Redskins hosting the struggling Green Bay Packers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:40am (AEDT).
The Skins have won their last four games of the regular season, scoring 34 points or more in their last three on the back of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Cousins has lifted to another level in the last ten games, having thrown for 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions during that period.
The return from injury of speedy wide receiver DeSean Jackson has added another dimension to their attack. Tight end Jordan Reed has been another standout, with 87 catches this season and 11 touchdowns, ably supported by Pierre Garcon and rookie slot receiver Jamison Crowder. Reed’s height and speed has troubled linebackers and safeties across the league, and he runs excellent routes.
The Packers will hope cornerback Sam Shields is fit enough to return, as he’s their speediest defensive back and would help stem Jackson’s deep threat.
The Packers’ problem this season has been their offensive line, with injuries and poor form leading to them conceding 51 sacks, the fifth highest in the league.
Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn’t had the time to complete his reads and been forced out of the pocket often. His receivers have also been poor, dropping too many catches and appearing unable to break free in the middle of the field.
Missing their number one receiver, Jordy Nelson, has been a bigger blow than expected, with usual number two receiver Randall Cobb unable to step up.
Still, Rodgers shouldn’t be discounted; he has thrown for 31 touchdowns and will be keen to improve his playoff win-loss record of 2-4 since the 2010 Superbowl.
Prediction
Not often you would say this about an Aaron Rodgers-led team, but the key in this game could be the Packers’ running game, led by Eddie Lacy and James Starks. The Skins defence has conceded just under five yards per rushing attempt, which ranks 30th in the league.
If the Packers can establish the run early it will take some pressure off Rodgers and give him time to exploit a Skins secondary that has been hit with injuries.
The Skins have played only three teams with winning records this season and lost all three by margins of 14, 17 and 28 points.
Packers by 4 points.
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