Two Washingtons, Only One Winner

The Redskins may not have won a game since October 2, but it would be foolish for the Seahawks to overlook them as they prepare to take the field this afternoon. With Seattle looking to continue a win streak and Washington looking to start one, there is a lot on the line for both teams.

The Run Game: Marshawn Lynch, after a disappointing start to the season, has run for 332 yards in his last three games and has contributed a touchdown in the last six contests. Lynch's progress indicates that the Seattle run game has finally found its rhythm. The Redskins run game on the other hand leaves something to be desired. Rounding out the bottom of the league in rushing production, their 84-yard average puts them in 30th place, and facing off against the Seahawks' improving run defense does not paint a rosy picture for raising that ranking.
Verdict: Seahawks

The Passing Game: Seattle has quality receivers -- Sidney Rice, Mike Williams, Doug Baldwin, to name a few -- but they have mostly been used in short passing plays. We'd like to see the Seahawks launch the ball further downfield for some big yardage, plus, long passes might alleviate some pressure that Tavaris Jackson will be facing on the line. The Redskins also have some quality receivers, including Jabar Gaffney and tight end Fred Davis. And, with Santana Moss rumored to be back in the lineup this week, Washington QB Rex Grossman has plenty of passing options. Now if he could just work on the part where he throws the ball to the opposing team (he has 12 interceptions on the year), the Redskins would be in great shape.
Verdict: Slight edge to the Redskins.

Defense: Tavaris Jackson might want to wear a little extra padding today, because if the 31 sacks that the Redskins have put up this season are any indication, he'll be spending some quality time on the turf today. Add in the fact that standout linesmen James Carpenter and John Moffitt are out with injuries and the path is clear for the Redskins' defense to have a standout day. Elsewhere on the field, the Seahawks definitely have the edge when it comes to run defense and our secondary has been stepping up recently as well. The two teams are nearly tied in the points allowed per game category, but the Seahawks' ability to cause turnovers matches up nicely with the Redskins' ability to turn the ball over.
Verdict: Seahawks

Intangibles: First, the noise level at CenturyLink Field is a well documented headache inducer for visiting teams, which only aids the home field advantage for Seattle. Second, the Seahawks have three decidedly win-able games in their final six, and today's matchup is one of them. They need to win today to have any chance of finishing the season with a respectable record. Third, the Redskins are desperate to bring an end to their losing streak and nearly did so against Dallas last week, which means they are hungry for a win.
Verdict: Seahawks. They've got the noise and a win streak on the line.

Kick Off is at at 1:05 pm.