A lot less stands in the way than you might think of a Super Bowl rookie fiesta between Robert Griffin III’s Washington Redskins (10-6) and Andrew Luck’s Indianapolis Colts (11-5).
By Mike Corasaniti
If the NFL has proven anything in recent memory, it’s that anything can happen once the chains in the playoffs start moving.
Take the New York Giants as the league’s most shining example of playoff parity. Two Super Bowl seasons since 2007 now, during which they never won more than ten games and were never higher than the No. 4 seed entering the playoffs
If that’s a great sign for anyone, it’s the Colts and the Redskins.
Both teams have tough roads ahead of them, the toughest stops along the way for the Colts being Denver (who they would most likely see in the divisional round) and for the Redskins being San Francisco (who they would most likely see for the conference championship). But both teams have proved that they are strong enough to beat any team thrown their way at this point (especially the Colt’s first round matchup with Baltimore).
If their season-long success stories are enough to carry these teams through one or two solid upsets each, it’s not impossible to imagine a Washington-Indy matchup come kickoff in New Orleans.
How the Redskins get there
The Redskins run to a division crown was no accident, but they also didn’t get there without a heaping plate of luck. If the Skins plan on making a deep run, their secondary has to stop playing like, well, their secondary[1].
If the likes of DeAngelo Hall and London Fletcher can step up on defense however, all Washington really needs to hope for is a healthy quarterback. Kirk Cousins proved that he is a worthy backup worthy of a starting position somewhere else in 2013, but Griffin’s absence in the lineup takes away the unpredictability and excitement that made Washington’s offense so potent in the second half of the season.
Riding steady defense, Griffin, and Alfred Morris and the league’s strongest run game, the Redskins could be Super.
How the Colts get there
Provided that the Indy offensive line gives Luck enough time to make plays, the rookie quarterback has shown that he can pick apart the best defenses when the game is on the line.
Their rush defense is weak though, very weak, and a strong rusher[2] could quickly end any semblance of a deep run for the Colts. Their pass rush should however be enough to carry them past a hot offense, as Dwight Freeney still hasn’t seemed to lose too much spring from his step.
The matchup
If Griffin takes too hard of a hit at any point in the playoffs, this scenario would be completely different. The Redskins have proved that they aren’t just a one-trick pony, but the team belongs nowhere near a deep playoff run discussion without RG3.
If healthy though, there’s nothing saying the Robert Griffin III doesn’t have what it takes to lead Washington past Indianapolis.
It would not be surprising at all to see a high scoring game out of this matchup, as both defenses have shown their inconsistencies while both offenses have shown the ability to dominate a scoreboard.
If Luck is hot, the Colts could put up 30. But if Griffin is healthy, then it’s Washington’s game to win. Or Lose.
Washington 30-17[3]
[1] The Redskins finished the season ranked No. 30 in opposing passing yards, allowing an average of 281.9 yards per game.
[2] Such as Ray Rice in Indy’s first matchup.
[3] The same score from the team’s August 25 preseason contest.
By Mike Corasaniti
If the NFL has proven anything in recent memory, it’s that anything can happen once the chains in the playoffs start moving.
Take the New York Giants as the league’s most shining example of playoff parity. Two Super Bowl seasons since 2007 now, during which they never won more than ten games and were never higher than the No. 4 seed entering the playoffs
If that’s a great sign for anyone, it’s the Colts and the Redskins.
Both teams have tough roads ahead of them, the toughest stops along the way for the Colts being Denver (who they would most likely see in the divisional round) and for the Redskins being San Francisco (who they would most likely see for the conference championship). But both teams have proved that they are strong enough to beat any team thrown their way at this point (especially the Colt’s first round matchup with Baltimore).
If their season-long success stories are enough to carry these teams through one or two solid upsets each, it’s not impossible to imagine a Washington-Indy matchup come kickoff in New Orleans.
How the Redskins get there
The Redskins run to a division crown was no accident, but they also didn’t get there without a heaping plate of luck. If the Skins plan on making a deep run, their secondary has to stop playing like, well, their secondary[1].
If the likes of DeAngelo Hall and London Fletcher can step up on defense however, all Washington really needs to hope for is a healthy quarterback. Kirk Cousins proved that he is a worthy backup worthy of a starting position somewhere else in 2013, but Griffin’s absence in the lineup takes away the unpredictability and excitement that made Washington’s offense so potent in the second half of the season.
Riding steady defense, Griffin, and Alfred Morris and the league’s strongest run game, the Redskins could be Super.
How the Colts get there
Provided that the Indy offensive line gives Luck enough time to make plays, the rookie quarterback has shown that he can pick apart the best defenses when the game is on the line.
Their rush defense is weak though, very weak, and a strong rusher[2] could quickly end any semblance of a deep run for the Colts. Their pass rush should however be enough to carry them past a hot offense, as Dwight Freeney still hasn’t seemed to lose too much spring from his step.
The matchup
If Griffin takes too hard of a hit at any point in the playoffs, this scenario would be completely different. The Redskins have proved that they aren’t just a one-trick pony, but the team belongs nowhere near a deep playoff run discussion without RG3.
If healthy though, there’s nothing saying the Robert Griffin III doesn’t have what it takes to lead Washington past Indianapolis.
It would not be surprising at all to see a high scoring game out of this matchup, as both defenses have shown their inconsistencies while both offenses have shown the ability to dominate a scoreboard.
If Luck is hot, the Colts could put up 30. But if Griffin is healthy, then it’s Washington’s game to win. Or Lose.
Washington 30-17[3]
[1] The Redskins finished the season ranked No. 30 in opposing passing yards, allowing an average of 281.9 yards per game.
[2] Such as Ray Rice in Indy’s first matchup.
[3] The same score from the team’s August 25 preseason contest.
RSS Feed