Joe Soriano
O.J. Lewis2011 Breakdown: NFC Wildcard Saints and Seahawks
January 4th 2011 17:47
If you didn't know each team's record or seed was and you only knew the roster, you would think the Saints were a team with a bye and the Hawks a team that finished near the bottom in their division. However, both of them are facing of in the wildcard game, and it is the Seahawks with the higher seed. The Saints are far and away the better team, so there really is almost no need to break this one down. However, I am trying to break down every single game in the playoffs. Let's get started.
The home and away split doesn't effect New Orleans. This is a well oiled machine no matter where they play. However, the home and away split is defining for Seattle. As we saw last week, the Seahawks are scrappy team at home that scrounges out Ws. On the road, they are your pet gerbil's dinner. Seriously, this team rolls over and dies like, well, roadkill.
The Seahawks really can't pass on the Saints because, well, they really can't pass. Suffice to say, scoring points is not going to happen on Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer. Even if Malcolm Jenkins is out, there is no way this team gets legit yardage in the passing game. Sedrick Ellis absolutely dominated LeGarrette Blount. Ellis obliterates weak interiors such as Tampa's. Even though Marshawn Lynch is the best running back in this game, expect the same dominance by Ellis against Pitts, Spencer, and Gibson.
Drew Brees will have a good game, but I think that Robert Meachem is poised for a big game. The Seahawks will focus in on Lance Moore, leaving Meachem wide open on curls routes. Usually the Saints like all or nothing, but I think that the Saints should work some small throws using curls routes before heaving some to Moore. Then we will start to see points on the board.
Brandon Mebane will have a difficult time against a stiff interior that features Carl Nicks, but expect Chris Clemson to get up in Brees's face on some plays against a weaker Bushrod. The Saints don't run the football well, which is a shame considering the Hawks are weak against the run. Throughout it all, this is the Saints game to lose. I don't think they lose it.
Prediction: 31-13 MVP: Sedrick Ellis
The home and away split doesn't effect New Orleans. This is a well oiled machine no matter where they play. However, the home and away split is defining for Seattle. As we saw last week, the Seahawks are scrappy team at home that scrounges out Ws. On the road, they are your pet gerbil's dinner. Seriously, this team rolls over and dies like, well, roadkill.
The Seahawks really can't pass on the Saints because, well, they really can't pass. Suffice to say, scoring points is not going to happen on Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer. Even if Malcolm Jenkins is out, there is no way this team gets legit yardage in the passing game. Sedrick Ellis absolutely dominated LeGarrette Blount. Ellis obliterates weak interiors such as Tampa's. Even though Marshawn Lynch is the best running back in this game, expect the same dominance by Ellis against Pitts, Spencer, and Gibson.
Drew Brees will have a good game, but I think that Robert Meachem is poised for a big game. The Seahawks will focus in on Lance Moore, leaving Meachem wide open on curls routes. Usually the Saints like all or nothing, but I think that the Saints should work some small throws using curls routes before heaving some to Moore. Then we will start to see points on the board.
Brandon Mebane will have a difficult time against a stiff interior that features Carl Nicks, but expect Chris Clemson to get up in Brees's face on some plays against a weaker Bushrod. The Saints don't run the football well, which is a shame considering the Hawks are weak against the run. Throughout it all, this is the Saints game to lose. I don't think they lose it.
Prediction: 31-13 MVP: Sedrick Ellis
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Comment by Aryan Von Eicken
NFL and MLB Blog
Comment by Dustin Hull
Football Times
Diamond Press
Comment by Winless In Seattle
UnSportsman
32/44 for 72.7% completions
366 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
104.9 Passer Rating
*Jenkins was out Week 11.
Comment by nbageek
NBA Geek
sportsworld
Comment by Joe Soriano
Pro Sports Wrap