Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins
The final Sunday playoff game of the weekend features the #5 Green Bay Packers (10-6) and the #4 Washington Redskins, Sunday, January 10, 4:40PM ET (FOX) at FedEx Field. The two teams have not played against each other this season, and enter the game heading in completely different directions.
Green Bay Packers (10-6)
The Green Bay Packers limp into the wild card game after dropping their final two games of the season. That includes a Sunday night loss to the Minnesota Vikings that cost them the division title and home field advantage. Green Bay will open on the road in the playoffs for the first time since the 2011. However, that was the year they last won the Super Bowl led by then league MVP Aaron Rodgers.
Rogers again will be taking snaps for the Packers, but it’s been a very different year for him. His numbers don’t look all that bad, but there’s clearly something wrong with offense and the passing game. Losing Jordy Nelson in particular has hurt, but Rodgers has been both sacked and pressured a lot in the later parts of this season, partially because he’s having trouble finding open receivers, but also because he’s always been conservative about forcing balls into coverage.
Unless Washington falls apart, look for the Packers to go as Rodgers goes vs the Redskins. One-stop-shop online bookmakers has Green Bay +100 on the money-line and a +1 underdog. The over/under is 45.5.
Green Bay Packers Injuries: The Packers started the week with 17 players on Monday’s injury report, and that list expanded to 18 on Thursday when first-year cornerback Damarious Randall suffered a groin injury during practice.
Washington Redskins (9-7)
While Green Bay has lost two in a row, the Washington Redskins have won four straight and head into the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Kirk Cousins concluded the regular season throwing three touchdowns, and completing 12 of 15 passes for 176 yards in a meaningless game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Cousins has been on fire, throwing 20 touchdowns in his last 10 starts with only 3 interceptions, and has looked every bit the veteran leader that Washington hoped he would be.
Unfortunately, Washington has yet to win a game vs a team with a winning record this season. All 9 wins have come against teams with losing records, and worse still, they’re 0-4 against winning teams. Green Bay will be their first real test since they were blown out by the Carolina Panthers 44-16 in Week #10.
However, if there is a silver lining, it’s that all of those losses were the road. The Redskins have played very well at FedEx Field and that might be enough to inspire some odds-based confidence heading into Sunday’s contest. Accordingly, Washington has -120 on the money-line and a -1 favorite to win their first playoff game since 2012
Washington Redskins Injuries: The Redskins practiced without starting defensive lineman Chris Baker, who missed action on Thursday for a non-injury related reason. Running back Matt Jones only participated in a limited capacity.
