Lions (8-8) at Redskins (10-6)

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Friday January 07, 2000 11:59 PM

Edges Redskins   Lions Washington: Johnson is having a Pro Bowl year, and has thrown for more than 4,000 yards. Redskins also had the opportunity to tune up backup Rodney Peetel last week against the Dolphins. QB   Frerotte is 2-4 as Detroit's starter. The Lions are still looking to sign a veteran backup in case Frerotte gets hurt. If Stephen Davis is healthy, huge advantage for the Redskins. Skip Hicks has been a good backup when he's had to play. RB   The Lions have not really ever resolved the loss of Barry Sanders. Greg Hill only has 542 yards rushing this season. Last year, the Redskins gave up 61 sacks. This year they've reduced that total to 31. OL   The Lions offensive line hasn't been the same since it lost Aaron Gibson early. Detroit is still playing backup at the tackle positions. Washington: Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell have combined for 156 catches and 19 touchdowns (compared to only 16 from Detroit's corps). Rec   Lions also have a very good set of receivers in Jermaine Crowell, Herman Moore, Jonnie Morton and tight end David Sloan, who have combined for 208 receptions. But they don't have a quarterback like Johnson to get the ball to them, so Redskins get the edge. Redskins tackles tackles Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson have been criticized for not earning their huge salaries, but Stubblefield tends to get geared up in the playoffs -- and both played very well the last time these two teams met. DL   The best player on the field will be Detroit defensive end Robert Porcher, who has 15 1/2 sacks. Sean Barber is not a bad player, he's simply undersized. Derek Smith and Greg Jones are simply average. Decided advantage to the Lions. LB   All-Pro Steven Boyd is a tackling machine (94). Combine him with Chris Claiborne and Allen Aldridge and you've got an imposing group. Ageless Darrell Green and rookie Champ Bailey, with eight interceptions between them, form one of the best tandems in the league. Safeties Sam shade, Leomont Evans, plus Matt Stevens (who had six interceptions as a backup) get the edge over Washington's Mark Carrier and Ron Rice. DB   Lions lost Terry Fair and have been have been decimated by injuries. Bryant Westbrook has no interceptions. Brian Mitchell is considered one of the best returners in the NFL and gives the Redskins the edge. ST   Jason Hansen has kicked two field goals of more than 50 yards. Kicking advantage goes to Lions. Bobby Ross is a good coach, but he's coming into Washington with injuries in his secondary, on his offensive line and without Barry Sanders. To make the playoffs without Sanders is a big compliment to Ross, but Turner has all the weapons. Coach   Once Norv Turner was informed by team owner Daniel Snyder he'd be back, Turner relaxed and had his team playing well. Considered by many to be one of the great offensive play-callers in the league, Turner know what to do with his weapons and gets the edge.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years in the NFL as a coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/SI. He previews each of this weekend's wild-card playoff matchups.

The Lions will win if: They can establish a running game and keep Washington's offfense off the field -- but that's not likely. Although the Lions won 33-17 when the two teams met in Detroit a little over a month ago, look inside the numbers and you'll see a different perspective. Nothing went right for the Redskins -- they suffered a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown by Desmond Howard, allowed an 11-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Luther Eliss, surrendered six fumbles and committed 14 penalties.

The Redskins will win if: Steven Davis, who leads the NFC with 1,405 yards and the NFL with 17 touchdowns, is healthy and productive. It will be hard for the Lions to get on the field and throw if Davis is eating up yards and minutes. Brad Johnson, who threw for more than 4,000 yards during the regular season, knows how to spread the ball around to his weapons -- two good wide receivers in Michael Westbrook (68 receptions) and Albert Connell (62 receptions), a quality tight end in Stephen Alexander and the best receiving back in the league in Larry Centers.

Look deeper into the numbers from their game in Detroit earlier this season and you'll see some hopeful signs for the Redskins defense. Detroit only managed 12 first downs, was an awful 1-of-12 on third-down conversions and had only 31 total yards rushing.

The key matchup: Lions MLB Stephen Boyd vs. Redskins running back Davis. To slow the running game down and prevent Davis from having a big game it's critical Boyd is in on a lot of plays. ... Rookie Redskins offensive tackle Jon Jansen vs. Lions end Robert Porcher (15 1/2 sacks). . . . Another big matchup: Tony Ramirez, a replacement player at left tackle for the Lions vs. Redskins end Marco Coleman.

Don't be surprised if: Washington racks up a lot of points in this game. Several scouts say Washington's Norv Turner is the best offensive play-calling coach in the league -- and he's got all his weapons available.

X factor: Redskins receiver Irving Fryar didn't play in the first half of the season, but brings fresh legs and a veteran's savvy to this game. ... Detroit is 0-5 in its last five playoff games. Washington is plus-12 in turnover ratio. ... Lions quarterback Gus Frerotte returns to Washington for the first time. How much pressure will he put on himself to play big against his former team?

Prediction: Turner, who went to two Super Bowls as an assistant with Dallas, and veteran players Brian Mitchell and Darrell Green will bring along a group of young players without much playoff experience. The Lions are 0-4 since these two last met and the Redskins are 3-1. The Redskins' defense is suspect and will come back to haunt Turner later on in the playoffs but not this week. Washington will eliminate the mistakes of the first meeting and win this game easily.

 

Related information
Stories
Titans vs. Bills Dolphins vs. Seahawks Cowboys vs. Vikings
Multimedia
Detroit's Sedrick Irvin confirms it's do-or-die time for the Lions. (108 K) Washington's Brad Johnson says his team can't expect the Lions to make careless errors. (93 K) Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

Copyright © 2000 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.