Cin Vs Pit
Keys to victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers
In order for the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, they should focus on intermediate to deep and/or long passing plays. This is because the Cincinnati Bengals love to put one or two of their outside cornerbacks in press coverage with a safety over the top in case the wide receiver gets past the cornerback. As a result of this, opposing wide receivers can get a step or two in front or away from the cornerback as he is turning his body around. Since the Bengals like to put one or two of their outside cornerbacks in press coverage the Steelers should design pass plays that include fade, streak and slant routes. Most of these routes allow Ben Roethlisberger to release the ball quickly and take advantage of the five to ten yard window where the wide receiver may be open to catch the ball before the safety or linebacker can get there and break up the pass.
Keys to victory for the Cincinnati Bengals
In order for the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, they should feature a heavy dose of the running game to keep the high powered Steelers offense off the field as much as possible. While this strategy may cause the Bengals offense to have setbacks from time to time since the Steelers defense only allow 3.8 per carry. The Bengals have to keep in mind that if they abandon this strategy they risk giving the Steelers extra possessions because if AJ McCarron passes the ball two to three times per every four downs. There is a high possibility that the Bengals offense won't be able to stay on the field for as long as they had hoped for because every time AJ throws an incompletion the clock stops. On the other hand, if they run the ball the clock will keep running even if they do not gain any yards on a certain play.
Even though the Cincinnati Bengals only average 3.9 yards a carry on the ground which ranks 23rd in the NFL one would assume that the Cincinnati Bengals will use this as a way to control how much time the Steelers offense spends on the field and how many points they can put on the board.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
http://disabledsports.sportsblog.com/posts/10252118/cincinnati-bengals-vs-pittsburgh-steelers--2015-nfl-wild-card-round--prediction--breakdown.htmlGB Vs WSH
Keys to victory for Washington Redskins
In order for the Washington Redskins to beat the Green Bay Packers, they have to call a good amount of intermediate to long pass plays because the Green Bay Packers front four rarely gets pressure on the quarterback by themselves. The only time Green Bay can get pressure on the quarterback is when they send a linebacker or safety on a blitz. As a result of this, the Green Bay secondary has to cover Redskins wide receivers for a longer amount of time that leads to players being fatigued on certain plays and leaving wide receivers open. The Redskins should design plays that have long out, deep curl, comeback and streak routes to take advantage of the fact that Kirk Cousins will rarely receive pressure from the Green Bay Packers front four and giving him the opportunity to move the downfield on a consistent basis. If the Packers adjust and decide to send a linebacker or safety to blitz Kirk Cousins on a consistent basis then the Redskins can go back to their normal game plan. Which consists of running the ball and a short passing game that includes short out and drag routes as well as a play action bootleg to the right where Cousins throws the ball to a tight end or running back
Keys to victory for Green Bay Packers
In order for the Green Bay Packers to beat the Washington Redskins, they should aim to feature a heavy dose of the running game because every time Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass he is under constant pressure from opposing defensives since the offensive line isn’t strong and/or quick enough to hold their blocks. As a result of this, Rodgers does not have enough time to sit in the pocket and go thru his reads to make a good throw instead he has to get out of the pocket to try to avoid a negative play. A short-term solution to this problem is calling a lot of running plays during this game even if the packers only average 2-3 yards per carry. Once the Packers make the Redskins defense honor the running game by stacking the box then they will incorporate the passing game. The Packers may run a lot of play action passes due to the fact that they can fake the handoff to Lacey making the Redskins defense believe that he going to run the ball. As a result, the Redskins defense will keep the box stacked this will give the Packers receivers more man-to-man coverage. This will allow Aaron Rodgers to have more open space on the field to throw his receivers to the ball so they can make easier catches thus reducing his incompletions and/or interceptions. If the Packers follow this game plan they will be able to control time of possession and keep the Green Bay Packers front four off the field.
Ultimately the Green Bay Packers coaching staff understands that they have issues on both sides of the trenches. As a result of this, one would assume that the Packers will run the ball in order to protect Aaron Rodgers and/ or give him more open space on the field to throw his receivers to the ball as well as controlling time of possession to the Green Bay Packers front four off the field.
Winner: Green Bay Packers
http://disabledsports.sportsblog.com/posts/10171794/green-bay-packers-vs-washington-redskins--2015-nfl-wild-card-round--prediction--breakdown.htmlKC VS Hou
Keys to victory for Kansas City Chiefs
In order for the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Houston Texans, they have to call a good amount of running plays that are designed to go right up the middle of the Houston Texans defense. Since the Texans tend to leave a big hole wide open in the middle of defensive line when opposing teams are running the ball against them. This big hole in the middle of defensive line can be attributed to the declining play of Vince Wilfork, throughout the course of this season Wilfork has lost some of his quickness and strength which has resulted in him not being able to get to the running back as fast as he once did and not having the strength to take on double teams anymore. As a result of this, the Texans are giving up 3.72 yards a carry on runs that are considered up the middle or behind one of the guards according to football outsiders.
On the other hand, when it comes to passing game they should focus on quick passing plays like screens and slants because the Houston Texans defense is not very good at finishing up a tackle. As a result, it would benefit Alex Smith to get the ball out as quickly as possible so that his wide receivers can catch the ball in as much open space as possible. This will allow them to use their speed to get out of potential tackles.
Keys to victory for Houston Texans
In order for the Houston Texans to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, they have to call a good amount of short to intermediate pass plays because the Kansas City Chiefs secondary tends to give opposing wide receivers a 5-10 yard cushion to avoid getting beat over the top. The Texans should design plays that have short out, drag and curls routes to take advantage of the 5-10 yard cushion. If the secondary starts to move up and play closer to the wide receivers then the Texans can attempt a pass downfield. In terms of running game, it will be almost non-existent because Alfred Blue likes to wait until a hole develops before he attacks. Against the Chiefs that is going to be hard to sustain since the Chiefs defensive line does a solid job of getting off their blocks and getting into the backfield.
Ultimately the Kansas City Chiefs will run the ball right up the middle of the Houston Texans defense with success which will lead to the Chiefs controlling time of possession and winning the game.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
http://disabledsports.sportsblog.com/posts/10111265/kansas-city-chiefs-vs-houston-texans--2015-nfl-wild-card-round--prediction--breakdown.htmlMin Vs Sea
Keys to victory for the Minnesota Vikings
In order for the Minnesota Vikings to beat the Seattle Seahawks, they have to call a good amount of short to intermediate pass plays because the Seattle Seahawks are going to put seven to eight players in the box to try to prevent Adrian Peterson from impacting the game. As a result of this, one would assume that Teddy Bridgewater would see a substantial amount of man-to-man coverage with only one safety over the top. If the Vikings do see man-to-man coverage with only one safety over the top they can take advantage of it by designing pass plays with crossing routes. This is because their cornerbacks play a good amount of zone coverage, which means that they only play one side of the field. As a result, if the Vikings were to design plays with crossing routes that were mean that the cornerbacks of the Seattle Seahawks will have to follow the Vikings wide receivers all over the field. The Vikings wide receivers will be to take advantage of the fact that the Seahawks cornerbacks are not use to running side to side all over the field. If Teddy Bridgewater is able to complete four or five of these crossing routes this will force the Seahawks to put more players in coverage and giving Peterson more running room.
Keys to victory for the Seattle Seahawks
In order for the Seattle Seahawks to beat the Minnesota Vikings, they should focus on the short and quick passing game because when Russell Wilson drops back to pass he is under constant pressure from opposing defensives since the offensive line isn’t strong and/or quick enough to hold their blocks. As a result of this, Wilson does not have enough time to sit in the pocket and go thru his reads to make a good throw instead he has to get out of the pocket to throw a football out of bounds or try to gain positive yards with his legs. The Seahawks should design plays that have short out, drag and curls routes as well as play action boot legs so that there is a reduced amount of pressure on Wilson from the opposing defensive line and deliver an accurate ball to his wide receivers. Plays that develop quickly doesn't only reduce amount of pressure on Wilson but it also allows Wilson to attack the flats if the Vikings put a substantial amount of players in the box to act like they are blitzing. This would leave the flat wide open from the start of the play because the defense will waste a few seconds back peddling and turning their bodies around which will give Wilson enough time to complete a pass.
Ultimately Teddy Bridgewater is more than capable enough to complete four or five crossing routes which will force the Seahawks to put more players in coverage and giving Peterson more running room.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings
http://disabledsports.sportsblog.com/posts/10349372/seattle-seahawks-vs-minnesota-vikings--2015-nfl-wild-card-round--prediction--breakdown.html
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