Can Redskins Halt Slide In Seattle?

Football Betting Lines

11/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back-to-back losses for the first time this year have the Washington Redskins fading in the NFC playoff picture. Currently holding the final Wild Card slot in the conference, Washington heads across the country this weekend to take on the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field.

Washington began the season 4-1, announcing itself as a contender in the NFC East. However, the club has lost three of five since, including two straight to Pittsburgh and Dallas, respectively.

After getting thumped, 23-6, by the Steelers in Week 9, the Redskins led the Cowboys late in last Sunday's home game before watching Dallas quarterback Tony Romo toss a 25-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass that lifted the Cowboys to a 14-10 win.

Jason Campbell was mediocre at quarterback for Washington, throwing for only 162 yards, while running back Clinton Portis ran for 68 yards on 15 carries despite being a game-time decision due to a sprained MCL suffered in his left knee during the Pittsburgh game.

Washington would love nothing more than to leave Seattle with a win, as its 6-4 record is tied with Dallas for second in the division, with both teams trailing the 9-1 New York Giants. The Redskins host the Giants next weekend.

This Sunday's game will mark a homecoming for both Washington head coach Jim Zorn and backup running back Shaun Alexander.

Zorn was Seattle' first-ever starting quarterback, playing under center in the Seahawks' inaugural season in 1976. He won NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors that year and played nine seasons with Seattle, getting inducted into the club's Ring of Honor in 1991.

Alexander, meanwhile, signed with Washington in the middle of this season after being released by Seattle this past summer. The 2005 NFL MVP, Alexander spent his last eight seasons with the Seahawks and is the club's all-time leading rusher with 9,429 yards.

Even a third-string role with the Redskins is better than what Seattle is going through this year. Winners of the past four NFC West titles, the Seahawks are just 2-8 this year, tied with St. Louis for last place in the standings.

Seattle has lost three straight and six of its last seven, and doesn't even bolster the home dominance it once did. The Seahawks have the third-best regular-season home record since Week 16 of the 2002 campaign at 35-11, but have gone just 1-4 in the Emerald City this year.

The Seahawks' third straight loss came in Arizona last week, a 26-20 setback. Both quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and wide receiver Deion Branch returned from injury, but Seattle still managed only 196 yards of offense. Hasselbeck was intercepted three times in his return from back and knee issues, including one late in the fourth quarter that ended a comeback bid against the NFC West- leading Cardinals.

This is the first of back-to-back games against the NFC East for Seattle, which will travel to Dallas next week for a Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys.

SERIES HISTORY

The Redskins hold a 9-4 edge in their all-time regular season series with Seattle, and have won four straight in the series dating back to 2001. The Redskins were 20-17 home winners in overtime when the teams met back Week 4 of the 2005 campaign, and took a 14-3 decision when they last traveled to Seattle for a regular season game, in 2002. The Seahawks, who are 2-4 at home against the Redskins all-time, earned their only home regular season victory in the series in 1998.

The last two meetings between the teams both occurred in postseason games played in Seattle, with the Hawks taking a 20-10 decision in a 2005 Divisional Playoff, and a 35-14 triumph in a 2007 NFC First-Round Playoff.

Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren is 2-4 all-time against the Redskins, including 2-0 in the playoffs and 0-4 in the regular season. Zorn will be meeting the team for which he both played (1976-84) and served as an assistant coach (1997, 2001-07) for the first time as a head man.

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

It was thought that Alexander might get his first significant action of the season last weekend, but that turned out not to be the case with Portis (1,063 rushing yards, 7 TD) playing and backup Ladell Betts returning from a three- game absence due to a knee injury. Portis went over the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in his seven-year NFL career and leads the league with 1,219 yards from scrimmage this year, while ranking second in rushing yards. After five straight 100-yard rushing games, the 27-year-old Miami-Florida product has been held to 119 yards in his last two games. Campbell (2122 passing yards, 9 TD) completed 22-of-34 pass attempts versus the Cowboys and also threw a touchdown pass. However, he also threw an interception, his third in two games after not throwing a pick through the season's first eight tests. Washington needs Campbell to be efficient but not necessarily great, as it relies on the league's fifth-ranked ground game (139.4 yards per game). Tight end Chris Cooley (55 receptions, 1 TD) had seven catches for 47 yards last weekend and has caught a pass in 66 straight regular-season games. He is tied for first among NFL tight ends in receptions. Wideout Santana Moss (49 receptions, 701 receiving yards, 5 TD) made five catches for 29 yards last weekend, with fullback Mike Sellers hauling in Campbell's lone touchdown pass. Washington has allowed 26 sacks this year, but the line should be at full strength on Sunday, as both guard Pete Kendall (knee) and tackle Chris Samuels (knee) are probable.

Seattle received a blow on Wednesday, when defensive end Patrick Kerney landed on injured reserve due to a shoulder problem suffered against the San Francisco 49ers back on October 26. Despite having played in only seven games, Kerney (22 tackles) still leads the club with five sacks. Add in defensive tackle Red Bryant being questionable due to an ankle ailment that has forced him to miss the last two games, and Seattle's run defense that is ranked 21st in the NFL might be in some trouble. Portis might not run completely wild as long as the Seahawks still have linebackers Lofa Tatupu (59 tackles), Leroy Hill (81 tackles, 1 sack) and Julian Peterson (54 tackles) on the field. Those three have 194 tackles between the three of them, with Peterson notching four of Seattle's 24 sacks this season. With Arizona racking up 382 net passing yards a week ago, Seattle's secondary made a host of tackles. Corner Josh Wilson (52 tackles, 1 INT) had a team-high 10 to go along with an interception and forced fumble, while nickel back Jordan Babineaux (44 tackles, 1 INT) and safety Brian Russell (45 tackles, 1 sack) had seven tackles each. Defensive end Darryl Tapp (35 tackles, 2 sacks) and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (27 tackles, 4 sacks) had a sack each. Wilson is questionable due to an ankle ailment.

WHEN THE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL

The Seahawks' 31st-ranked offense (253.8 ypg) and passing attack (145.5 ypg) didn't get the boost it hoped for with Hasselbeck's (826 passing yards, 3 TD, 7 INT) return. After missing the last five games, the 33-year-old completed 17-of-29 pass attempts for 170 yards with a touchdown strike to running back Maurice Morris. T.J. Duckett (113 rushing yards, 6 TD), who spent 2006 with Washington, ran for a pair of short fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns against Arizona, while Julius Jones (616 rushing yards, 2 TD) had only 19 yards on the ground on 10 carries. Morris added just two yards on three carries for a Seahawks' ground game that rarely gets a chance to make an impact due to Seattle falling behind early. Seattle is tied for 19th in the NFL with 108.3 rushing yards per game. That unit takes a hit this week, as guard Mike Wahle is doubtful because of a shoulder injury. Branch, who had missed the past five games due to a bruised heel, made four receptions for 54 yards last Sunday. Tight end John Carlson (30 receptions, 2 TD) added three catches for 39 yards and leads all NFC rookies at his position in receptions and yards (337). Wideout Koren Robinson (19 receptions, 2 TD), who made two catches for 11 yards versus Arizona, is questionable due to a sore knee.

Washington limited the Dallas offense to 315 net yards, with just 198 of those coming through the air, in last week's loss. For the season, the Redskins are yielding just 276.4 yards per game (4th overall) and rank fifth against the run at 84.3 yards per game. Though the club failed to sack Romo, the secondary did receive a boost from cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who had an interception in his first game since signing with Washington after getting released by Oakland. Washington's secondary will get stronger for a second straight week, as corner Shawn Springs (16 tackles, 1 sack) is set to return from a calf ailment that has sidelined him for the past four games. Linebacker Rocky McIntosh (60 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) also had a pick against the Cowboys in addition to eight tackles. He continues to put forth an excellent return from a knee injury in 2007. Linebacker London Fletcher (84 tackles) and rookie safety Chris Horton each made nine tackles against Dallas. Horton (51 tackles, 1 sack) is tied for the lead among NFL rookies with three interceptions this season. Washington, though, continues to have trouble pressuring the quarterback, as it is ranked near the bottom of the league with just 15 sacks.

FANTASY FOCUS

Knee injury aside, Portis is poised for another big game against a struggling Seahawks defense. That only thing that may hinder the back is a big, early lead by Washington that could end his day early. Campbell remains a solid option, but his value goes up in this matchup, while Cooley and Moss are must- starts. Wideout Antwaan Randle El could have a good game for Washington as well, and don't forget he threw a touchdown pass versus Seattle in Super Bowl XL while with Pittsburgh. Washington's defense is also a great start.

Seattle offers little in the fantasy game right now outside of Carlson. Hasselbeck is banged up and still trying to find a rhythm, and Seattle's ground game -- possibly its one strength if it could just stay in games -- faces a tough run defense. No Seahawks wideout is worth a start, and while Seattle's defense has posted some sacks and turnovers this year, it remains a risky play.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

If it hopes to remain in the playoff picture, Washington needs to put the brakes on its losing streak now. Luckily, it draws a favorable matchup this weekend in Seattle, and although it will be an emotional game for Zorn, his team doesn't need to play perfect ball to leave the West Coast with a victory. Washington's defense will feast on Seattle's struggling offense, while Portis and company should have no problem moving the ball to stay in the Wild Card hunt.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Redskins 27, Seahawks 13