Redskins vs. Bucs Predictions

Skins 17, Bucs 10. Time of possession heavily in favor of Skin's.

Here's a question: Who gives up more sacks, us or TB?

We'll give up 1 sack, TB will give up 3

According to the latest Vegas line skins are favored by 1.5....



How do you beat a team by 1.5 points? I understand homefield is worth a point or two, so we win 10-9? Or 14-13, or 14-12, or some combination of numbers below 20 for each team! Both Defense's are ahead of the "O"!

Redskins 24
TBay 10

I just don't see TBay's offense doing much against us. Last I heard (and saw) Bucs O-Line is shaky. On one hand, it is the Skins weakest unit (D-Line) against the Bucs (arguably) weakest unit. Throw in the Skins LB's and I think this is going to turn into a long day for TBay. I don't see any of their receivers overmatching are DB's and I think Williams will simply overwhelm the TBay's Oline - Arrington is probably playing over Steussie's side. So I don't think TBay is gonna score much (or even move the ball too well).

As for our offense v. their defense - that's sorta the key. Gotta give a similar edge to TBay's Dline/LB's right now. Not sure you can scheme around that much speed. I think Portis breaks a couple of runs based simply on his ability. Also, Cooley. He's going to be the man - How do you slow down speed/penetrating Dline and bring the DB's up w/out a big, pounding back? Toss the 5 yarder over the DLine's heads to the center of the field.

I bet there are no scores from long drives in the first quarter but that late in the third and fourth the Skins move down the field. This will be a tight, close game through most of the play as I think the teams match up fairly well. Both teams will be well prepped/coached with Gibbs getting a score based on some new offensive wrinkle he has developed to counter current defenses (I am betting it involves Cooley). The team with the fewest mistakes, turnovers and/or bad breaks will win.

Skins 24
Bucs 13

As long as Joe Gibbs and Greg Williams came up with a defense that knows how to defend the TIGHT END DUMP!!! , we should be all gravy.

On SportsCenter they just simulated the game (and some others) on 2K5. They had Portis rushing it 29 times for 175 yards and 3 TDs and the Skins winning by 3 after Gramatica misses a 52 yard field goal at the end of the game

They also had the Titans beating the Falcons in the Super Bowl. And the Bills (the Bills?!!) in the AFC championship game. I don't remember who was in the NFC title game

I say:

Cooley gets the first touchdown (on that same type of play the Bucs killed us on last year)

Springs has 2 INTs (the first of which will be deep in Seattle territory and lead to Cooley's TD)

Washington and LaVar with one sack each

Taylor with a forced fumble

Portis 125 yards rushing, 2 TDs

Play of the game: End around to Gardner, Gardner passes back to Brunell for a TD

45-0 Skins!

The skins will win this one. Our defense has looked good throughout the pre-season . It's very fast. It will give the bucs a lot of problems.

I don't think we will see many points in the first half. The team seems to have really bought into the gibbs system and that will translate into points in the third and fourth quarters. Skins win it.

First a comment:

My son played HS football against Charlie Garner when Garner was at JEB Stuart HS. Garner played both ways and he made a game saving tackle in the final minute to preserve a win for Stuart.


Now a question:

Since almost everyone is predicting a low score for the Bucs, is that because you think the Bucs' offense is bad or are you deluding yourselves into thinking the Skins' defense is REALLY good?

I think the Skins will win convincingly, (by a TD).