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St Louis at Seattle

Seattle suspended WR Koren Robinson for the Miami game in Week 11 for

violating team rules and the league suspended him for the following four

games for violating its substance-abuse policy. Robinson returned to the

lineup two weeks ago but he failed to catch a pass in that game and the

Seahawks didn't activate him for the regular-season finale because of

disciplinary reasons.

Now head coach Mike Holmgren will consult with his players' committee

before making a decision concerning Robinson's status for this game. While

Seattle will still have excellent depth at receiver should it bench

Robinson, he would be sorely missed. Robinson, who is averaging 16 yards

per catch, is the Seahawks' best big-play threat on the perimeter. They

simply won't be as effective opening up their underneath routes by

stretching St. Louis' defense vertically without him in the lineup.

That's important because WRs Darrell Jackson, Jerry Rice and Bobby Engram

are all at their best running short-to-intermediate routes. In the event

Robinson plays, expect Seattle to look for him downfield early in the

hopes of forcing the Rams' safeties to play a little deeper. This would

effectively create space for Jackson, Rice and Engram.

It's critical that Seattle's defensive linemen get their hands up when

they aren't going to get to QB Marc Bulger because it will increase their

chances of generating a turnover in three ways. The first is Bulger tends

to lose the strike zone when he doesn't set his feet, and obstructing

passing windows forces him to move around the pocket more often.

Secondly, Bulger will have to hold onto the ball a little longer while

trying to find a quality passing window. That will give the pass rush more

time to get to him and he has fumbled five times this year. Finally, the

Seahawks' defensive linemen getting their hands up could result in some

passes getting tipped at the line of scrimmage. This could create some

jump-ball situations that give the linebacker corps and secondary a better

opportunity to make a play.

WistromSeattle RDE Grant Wistrom had hoped he would be able to return from

a knee injury that has forced him to miss the last three games, but he is

listed as doubtful and it's highly unlikely he plays. With Wistrom and DT

Marcus Tubbs, who has missed the last four games with an ankle injury, on

the sidelines the front four will have some problems holding its own

against the run. In addition, the lack of depth caused by their absences

could cause the Seahawks' defensive line to wear down over the course of

the game.

RB Shaun Alexander ruffled some feathers around the league when he made it

known that he was unhappy with finishing a yard behind Jets RB Curtis

Martin in the race for this year's rushing title. He was particularly

upset with a quarterback sneak call that put Seattle ahead late in the

fourth quarter.

The Seahawks need to avoid any distractions if they expect to beat St.

Louis for the first time this year, especially from the player who should

carry the bulk of the offensive workload. To the credit of Holmgren and

Alexander's teammates, Seattle did well to diffuse the situation by

downplaying it rather than allowing it to turn into a problem.

The transition from former Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith's

schemes to new defensive coordinator Larry Marmie's schemes has been

painful at times. However, players have gradually become more comfortable

with their roles and responsibilities, so it's should be no surprise that

St. Louis' defense has played far better in recent weeks.

With the Rams' defense playing with more confidence and making fewer

mistakes, the Seahawks won't get as many opportunities to make the big

play. They'll need to be consistent consequently and that could be a

problem. Seattle's receivers have dropped some passes they should have

caught and Matt Hasselbeck hasn't always found the open man this year.

JacksonIt's important the Seahawks get off to a strong start. St. Louis

beat Philadelphia and the Jets to get into the playoffs. Two recent wins

over playoff teams combined with Bulger playing at a high level and the

development of rookie RB Steven Jackson gives the Rams a great deal of

momentum coming in.

However, it's important to note that St. Louis finished the regular season

with a 2-6 road record and the Eagles rested several of their starters. If

Seattle can build an early lead and prevent Bulger from getting into a

rhythm, the Rams could quickly lose their swagger.

Look for the Seahawks to get physical with St. Louis' receivers. The Rams'

passing game is predicated on timing and there are times that Bulger

throws to spots on the field rather than the receiver. Seattle can disrupt

that timing by pressing the receivers at the line and that could cause

Bulger to make what appear-to-be errant throws.

The Seahawks' pass defense is ranked in the bottom half of the league in

terms of average yards allowed per game but only two teams have more

interceptions. In addition, Seattle has returned three interceptions for

touchdowns and Bulger has thrown 14 picks in 14 games. As a result, St.

Louis' offense must stay alert and be ready to play defense. The offensive

linemen, backs, tight ends and receivers must fight through blocks and

make sure to wrap the ball carrier up upon contact if and when Bulger

throws an interception.

The Rams didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday and head coach Mike Martz is

expected to modify the schedule for Friday. Martz obviously wants his

players to be as fresh as well as healthy as possible and he can afford to

give them some practice time off because of their familiarity with

Seattle. The Seahawks will also adjust their schedule, but they practiced

some on Tuesday and Holmgren made a point of mentioning the importance of

a good week of practice during his press conference on Tuesday.

MorrisFB Mack Strong is one of the best lead blockers in the league, but

he isn't very dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield, so Seattle

will line backup RB Maurice Morris up at fullback in certain passing

situations. Morris generally releases on a route into the flat and has the

second gear to turn the short gain into the big play.

Meanwhile, Alexander will usually wait to see if any defenders come free

before releasing into the flat in the opposite direction and he too is

very dangerous after the catch. It's imperative that St. Louis' outside

linebackers tackle well in the open field consequently.

The first part of this matchup discusses the Seahawks playing TE Jerramy

Stevens at receiver to mask their lack of size on the perimeter when they

get close to the goal line. One of the other ways Seattle will try to open

up its passing game in the red zone is running some three-receiver bunch

formations. At the snap of the ball all three receivers head in different

directions and the motion of the play could confuse the Rams. This

formation and routes could also cause defenders to run into one another.

The Seahawks did a terrible job of tackling last week and they'll have to

do a far better job of limiting St. Louis' production after contact.

However, that will be easier said than done. Jackson runs with great power

and the Rams' receivers excel at making defenders miss in the open field.

Special Teams

Last week Atlanta blocked one of Ken Walter's punts and Seattle's punt

cover unit has to make sure it doesn't release downfield too early. The

Seahawks can't afford to give St. Louis quality starting field position or

worse points by making a critical mistake on special teams.

St. Louis' special teams also finished the regular season on somewhat of a

down note, as Jets KOR Jerricho Cotchery returned a kickoff 94 yards for a

score. He also averaged 39.6 yards over five kickoff returns in that game.

Morris has been somewhat of a disappointment as a return man this year,

but he has the big-play ability to take advantage of any breakdowns in the

Rams' kickoff coverage.

Matchups

Seattle RB Shaun Alexander vs. St. Louis MLB Robert Thomas

Seattle ROT Floyd Womack vs. St. Louis LDE Leonard Little

St. Louis WR Torry Holt vs. Seattle CB Ken Lucas

St. Louis ROT Blaine Saipaia vs. Seattle LDE Chike Okeafor

Seattle WR Darrell Jackson vs. St. Louis CB Jerametrius Butler

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Rams 24

Jets at S.D.

Jets DE John Abraham (knee) has been practicing and is expected to play a

situational role in Saturday's game. Even if Abraham can only participate

on 15-20 plays, it will be an unexpected and much-needed boost for this

unit. The Jets' only legitimate pass-rushing weapon along the defensive

line during Abraham's absence has been LDE Shaun Ellis, who had three

sacks in the season finale versus the Rams.

EllisEllis certainly provides a mismatch against Chargers ROT Shane

Olivea, but because the Jets have very little complementary help, the

Chargers would be able to double team Ellis or at least shift their

blocking schemes his way. With a fresh Abraham on the field in certain

passing-down situations, the Chargers either will have to account for both

Ellis and Abraham on the perimeter, which should open up more room for DTs

Dewayne Robertson and Jason Ferguson while also creating more gaps for

Jonathan Vilma to blitz up the middle.

Building on the last point, getting front-four pressure on QB Drew Brees

will be one of the biggest keys for Jets' defense. TE Antonio Gates

demands more than single coverage. The Jets will need to press him with a

linebacker a good majority of the time at the line of scrimmage and then

give that linebacker (likely SLB Mark Brown) safety help over the top from

SS Reggie Tongue.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson also demands more respect as a receiver than most

running backs in the NFL, which is why the Jets will likely need to play a

lot of zone-underneath coverage with WLB Eric Barton and MLB Vilma

handling one-half responsibility. Because of how prevalent Gates and

Tomlinson are in the passing game, the Jets would be leaving their defense

extremely vulnerable if they got into a situation where they had to blitz

too much in order to get more consistent pressure on Brees.

Despite resting several key starters in last week's meaningless game, the

Chargers' wide receiver corps and return specialist group enter the

playoffs banged up. Keenan McCardell (hamstring), Tim Dwight (toe) and

Eric Parker (ribs) are all listed as questionable. Reche Caldwell (knee)

has obviously been out since October, which takes away from the depth of

the unit, as well. Robb Butler, a safety who has helped return kickoffs

down the stretch, should play but could be affected by a toe injury.

DwightThe team misses Dwight the most in the return game, as it simply

lacks the same explosive potential in that facet. Dwight is expected to

play on Saturday, but his role/effectiveness in the return game is very

much up in the air. It should be fine if McCardell and Parker are able to

play at a relatively high level because Kassim Osgood and TE/WR Ryan

Krause can provide good depth as sub-package contributors behind those

two. However, if McCardell and/or Parker fail to play to expectations or

if one or both is unable to finish the game, it would give the Jets'

much-maligned secondary a huge break.

The other situation the Chargers are dealing with is the flu that DE Igor

Olshansky has come down with. The rookie DE missed significant practice

time during the middle of the week and it is unknown how much that will

affect his playing time and/or effectiveness. Olshansky has been one of

the underrated players in the NFL this season, as his discipline, strength

and leverage versus the run have played a big part in the Chargers'

excellence versus the run.

If he isn't as dominant as he was during the second half of the regular

season, it will cause depth issues and force the smaller and less powerful

DeQuincy Scott into a role that he isn't cut out for. One thing is for

certain, playing a day early this week isn't working in Olshansky's favor.

Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett has to be more creative and

aggressive and his receivers have to respond with some big plays in the

vertical passing game. The Jets simply will not be able to rely on RB

Curtis Martin and the ground attack as much as they have become accustomed

to this season. The Chargers are aggressive in run support, they like to

blitz a lot, and they play a lot of press coverage on the perimeter with

CBs Quentin Jammer and Drayton Florence.

The Chargers aren't nearly as talented as the Eagles at cornerback or

effective in terms of their blitz package, but they play a similar scheme,

as they expect their cornerbacks to smother receivers at the line in order

to give the pass rush time to get to the quarterback. If the Jets don't

take more shots vertically early on and if QB Chad Pennington isn't able

to exploit the mismatches that WRs Santana Moss, Justin McCariens and

Wayne Chrebet represent, the Charger defense will continue to tighten as

the game progresses.

ChrebetChrebet's return to the lineup after missing time due to another

concussion shouldn't be overlooked. For starters, the Jets' lack of depth

is a glaring weakness. Teams with three and four talented receivers have

been most successful against the Chargers this season because that depth

at the position allows them to spread the Chargers out and to attack their

biggest area of concern, the secondary.

Secondly, the Jets seem to lack a go-to-presence in clutch situations

because Moss and McCareins still tend to disappear from games too often.

Chrebet doesn't offer much in terms of the vertical presence that

Pennington will need in order to stretch the Charger's aggressive defense

out vertically, but he is a security blanket for Pennington to target on

critical third-down situations.

The poor play of their offensive line has been a big reason for the Jets'

stumbles down the stretch of the regular season and it is a major concern

as the team prepares to take on one of the most underrated defensive front

sevens in the NFL. One thing that stands out on film is that this unit is

made of massive mauling types that lack great athleticism to begin with

and seem to be even more sluggish as they've worn down late in the season.

LOT Jason Fabini has struggled mightily in terms of pass protection and

with penalties the last two weeks, and ROB Brandon Moore hasn't been

nearly as efficient as he was in the middle of the season. The Jets gave

up six sacks versus the Rams last week and, if they don't do a better job

of communicating versus blitzes and stunts against an aggressive 3-4

scheme of the Chargers, Pennington could spend a lot more time on his back

this Saturday.

Special Teams

The Jets have a considerable edge on special teams and the emergence of

Jerricho Cotchery as a legitimate threat as a kickoff return specialist is

one of the reasons why. The rookie Cotchery was inconsistent when first

taking over the job, but he has made significant strides recently and had

a breakout game last week with a 94-yard touchdown return.

The Chargers have been inconsistent in terms of covering kicks and Nate

Kaeding's directional problems haven't helped. The team has turned to PT

Mike Scifres in that department, which has helped down the stretch.

However, if the Chargers aren't careful in this facet of special teams, it

will help the Jets keep things closer than they should be in this game.

With Tim Dwight unlikely to resume his role as the team's return

specialist in the playoffs, the Chargers don't have nearly the explosive

potential in the return game that the Jets possess. Eric Parker is

averaging just 8.8 yards per punt return and seems to be worn down with

his dual responsibility. The team is likely to continue with a committee

at the KOR position with Robb Butler and Jesse Chatman probably handling

most of the returns.

The Chargers still aren't great in the kicking game but they have at least

improved. Kaeding has connected on five of his last six field goal

attempts after missing four of his first 19 attempts on the season. He has

clearly settled in down the stretch, but it will be interesting to see how

he handles the pressure of kicking in his first NFL playoff game. Scrifes

has been much more consistent throughout the season, but he is also a

youngster (second year pro) kicking in his first NFL postseason.

The Jets don't have the strong legs that the Chargers possess in the

kicking game, but PT Toby Gowin and PK Doug Brien form a much more

experienced and reliable tandem. Brien has connected on 24 of 29 field

goal attempts on the season with a long of 53 yards. Gowin hasn't had

nearly as consistent of a season with an average of just 38.2 yards per

punt, but he is battle-tested and does possess very good directional

skills.

Matchups

San Diego TE Antonio Gates vs. N.Y. Jets SS Reggie Tongue

San Diego WR Eric Parker vs. N.Y. Jets RCB David Barrett

San Diego ROT Shane Olivea vs. N.Y. Jets LDE Shaun Ellis

N.Y. Jets WR Santana Moss vs. San Diego LCB Quentin Jammer

N.Y. Jets OC Kevin Mawae vs. San Diego NT Jamal Williams

Prediction: Chargers 23, Jets 17

Denver at Indy

There's good news and bad news for the Colts on the injury front. The good

news is that OG Rick DeMulling (ribs) should be back in the starting

lineup after missing three games and CBs Nick Harper (back) and Joseph

Jefferson (knee) will also be ready to play after they were held out of

action last week.

The bad news, however, is that it doesn't look like TE Dallas Clark will

be able to play following a concussion he suffered against the Broncos

last week. The Colts still have solid veteran Marcus Pollard to rely on at

the position, but Pollard isn't the vertical weapon that Clark is and,

without Clark, offensive coordinator Tom Moore won't be able to use the

two-tight end sets that he likes so much.

After QB Peyton Manning disassembled the Broncos' defense in this same

forum a year ago, the Broncos elected to focus on upgrading their defense,

most specifically with the trade of RB Clinton Portis for CB Champ Bailey.

One year later it's now time to see if that move paid off. The Broncos are

obviously huge underdogs but on paper they match up better defensively

than most teams.

Harrison

BaileyPerhaps the most important individual matchup is the one between WR

Marvin Harrison and Bailey. The Broncos need to move Bailey around and let

him mirror Harrison at all times. Bailey is used to playing on both sides

of the field so footwork should not be an issue. Even then, the Broncos

will need to account for Harrison's big-play capabilities with at least

one and often two safeties deep in case Harrison, Reggie Wayne or Brandon

Stokley gets over the top.

The Colts feed off of early scores because it forces opponents to abort

the run, which feeds into the athletic nature of Indy's defense. Giving up

a big play early in this game simply can't be an option for the Broncos.

Spreading the field with three-receiver sets and Pollard "flexed" out into

the slot has to be the Colts' primary initiative on Sunday. Denver has the

athletes at linebacker with Al Wilson and D.J. Williams to hold up better

than most in man coverage. The Broncos also have a potential advantage if

Bailey can do a good job of limiting Harrison in coverage. However, the

rest of the Denver secondary is a source of weakness that Manning can

exploit.

Wayne vs. RCB Kelly Herndon and Stokley vs. Roc Alexander are the two

biggest mismatches in the Colts' favor. Wayne's 71-yard touchdown last

week versus Denver was the longest of his career and his team will be

looking for more big plays from him this week because of the mismatch he

represents against Alexander. Also, by spreading the field horizontally

and vertically, it will prevent the Broncos from loading up versus

Edgerrin James and the running game, while also limiting the Broncos'

options when it comes to the blitz.

QB Jake Plummer is the player who will be under the brightest spotlight

for Denver in this game. The Broncos are obviously looking to slow down

the tempo with a strong dedication to the running attack, but in order to

keep drives going and to keep the Indianapolis defense honest, Plummer has

to be much more efficient than he was throughout the majority of the

regular season.

The Broncos have some mismatches in the passing game they can target with

WRs Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie, as well as with TE Jeb Putzier. They also

have an offensive line that has given up just 15 sacks this season and is

capable of protecting Plummer against a Colts front four that has quickly

developed into one of the most devastating pass-rushing groups in the NFL.

However, Plummer's poor accuracy and inconsistent decision-making skills

are what have to be concerning coach Mike Shanahan and his staff the most

right now.

If Plummer is unable to convert on third downs and if he isn't efficient

enough working against a Colts defense that is likely to be overzealous on

several occasions because of its "stop-the-run-first" mentality, the

Broncos will have no chance of keeping Manning & Co. off the field long

enough to stay within striking distance.

PutzierThe Broncos need a big game from Putzier, who improved as the

season has progressed and has become one of Plummer's favorite targets.

Putzier is an above average athlete with solid hands. He isn't a huge

vertical threat, but he does have enough speed to get down the seam and

stretch the field. Against a Colts defense that will split most of its

time between a cover-2 and cover-3 look, Putzier's role can't be

overstated.

When working against the cover-2 with two safeties splitting deep-middle

responsibility, Putzier must do a good job of getting down the field and

making his presence known. If the Colts' safeties are caught cheating

toward the sidelines, Putzier has to capitalize by finding the soft spot

down the middle between the middle linebacker and the safeties.

Against a cover-3 with SS Mike Doss cheated up, Putzier needs to exploit

Doss below-average man-to-man cover skills by using his quickness and

athleticism to gain separation. Conversely, if Putzier is unable to

provide consistency in the passing game for Denver, it will give the Colts

a lot more flexibility to be aggressive with their safeties in coverage

and in run support.

Special Teams

Denver's Jason Elam and Indianapolis' Mike Vanderjagt are two of the

league's elite place-kickers and they provide a lot of confidence and

stability for their respective teams as each heads into the playoffs. Elam

has been the more consistent of the two this season. He finished the

season strong, hitting all four of his field goal attempts against the

Colts last week. Elam has hit 10 of his last 11 and finished the regular

season 29-of-34 on FGAs.

VanderjagtVanderjagt wasn't as consistent as usual this season, as he hit

20 of 25 FGAs overall and also missed two of his final eight attempts down

the stretch. However, Vanderjagt does have a stronger leg than Elam and he

also has been a better "dome kicker" throughout his career, which makes

this a very even battle if it comes down to field goals.

After really struggling in the kickoff department, the Colts have

seemingly solved their problems in that department thanks to the upgrade

that Martin Gramatica has provided as the team's kickoff specialist.

Gramatica has shown good distance, hang time and directional skills on his

kickoffs, which has given the cover units a better opportunity to get

downfield and make a play.

With Gramatica upgrading the kickoff unit and PT Hunter Smith having

another brilliant season with an impressive 45.2-yard per-punt average,

the Colts should have no trouble keeping Denver rookie RS Triandos Luke in

check. Luke has been a pleasant surprise as a consistent and reliable

return man both on kickoffs and punt returns, but in all reality the

Broncos need an upgrade at both positions next season. Luke is sure-handed

and protects the ball well but he lacks home run potential. He is

averaging 20.4 yards per kickoff return with a long of only 32 yards and

7.1 yards per punt return with a long of just 21 yards.

The Colts have a chance to make an impact in the return game, as PR Brad

Pyatt and KOR Dominic Rhodes show much more explosive potential than Luke

flashes for the Broncos. Pyatt made a healthy return last week after

missing nearly the entire season because of injury. He looked a bit rusty

in his return and the team is likely to limit him to just punt returns on

Sunday, but he does have big-play speed if he catches a crease.

The other reason why the Colts will leave Pyatt off the kickoff return

team is because Rhodes is coming into his own. He started off slow but

finished with a late-season, 88-yard touchdown return and an overall

average of 24.8 yards per kickoff return. PT/KO Jason Baker, who struggled

with an average of just 39.4 yards per punt this season, will need to do a

much better job with his directional skills and accuracy on punts and

kickoffs in order to prevent a big return from Pyatt and/or Rhodes.

Matchups

Denver WR Ashley Lelie vs. Indianapolis LCB Nick Harper

Denver RBs Rueben Droughns and Tatum Bell vs. Indianapolis MLB Rob Morris

Denver LOT Matt Lepsis vs. Indianapolis RDE Dwight Freeney

Indianapolis WR Reggie Wayne vs. Denver LCB Champ Bailey

Indianapolis RB Edgerrin James vs. Denver MLB Al Wilson and WLB D.J.

Williams

Prediction: Colts 30, Broncos 17

Minnesota at G.B.

Minnesota has won just two of the last 22 games it has played outside and

head coach Mike Tice is holding portions of practice outside with that in

mind. The problem is the Vikings' outdoor practice facilities are frozen

over and they don't want to risk a player injuring himself by slipping or

slamming into the hard surface.

As a result, they only go outdoors for slow-tempo practices that focus on

teaching and alignments rather than timing and hitting. The hope is that

will be enough time for the players to get a little more used to playing

in the cold weather. It's also important to note that Green Bay benefits

from the scheduling of this game, as the sun should set and temperatures

should start to drop below freezing about an hour after kickoff.

MossTice did an excellent job of downplaying WR Randy Moss' decision to

head to the locker room with time still remaining on the clock last week,

but the damage has already been done. Moss showed a lack of faith in his

teammates and his actions suggested he only wants to be a part of the team

when it's successful.

Both meetings between these teams this year have come down to last-second

field goal attempts. It's highly unlikely Minnesota rolls over the Packers

and its ability to bounce back when it falls behind and/or makes a mistake

will be critical. Whether Moss likes it or not, his teammates look to him

as a leader and actions always speak louder than words, which makes his

lack of resiliency that much more disturbing.

Adam Goldberg was the Vikings' fourth player to line up at right tackle

this year and he has done an admirable job considering the circumstances.

However, he isn't ready for a starting role at this point of his career

and he clearly struggled last week.

The second-year tackle's ability to put that game behind him so he can

play with confidence this week is a concern, but there is reason to

believe he'll bounce back with a stronger performance. Goldberg faced

Green Bay's schemes and personnel two weeks ago, so he should be better

prepared to pick up line stunts as well as blitzes and has a better idea

of how certain players are going to attack him.

The first part of this matchup discusses Packers head coach Mike Sherman

not starting RDT Cletidus Hunt last week because Hunt wasn't playing at a

high enough level. Meanwhile, Hunt has said he didn't start because

Sherman was resting his legs and backup Cullen Jenkins played very well in

relief.

While Hunt should start because of his superior size and ability to hold

his ground against the run, look for Jenkins to see ample time in relief.

Jenkins is a little quicker and agile then Hunt, so it's important

Minnesota's offensive line recognizes when he comes into the game and

makes the necessary adjustments.

WinfieldOne important injury note worth mentioning is CB Antoine Winfield,

who has been slowed by an ankle sprain, isn't expected to wear the brace

he has been using over the past two games. If losing the brace makes him

more mobile and allows him to change directions quickly, the Vikings'

secondary should get a much-needed boost.

However, don't expect Green Bay to wait too long before testing Winfield.

If the injury continues to hinder him, the Packers could produce some big

plays and possibly jump out to a lead by throwing at him early. In

addition, Winfield's ankle should become more flexible as he warms up, so

he should be at his weakest early.

Look for Green Bay to bring pressure off the edge when it blitzes. This

will test Goldberg and LOT Bryant McKinnie, who will have the unenviable

task of trying to keep RDE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila out of the backfield most

of the day.

Attacking the perimeter of the protection will also put more pressure on

Minnesota offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to run more max-protect

schemes that keep a back and/or tight end to help out. The problem for

Linehan is RB Michael Bennett and TE Jermaine Wiggins are far better

receivers than they are pass blockers.

CB Brian Williams is the only Minnesota player who has recorded more

passes defended than DT Kevin Williams, who clearly does an excellent job

of getting his hands up in the passing windows. There are two ways the

Packers' offensive line can prevent Kevin Williams from tipping some

passes at the line of scrimmage. They can cut him so he has to bring his

hands down to protect his legs or they can try not to allow Williams

enough separation to jump or get his hands up.

Unfortunately for the Packers, both techniques require the offensive

linemen playing with a great deal of discipline. They must not cut

Williams while he is engaged with another offensive lineman or they will

be flagged for the chop block. In addition, they can't afford to be too

aggressive firing off the ball because that will create seams for other

defenders.

GreenMinnesota's offense has the weapons to keep pace with any team in the

league. The bad news is almost any offense in the league can keep pace

with the Vikings because their defense has been among the worst in the

league. However, Green Bay will open the door for Minnesota to get the win

if it doesn't protect the ball. As a result, QB Brett Favre must make

sound decisions under pressure and RB Ahman Green must practice good ball

control.

Tice has done an excellent job of managing his team and making sure

situations haven't developed into problems heading into this game, but the

Packers still receive the Scouts Inc. Advantage for coaching. Sherman has

already beaten Tice's Vikings twice this year and is 7-3 in the 10 games

he's coached against Minnesota. In addition, he took over the play-calling

duties midway through October and Green Bay has gone 9-2 since then.

Something that tends to get lost in Daunte Culpepper's impressive passing

numbers this year is he hasn't rushed for so few yards since taking over

as the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2000. In addition, this is the

first season since then that he hasn't recorded a run that has gone for 20

yards or longer.

If Minnesota is to win this game, Culpepper must force the Packers to

respect his ability to make the play with his feet. He needs to continue

to go though his reads but he must be willing to scramble when nothing is

available downfield.

Last week Vikings WR Nate Burleson dropped a pass that would have gone for

a long gain and could have resulted in a touchdown. The reason he dropped

the pass is he turned his head upfield before securing the ball. Whether

Burleson was trying to read the defense so he could make a cut or was

looking to locate the safety so he didn't get blind-sided is unclear.

However, Green Bay's safeties and linebackers can test the mental

toughness of Minnesota's receivers by delivering some big hits when they

try to go over the middle.

Numbers mean very little in the postseason and that's why Favre received

the Scouts Inc. Advantage despite the fact Culpepper has far better

statistics. Favre has shown he can make the clutch play, he has won a

Super Bowl and there is little questioning the confidence his teammates

have in him.

Special Teams

The last time the Packers played at home, PK Ryan Longwell missed a

31-yard field goal attempt wide right in a game Green Bay lost by three

points. Granted, the miss came in the first half and there is no way to

predict the way it would have affected the game had the ball gone through

the uprights. However, this should be a very close game so it's important

that Longwell takes advantage of any opportunities he gets to put points

on the board.

Last week the Vikings gave up a 66-yard return on the opening kickoff and

it gave the Redskins quality starting field position as well as momentum.

Minnesota can't afford to do the same this week, so its kickoff cover unit

must play with discipline and tackle well in the open field.

Matchups

Green Bay RB Ahman Green vs. Minnesota MLB E.J. Henderson

Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper vs. Green Bay FS Darren Sharper

Minnesota WR Nate Burleson vs. Green Bay CB Ahmad Carroll

Green Bay ROG Marco Rivera vs. Minnesota DT Kevin Williams

Green Bay TE Bubba Franks vs. Minnesota SS Willie Offord

Prediction: Packers 28, Vikings 24