Daily Madden: Why Offense Is Topping Defense?
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The West Virginia Mountaineers scored a bowl-record 70 points as they routed Clemson in the Orange Bowl Wednesday night, the latest in a slew of high scoring college and pro football games.
"It's the speed of the offense," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew. "I don't mean during the play. I mean getting the play in, the tempo of the game, getting in the huddle or going no-huddle, getting up to the line of scrimmage, snapping the ball. The offenses just look like they're ready to go before the defenses are."
Madden said it starts on the practice field.
"You can practice that offensively, because you can determine what you're going to do. And you can't practice it defensively."
It's wild card weekend in the NFL. Houston faces Cincinnati and New Orleans plays Detroit Saturday. On Sunday, it's the Giants vs. the Falcons and the Steelers vs. the Broncos.
"I heard Andy Dalton, the (Bengals) rookie quarterback, is in the hospital with flu-like symptoms, but he's pretty good," Madden said. "I would give them a little advantage there. I like the Giants. I think that the Giants are one of those teams that just kind of get things done. And I like New Orleans. New Orleans at home is as tough as you can get. And then I like Pittsburgh over Denver."
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been slowed by an ankle injury, but Madden said Roethlisberger won't miss Sunday's game.
"I've seen this before where Ben's banged up, Ben's this, Ben's that. I'll guarantee you there's no way he's not going to play. Even going a step further, I'll say he'll play well." (9:05)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.
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