Madden's Wildcard Preview: Can The Packers Stop Peterson?
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The Packers lost to the Vikings in Minnesota Sunday. But the rematch in Saturday's NFC wild card game is at Lambeau Field. John Madden told the KCBS morning crew that the Packers will need more than home field advantage to win the game.
"The thing that Minnesota does well is run the ball, obviously. And Adrian Peterson just a week ago gained 200 yards on them, they couldn't stop him. And I don't know what they're going to do - eat some Wheaties or something - to stop Adrian Peterson. And the running game shouldn't be affected by the weather...Green Bay is only going to win if they have a change from last week and they become a better team and a better defensive team against the run."
The Seahawks face the Redskins in this weekend's other NFC wild card game.
"They both have a good running game, they both have the young quarterback that can make a lot of plays," John said. "They both have pretty good defenses, although I think Seattle has a better defense.... There's always someone that comes into the playoffs through the wild card that didn't win the division, that is a scary team. That team this year is the Seattle Seahawks."
In Saturday's AFC wild card game, the Bengals meet the Texans in Houston.
"I've had trouble with Houston all year," John said. "When they had the best record, I couldn't believe they were the best team. But I don't have a lot of confidence in Cincinnati either. I could see this one going either way... Houston with what they've been through -- they better win this one.... Just for their future, and who they are and what they are and what direction this program is going, they need a playoff win or two."
It's quarterback Andrew Luck the Colts facing the Ravens in Baltimore in Sunday's AFC wild card game. "This is a tough one," John said. "Just the story of the Colts and knowing Andrew Luck from here and all that stuff, I kind of go with the Colts. But they're both good stories." (8:30)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
