First Down

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In a game with implications for the Redskins‘ playoff hopes, Eli Manning and the Giants host Brad Johnson (for now) and the Cowboys. 4:15 p.m., Chs. 5, 45

ON WASHINGTONTIMES.COM “ AN EXCERPT FROM REDSKINS 360

Redskins beat writer Ryan O’Halloran and News 4’s Lindsay Czarniak debate the keys to Monday night’s matchup with the Steelers:

Lindsay: The Redskins have shown that even with winless teams, they play into situations where they put their backs against the wall. They can’t do that against the Steelers. This is going to be rough. The league’s best defense matching up against the league’s leading rusher in Clinton Portis. If anyone can shut down the run game and at the same time find a way to hamper the Redskins options downfield, it’s the Steelers. My grandma is still sad that her Steelers lost Antwaan Randle El. She told me her team is bringing heat and the Redskins should be worried. I think she’s right, but the Redskins will pull this one out with help from Chris Cooley. Redskins 24-20.

Ryan: Wow. Lindsay may have just de-invited herself from the family Christmas party by going against the Steelers. But I agree. … The game will be won by the team with the best running back, and that’s the Redskins with Portis. He knows he has two weeks to recover, so he’ll be asking for as much work as possible. The Redskins’ defense should be able to harass Ben Roethlisberger. Redskins 14-10.

TWT FIVE; BEST MLB PLAYOFF RUNS IN WILD CARD ERA

1. 1999 Yankees - Crushed the Rangers in the division series (allowing only one run), disposed of the Red Sox in five and swept the Braves.

2. 2005 White Sox - The only other World Series winner since 1995 to lose just one game, Chicago dropped Game 1 of the American League Championship Series 3-2 to the Angels before winning eight straight.

3. 1998 Yankees - Sandwiched annihilations of the Rangers (who again scored only one run) and Padres around a 4-2 series win over Cleveland.

4. 2008 Phillies - The second World Series champ in the division series era to go undefeated at home, Philadelphia got one of the most dominant pitching performances ever from Cole Hamels (4-0, 1.80).

5. 1995 Braves - Shut down a stacked Rockies team, swept the Reds and defeated an Indians squad that won 100 games in the regular season.