NFL PLAYOFFS : Namath Says Redskins Have Best Shot at Upset

Joe Namath knows a little about bruised, gimpy-legged quarterbacks and how they can win big games.

There’ll be enough of them trying to do that this weekend in the NFL playoffs.

Namath, now a football analyst and reporter for NBC, guaranteed a victory over Johnny Unitas and the mighty Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969. Despite bad legs and a bruised body, he threw for 206 yards and led the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory.

Namath remains a fearless prognosticator, and he says the best chance for an upset this weekend is Washington over San Francisco on Saturday.

Washington quarterback Mark Rypien sprained his knee in the third week of the season and sat out seven weeks. When he returned, the Redskins won four of their last five games, despite Rypien’s tendency to throw the big interception.

“I think Washington is peaking. I think Rypien is peaking,” Namath said. “They’re very capable of giving San Francisco a hard time, if not winning. Rypien has improved since his injury. It’s going to take a good game by Washington and a poor one by San Francisco and Joe Montana, but that’s where the upset could come.”

Buffalo quarterback Kelly worked out for the first time on Tuesday in a heavy brace after sustaining cartilage and ligament damage in his left knee on Dec. 15. Bills Coach Marv Levy is leaving it up to Kelly to decide whether he’s fit enough to start Saturday against Miami. It looks like he’ll decide to play.

In Kelly’s absence, the Bills have started Frank Reich. Reich should start on Saturday, Namath said.

“And then you can bring in Kelly off the bench,” Namath said. “That’s the best way psychologically. If you start Kelly and he fails, then you have to go to a backup again. But if Reich starts and can’t do it, then the hero comes in.”

Namath picks Buffalo to win, despite the success that Dan Marino has had this year with the Dolphins.

Boomer Esiason and Jay Schroeder are the opposing quarterbacks in the Bengals-Raiders game Sunday. Namath likes Cincinnati’s Esiason, but Schroeder may have more opportunities with the Raiders.

“Cincinnati surprised me, but they’re going against an awfully tough Raiders team,” Namath said. “Los Angeles is the type of team that’s going to expose your cornerbacks one-on-one. Schroeder is going to get his chances with his wide-outs because of the running game they have with Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson.

“If Schroeder has a decent day, I like Los Angeles.”

The Bears and Giants also have wounded quarterbacks. Chicago’s Mike Tomczak has made three starts in place of Jim Harbaugh, who separated his shoulder.

Phil Simms sustained a foot injury in the game against Buffalo and is out for the rest of the season for New York. Jeff Hostetler took over, and the Giants are unbeaten with him at quarterback.

“I like the Giants, for sure,” Namath said of Sunday’s game against the Bears.

“I know the Bears are a pretty good team,” Namath said, “but I don’t know that there’s that great a difference between Harbaugh and Tomczak. Harbaugh is still a growing quarterback. The Bears are probably hurting more because the Giants’ defense is so good.”