Inconsistent Redskins Face Tall Task Against Patriots
By Gregory Hunt
The New England Patriots will complete a three-game home stand when they face the Washington Redskins Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. With a 7-0 record, the New England Patriots would be leading the AFC by a game or two under most circumstances, but with the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos also sporting 7-0 records, New England needs to win this game just to make sure it keeps up with its conference rivals.
Season Record
Washington currently holds a 3-4 record, putting it in a second-place tie with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, one-half game behind the 4-4 New York Giants. The Redskins will be coming off of a bye week after a 31-30 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 25.
Washington leads the all-time series with New England 6-3. The series dates back to 1972, when New England quarterback Jim Plunkett led the Patriots to a 24-23 upset at Schaefer Stadium over a Washington team that would advance to Super Bowl VII that season. The Redskins then won the next six meetings, but the Patriots have won the last two. The teams last met on December 11, 2011 at FedExField, with New England coming away with a 34-27 victory. The teams last met at Gillette Stadium on October 28, 2007, with the Patriots earning a 52-7 win.
Redskins on Offense
At the beginning on the season, Washington second-year head coach Jay Gruden made the risky decision of benching three-year starting quarterback Robert Griffin III in favor of Kirk Cousins. So far, the results have been mixed. Cousins has led the team on fourth-quarter, game-winning drives on two occasions this season, but he also has four multiple-interception games. His offensive line has given up only eight sacks this season, which is the third-fewest in the NFL, but the team is 20th in the league in scoring, putting up only 21.1 points per game.
The Washington rushing game isn't fairing much better. No Redskins running back has rushed for 100 yards since Week 2. At 3.4 yards per rush, the team is 28th in the league in that category. "We've got to get the yards per carry back up and really get back to trusting it," said Gruden at the beginning of Washington's bye week.
Redskins on Defense
During the offseason, the Redskins made some major changes to their defensive line, but those changes haven't panned out. The Redskins are currently 30th in the NFL against the run and 19th in the league in sacks. Nose tackle Terrance Knighton and defensive ends Ricky Jean Francois and Stephen Paea were all signed as free agents by Washington general manager Scot McCloughan, but none of those players have met expectations. The trio has combined for just two sacks this season.
Statistically, Washington's pass defense looks respectable, but the numbers have been lowered at bit because opposing teams are having so much success running the ball against the Redskins. To make matters worse, at least three Washington cornerbacks -- Bashaud Breeland (hamstring), Chris Culliver (knee) and DeAngelo Hall (toe) -- are battling injuries that may force them to miss the upcoming game. "They're still on the fence a little bit," said Gruden. "Whoever is back there, they're going to have to play their butt off."
Redskins Players to Watch
If Cousins struggles at quarterback against the Patriots, don't be surprised if Griffin sees some action. Griffin is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the NFL, so his mobility could give the Patriots defense a new look that it may not be prepared for. Last year, Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan was 7th in the NFL in sacks with 13.5, and he's currently tied for the team lead this season with 3.5.
Outlook
The Patriots haven't scored fewer than 28 points all season, while the Redskins have reached that plateau only once, so it's difficult to see Washington scoring enough points to win this game. The Patriots are nearly invincible at Gillette Stadium, particularly against teams with losing records, so it would be a monumental upset if the Redskins find a way to win this game. On Monday, most betting lines listed Washington as a 14-point underdog.
Gregory Hunt is a Boston native and a life-long fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics. He's also particularly fond of lacrosse, IndyCar racing and women's college basketball. He currently works for Examiner.com where he serves as the Senior Manager of Content and Media Access. He also writes for Examiner.com as the New England Patriots Examiner. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
