Rejuvenated Redskins Won't Be Pushover For Packers In Wild Card Round
By Danny Cox
The Green Bay Packers won't take anyone lightly, and they certainly can't now that the playoffs have arrived. It's no longer win or lose this game because there is always next week. In the Wild Card Round, they have to face off with the Washington Redskins who aren't a great team after all is said and done, but they did win the NFC East and have been a true surprise this season.
Season Record
The Redskins finished the season with a 9-7 record, and that was good enough to win the division title in a weak NFC East. Still, they are currently on a four-game win streak and have won six of their last eight. The Redskins have a new sense of urgency, competition, and leadership and it has been showing.
Washington Redskins on Offense
Washington doesn't have much of a running game as Alfred Morris is their leading rusher with 751 yards and just one touchdown. Behind him is Matt Jones with 490 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Kirk Cousins is actually leading the team in rushing scores with five.
Cousins is the wild card (no pun intended here) as he has made the Redskins his team in huge ways this season. He has thrown for over 4100 yards with 29 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. Jordan Reed and Pierre Garcon are two very good receivers, and the Packers will need to have its secondary at the ready.
Washington Redskins on Defense
The defense of the Redskins is one that has actually allowed a lot of points this season, but most of them during their recent four-game win streak. The only thing is that the offense has been blowing other teams out of the water so the lapses in the defense have been bailed out.
Still, Washington has 38 sacks on the season as a team to go along with 11 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. Players like Keenan Robinson and Will Blackmon are good players who are very underrated, but have great leadership from veterans like DeAngelo Hall.
Washington Redskins Players to Watch
Offensively, Kirk Cousins is the heart and soul of this Washington Redskins team. He has brought forth a new light in them and breathed life into them when everyone thought they were done. He has improved a lot this season and shows that he has what it takes to lead an NFL squad.
On defense, the Packers have to always be aware of defensive back Dashon Goldson. The veteran is always all over the field and he leads the team in tackles with 110 total so he can snuff out a ball carrier and be on them before anyone even realizes it.
Outlook
The Washington Redskins are good, but they really aren't that good. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have the talent to stay with any team in the league, but there are holes. Still, they're more than capable of taking down the Redskins without much problem. The issue will be stopping the Redskins from enjoying their own hype which has already taken them far this season.
Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
