Going into last week's clash with the Dallas Cowboys, most pundits gave the Redskins little chance to spring the upset. After all, the team was in the throws of a five-game losing streak and was riddled with injuries.
As I said last week though, never discount the Skins in a divisional clash, and sure enough they almost defeated Dallas. Next time they will listen to me and replace the darn kicker in preseason.
This week, they travel out to Seattle to face a Seahawks team that has won two straight and seem to be on a bit of a mini roll. They have featured a better defensive effort, moving to eighth in the league against the run, and getting to the quarterback with greater frequency. Tarvaris Jackson has also gotten better as the season has progressed, so what reasoning is there to think Washington has a shot this week?
Renewed Offensive Confidence: The Redskins will come into the game with a new sense of confidence on the offensive side of the ball. Rex Grossman took control of the offense last week and passed for over 250 yards and two scores against Dallas. More importantly, they held DeMarcus Ware to one sack in the game and rendered him largely ineffective. Creative play calling needs to continue, but at least they feel they can score with Rex at the helm.
Minimize the Lynch Effect: Marshawn Lynch can be a beast when he gets going and is a catalyst for the Seattle attack. When he is running effectively, it opens up the passing game for Tarvaris Jackson. The Redskins showed last week they can ground a good back, holding DeMarco Murray to under 80 yards in 25 carries. This week they will do the same to Lynch.
Pressure on Jackson: When given time to scramble or find a receiver, Tarvaris Jackson can do some damage against any team in this league. If we shut down the running game, though, and force him to throw, he has been known in the past to give up the ball, especially via the interception. It will be imperative for the Redskins to put pressure on him like they did with Tony Romo last week.
Big Plays on Special Teams: The Redskins finally got on track last week on special teams. Brandon Banks gave the team great field position on several drives with long returns. They need to continue that trend, putting the offense in better position to get points. Also, a key will be the punting of Sav Rocca, who needs to put Jackson in the worst situations he can.
Get on Top Early: Easier said than done, as this is what everyone wants to do while playing in Seattle. Getting on top early will help to minimize the effect of Seattle's crowd, which is indeed the loudest in all of the NFL. Jumping out to an early lead could have just that desired effect.
If the Redskins are able to do these things, there is every reason to believe that the six-game losing streak will be history. The team better also hope that they can pull it off this week, because the schedule gets even more daunting from this point on.
John Atchison was rumored to have emerged at birth with a Redskins jersey on. Born and bred in Virginia, he is a diehard Redskin fan and will always have a fond spot in his heart for the phrase 70 Chip! Follow him on Twitter @John_Atchison.
Sources:
washingtonredskins.com
espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/sea/seattle-seahawks
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