We all know that the Redskins won the NFCE last year. We all also know (and have heard nonstop) that the Redskins won the division at 9-7 without beating a team that finished the season with a winning record. Those facts are causing many to doubt just how legit these Washington Redskins are and defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers to start their 2016 campaign would put many, if not most of those doubts to rest.
The Steelers are a legitimately great organization and have (as they usually do) another very good team headed into 2016. They went 10-6 last year and only lost in the playoffs to the team that would go on to win the Super Bowl (the Denver Broncos). Just about all the pundits have predicted the Steelers to have another great season and they are seen by many as true Super Bowl contenders.
Right off the bat we’re going to see the added value of signing Josh Norman to this team. It’s been talked about quite a bit how the Redskins open their season against a bunch of incredible WRs (Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, and Dez Bryant in the first three weeks) and Norman’s going to be put to the test right from the jump. Stopping Antonio Brown is a basically impossible task, but it’ll be on Norman, Breeland, and the rest of the Redskins revamped secondary to keep that guy in check if they want to have any chance at victory. Brown is probably the best WR in the NFL right now. He’s shown that he can beat a team almost by himself.
AB might be the toughest challenge in the NFL for opposing defenses, but the job is made a lot easier by all the potential weapons that the Steelers will be missing for their season opener in Washington. WR Martavis Bryant has been suspended for the year. Big Ben’s Ole Reliable (TE Heath Miller) has retired and their new top TE (Ladarius Green) is on the PUP list. RB Le’Veon Bell, arguably the best RB in the entire NFL right now, is suspended for the first three weeks of the season. Facing the Steelers offense at 100% is just about the most daunting task in the league for opposing defenses this year, but the Redskins have caught a break with them missing some significant weapons for the opener. Containing Antonio Brown will really be the key. DeAngelo Williams (Le’Veon Bell’s replacement) is a good RB, but he’s 33 years old now.
While the defense will still be very challenged, the Redskins offense is what can win this game for them. You know the Steelers are going to score, but at the same time, I really believe people will be saying that same thing about the Redskins after the first few weeks. This is an offensive roster with crazy firepower that was built to score a ton of points. The Steeler defense is in for a real challenge.
While the Redskins have to contain one primary aerial threat from the Steelers in Brown, the Steelers won’t be able to remain so focused. Their secondary is average at best and Kirk Cousins has perhaps the most loaded arsenal of weapons in the league in Jordan Reed, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder, Matt Jones, Vernon Davis, Chris Thompson, and Josh Doctson. The Redskins are going to throw, and score, a lot.
Get pumped Hogs Haven! The season is here! The games count! We host the PIttsburgh Steelers on MNF! This game is going to be huge! A win against the Steelers in prime-time in front of a national audience to start the season?! It doesn’t get bigger than that.