Week 9 - Sunday, November 8, 2009, 1PM

Redskins (2-5) @ Falcons (4-3)

SERIES

SEASON STATS

NOTES

REDSKINS: 
QB JASON CAMPBELL has 1.8 INT pct. since start of 2008, 2nd best mark among QBs with 700+ att
RB LADELL BETTS rushed for 155 yards & TD in last game vs. ATL
WR SANTANA MOSS had 7 catches for 123 yards (17.6 avg.) & TD in last meeting.  Averages 15.3 yards per catch since 2001, highest among active WRs (min. 450 receptions).  
TE FRED DAVIS had career-high 8 catches & 78 yards in last game, incl. 1st career TD
CB DE ANGELO HALL was 1st round pick (No. 8) by Atl. in 2004.  Spent 4 seasons with Falcons (2004-07) & had 17 INTs (2 TDs).  
DE ANDRE CARTER has 5.5 sacks in past 3.  Aims for 4th in row with 1+ sack.  
LB BRIAN ORAKPO leads all NFL rookies with 3.5 sacks

FALCONS: QB MATT RYAN is 10-1 (.909) in career at home & aims for 7th consecutive win at home.  Falcons are 8-0 when Ryan has 100+ rating, incl. 5-0 at home…
RB MICHAEL TURNER rushed for 151 yards & TD last week.  Has 16 rush TDs in 11 home games with Atl.  Has 1,232 rush yards (112 per game) in those 11.  When Turner has 19+ carries, his teams are 14-2 (.875).  
RB JERIOUS NORWOOD rushed for 107 yards & had 69-yard TD in last meeting
WR RODDY WHITE has 19 catches for 392 yards (98 per game) in past 4 in Nov.  Has 5 TDs in past 4, incl. 68-yard TD last week.  Aims for 3rd in row at home with TD.  
TE TONY GONZALEZ had 6 catches for 89 yards last week.  Has TD in all 3 home games with ATL
DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 87 sacks since 2000, 2nd most among active players.  Had 2 sacks vs. Was. in 9/4/03 game (with NYJ).  
S THOMAS DE COUD has 2 INTs, 2 sacks & FF in past 3.  His sack & FF set up DE KROY BIERMANN’s 4-yard FR-TD last week.  
CB BRENT GRIMES had 2nd career INT last week.

What I'll be watching: Passion and Effort. It's obvious the team is imploding, but at 2-2, there is still hope this team can SOMEHOW pull it together. The players have to be confused by the front office moves to bring in a "consultant" coach. Will that undermine the players efforts? Perhaps...but if the team plays flat, it will be obvious this season is over.

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TV: 
Radio: 980 AM, 730 AM (Spanish), 94.3 FM and 92.7 FM    

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

Sunday, September 13, 4:15PM

Jets Giants Stadium

Weather: Party Cloudy, 81 degrees

Not expected to play: Aaron Ross

Note: Randle El and Rock Cartwright are the current starting PR/KR 

What I am watching for:

1.) Protecting Jason - He took a few good shots this season, and now he faces the best defensive line in the NFL. I've already told me he's going to have to throw the ball in the dirt a lot, but let's try to get out of this game without any jailbreaks where he gets a helmet in the heart.

2.) Discipline. First, no stupid personal foul penalties, ESPECIALLY on 3rd downs (DeAngelo Hall). We racked up a lot of calls this pre-season...hopefully the team is on point.

3.) Horton. - With the less-than-stellar WR corps the Giants have, Horton should have a lot of blitzing opportunities. Eli should be on his back a few times.

4.) Hanesworth vs Jacobs - I mean, first play of scrimmage has to be Jacobs up the middle, right? That or a play action deep ball to Sinorice Moss. If the Redskins stop the run (big task), then the Skins will have a good shot. The Skins secondary is too good to be picked apart.

I recently had the opportunity to exchange a back and forth with the blogger for the Giants' SB Nation home, Big Blue View. Ed over at Big Blue View is a great counterpart to talk football with...too bad he roots for the team in blue. Our IM conversation after the jump...

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TV:   
Radio: 980 AM, 730 AM (Spanish), 94.3 FM and 92.7 FM    

Washington Redskins @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Thursday, September 3, 7:30PM

Jacksonville Muncipal Stadium
(Didn't get the memo it's no longer Altell Stadium)

Weather: It's Florida...Perfect...High 70s

Not expected to play: LondonFletcher, Carlos Rogers, Albert Haynesworth, Clinton Portis, Randy Thomas

What I am watching for:

1.) Colt vs Chase - Week 4 of pre-season is the Super Bowl of meaningless games, so the excitement level is not too high. I'm 99.9% sure Colt has the 3rd spot locked up, but what fun is that?  I expect Colt will shine.

2.) HITTING. A lot of these guys are playing for jobs, so you know they'll be letting it all out. I want to see Rayner take someone out.

3.) Kickers - I would love for Comcast/NBC to put a split camera up when one kicker is kicking and the other is watching tentatively. I would expect if Rayner nails a 44 yarder, you'd see Suisham make a grimacing face (and vice versa).  

4.) Beards - Al lot of the Jaguars are growing beards for team unity, including Jack Del Rio [USAToday]

The Redskins have to cut 22 players to get their roster down to 53 by this Saturday, Sept. 5. Then the team can set an 8-player practice squad of rookies and first-year players. 

Rock Cartwright is in the starting lineup for kick returns and Randle-El is also penciled in as the starting #2. Am I the only one worried about Carlos' calf injury? Calf injuries have killed the Redskins the last few years (Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor).

What will you be watching for?

TV:   

TV Announcers: Jim Nantz & Phil Simms  

Radio: 980 AM, 730 AM (Spanish), 94.3 FM and 92.7 FM  

New England Patriots @ Washington Redskins

Friday, August 28nd, 8PM, Fedex Field

Weather: 

Tailgate:  2PM-8PM (70% chance rain - 81 degrees)

Game time: 8PM-11PM (64% chance rain - 74 degrees)

Not expected to play: Rock Cartwright, Carlos Rogers, Shawn SpringsQuestionable: Mike Williams, Richard Seymour, Wes Welker, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris

What I am watching for:

1.) ANYONE on offense to make a play (1st unit). Three weeks in a row with no TDs is inexcuasble. I don't care if we're playing the '85 Bears tonight. Campbell is expected to play the entire first half. He should be able to find SOME sort of rhythm. As for Colt and Chase. To echo Rick Snider, there is no QB controversy. Just like Colt last year, Daniel was running the limited plays he knows against 15th stringers. Against the Steelers, Colt was running more complex schemes against better players. He's still a work in progress, so let that develop. I'd be shocked if Colt did not win the 3rd spot. I mean, Zorn has to say Daniel "is in the mix" to keep the players motivated.

2.) Justin Tryon vs Super Bowl QB (Part II). With Carlos Rogers out, Tryon will see some action against Brady and the first unit. I think the words of Harry Dunne (Dumb & Dumber) apply here after Tryon's abysmal game against the Steelers: "Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"

3.) 3 and outs. I want to see the Redskins start to out-number teams in this statistic, which they have failed to do so far. 

4.) Special Teams. They were atrocious last week, but at the same time, Danny Smith is throwing rookie and journeymen out there to test them out. This coming Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Redskins have to cut 5 players to get down to 75. I will be playing close attention to the young guys like Robert Henson, Cody Glenn, Eddie Williams, and Anthony Alridge. The second half of tonight's game means everything for 5 players. Another interesting tidbit is that for Marko Mitchell to lock up the 5th WR spot, he HAS to contribute on special teams. This means he'll have to play a gunner on punts. Marko has never done this before and said that he is trying to get used to it. Keep an eye on the gunners tonight. I expect Dorsey, Eloi, Tryon, and Alridge will see some action at this position too. It could be the make or break for a couple players.

What will you be watching for?

‘Tis late October, and the Burgundy Boys are 5-2. I think Redskins fans would all agree that the Z-Man has gone above and beyond the expectations for a rookie head coach in the first half.

Honestly, I’ve spent more time this week analyzing scenarios where Redskins lose to the 0-6 Lions rather than thinking up strategies for a victory. Is it possible that a game against a struggling team could be considered a must win?

I guess it depends on how you look at it.

In a division with caliber the size of the NFC East, you could probably argue that every game is a must win. The Skins have an apparent scheduling advantage down the stretch, so every game is extremely important (especially the games that you’re supposed to win). Remember, this is an NFC game, and these things count at the end of the year, regardless of the opponent.

The Lions come into Week 8 with a defense that ranks dead last in nearly every major statistical category in the NFL. Their two-deep zone coverage forces linebackers to get involved in the pass rush, and with only 2 combined sacks, quarterbacks have had time to pick them apart. Ernie Sims has been a light at the end of a dark tunnel on Detroit’s D. He makes plays all over the field, and his quickness allows him to be in on lots of tackles. This is a guy that number 17 should locate at all times.

I think the only way the Lions have a shot on Sunday is if the game turns into a shootout. Calvin Johnson is an absolute monster receiver, so Carlos Rogers will have his hands full all day. I’d look for LaRon Landry to help cast a shadow over Johnson, eliminating any serious deep threats. (The man had 154 yards on 2, yes 2 catches against Houston last week).

Number 81’s production will depend on former UCONN Husky Quarterback Dan Orlovsky. In two starts he is completing a mere 50.5% of his passes with a 72.9 rating, but I don’t think he has been as bad as the stats show. Orlovsky flashed his deep ball capabilities after launching a 96 yard bomb to Johnson last week. The Redskins front will need to get after him early and often to make things uncomfortable in the pocket.

In 2007, Jason Campbell had one of the best outings in his young career against the Lions at FedEx Field. Jason went 23-for-29 for 248 yards with two TDs, leading the Skins to a 34-3 drubbing. Campbell has been more of a game manager in 2008, but it would not surprise me if he puts up some nice numbers in the Motor City against the league's 31st ranked pass defense.

Look for Antwaan Randle El to have a solid game. He had over 100 yards receiving in the first half against Detroit last season before tweaking his hamstring on what would have been a big TD off of a 3rd down slant. Antwaan consistently puts up 4-7 receptions a game, and occasionally gets in the endzone. (Santana Moss has the ability to explode every Sunday, so don’t sleep on 89).

Clinton Portis is rushing against history this week. Jason La Canfora of Redskins Insider did a piece on this earlier in the week. If CP goes over 120 yards on the ground, he will become the 2nd player in NFL history to do so five consecutive weeks twice in their career. (Joining O.J. Simpson). Unless Jim Zorn decides to give Clinton a lighter load, I think he gets it done. During the election season, Dr. Do-Itch-Big is running a strong campaign for Most Valuable Player.

This game is screaming mismatch, and if it were played on paper, the Skins would blow out the Lions without flinching.

We know better than that. "Any given Sunday". Just ask the Rams.

However, I think the Skins have learned their lesson on overlooking a team.

Prediction: Redskins 27 Lions 13