After a surprisingly ‘competitive-less’ defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, the Washington Redskins will remain at home and host the Green Bay Packers Sunday. This needs to be a good game for Washington for several reasons. Not only must they find a way to win in their home stadium, they have an early Week 4 bye and going into that bye at 1-2 would make for a miserable break.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers keeps defensive coordinators up at night despite his knee injury. His weapons are worthy of sleepless nights as well. Tight end Jimmy Graham may be 31 years old but he’s still dangerous and, last week against the Minnesota Vikings excellent defense, caught six balls for 95 yards. The man has been to five Pro Bowls. Running back Ty Montgomery isn’t the Packers primary rusher (Jamaal Williams is listed as the No. 1 RB on the depth chart) but he is a powerful, shifty runner. Last week against Minnesota, Montgomery rushed for six first downs, had a 6.2 yards-per-carry average and recorded 41 yards after contact.
Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews is no spring chicken either but was impactful against the Vikings with two QB hurries and two run stuffs. In fact, the Packers defense is underrated with guys like free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson both garnering the top two grades from Pro Football Focus for overall defense (84.4 and 79.0 respectively).
Redskins tight end Jordan Reed will need to beat Packers LB Oren Burks and Blake Martinez, the offensive line will need to keep QB Alex Smith vertical and out of the hands of Wilkerson and OLB Nick Perry and the secondary will need to communicate well to contain wideouts Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison.
Every player wearing Burgundy and gold is going to have to be on point for Washington to win the matchup. Rodgers is never easily contained but Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan did get to him for a sack in 2016 when the Redskins beat Green Bay 42-24. RB Rob Kelley had one of his best games, rushing for 137 yards and then-starting QB Kirk Cousins, threw for 375 yards.
Of the various skill position groups — and the players within them — at least one must come through with a significant impact for Washington to enter their bye week 2-1.
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