The Washington Redskins and the Arizona Cardinals kick off the regular season this Sunday with several questions marks at the forefront for both teams.
Washington is coming off of an injury-riddled 2017 campaign that kept coaches from gauging what the team really was or could become.
This season the Redskins will start the season with several new faces in roles that could affect the overall outcome of the 2018 season.
Alex Smith is now the Redskins new field general at quarterback replacing record-setting Kirk Cousins who left via free agency for the Minnesota Vikings. Smith is widely touted for his leadership qualities as well as his ability to extend plays.
The Redskins also have important acquisitions on offense in running back Adrian Peterson and wideout Paul Richardson. The duo could make life a lot easier for Smith and Coach Jay Gruden if they can get off to a fast start Sunday.
The healthy returns of running back Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley, offensive lineman: Trent Williams, Morgan Moses and Shaun Lauvao should help pave the way for the running backs. The return of All-Pro tight end Jordan Reed is another key factor for the Redskins offensive success this year as Smith targeted fellow Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce quite a bit while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Redskins vs. Cardinals: the statistical breakdown
The Redskins will need their defense to carry them early in the season and the prognosis for that looks good. Washington has revamped their once porous defensive line with youth. The past two seasons the Redskins have used their first-round draft picks on Alabama defensive studs, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Add in Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, Ziggy Hood, Caleb Brantley and a possible return later in the season from Stacy McGee, and the line could become a problem for opposing offenses.
With that said, the Redskins will be facing a Cardinals team with a new Coach in Steve Wilks. Wilks will be manning the sidelines as a first-time head coach after serving in a variety of the lead roles on the Carolina Panthers coaching staff.
Arizona will also have a new quarterback under center, albeit a veteran one in Sam Bradford. When Bradford is on his game he is one of the more effective QBs in football. Unfortunately, the former Oklahoma and Heisman Trophy winner has been injury prone throughout his career.
Washington will have to make life uncomfortable for Bradford and not allow for him to get into a rhythm which would mean future Hall of Fame wideout Larry Fitzgerald would become more dangerous in the overall scheme.
Cardinals running back David Johnson is another player to watch closely. The third round selection out of Northern Iowa in the 2015 NFL Draft is coming back from a wrist injury that derailed his 2017 campaign.
On defense, the Cardinals were a disruptive unit last season against the run.
It will be interesting to see if Peterson — who is now the starting back for the Redskins — can be effective running the ball against his ex-teammates?
In the end, the Redskins may have a little bit more than the Cardinals on both sides of the ball. This is a game that could very well come down to which team has the better special teams play. I have the Redskins leaving State Farm Stadium with a hard-fought 20-13 victory.