As the 2-1 Washington Redskins take on the New Orleans Saints, they look to carry the momentum built in the first quarter of the season forward. The Burgundy and Gold will play in a Monday Night Football matchup that could be a defining moment for Redskins coach Jay Gruden and his squad.
A loss won’t be a death-dealing blow but a win could define their place within the NFC East and make them a formidable contender for the division title. In 2017, before the onslaught of injuries, the Redskins found themselves in a similar situation against the Oakland Raiders. In that game, they pulled off what many felt was a signature win.
With that in mind, here are three areas that, if executed well by the players, could lead to another trademark victory for the fifth-year head coach at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans:
1. Pass the ball to set up the run
The Redskins, in their Week 3 contest against the Green Bay Packers, opened the game up by taking advantage of the Packers porous pass defense by getting tight end Jordan Reed the ball early. With the Saints possessing the NFL’s third-worst passing defense, Washington should look to force the Saints defensive unit to be on their heels.
Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has his unit — despite their passing woes — ranked as the third-stingiest run defense in the National Football League, allowing only 79.5 yards per game. Washington’s ability to get the ball into their playmaker’s hand early through the passing game will help generate running lanes for running back Adrian Peterson; who was a substantial beneficiary of this game plan as he ran for 120 yards on 19 carries for two touchdowns in the win.
2. Eliminate explosive plays in the Saints passing game
Quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints can move the ball in chunks and they can do it quickly. New Orleans is sixth-best in the league in yards per play (6.3) and eighth in yards-per-pass (7.7). Wide receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara can present significant problems in the passing game by providing the Saints offense with explosive chunk plays.
For the Redskins, it will be imperative to have a full understanding of their responsibilities on the field defensively. Communications will be vital in containing these two dynamic weapons. As much as the Saints like to take their share of shots downfield, Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky’s unit will have plenty of opportunities to get turnovers. Washington possesses the third-best passing defense in the NFL, allowing only 187.3 yards per game.
3. Get RB Chris Thompson involved in the passing game
There is nothing harder for a struggling defense to cover than an elusive, pass-catching running back. Washington hasn’t really needed the former Florida State product so much because the ground game with Peterson has been so effective. With a dynamic team like the Saints however, the Redskins must consistently score points.
In week one, Thompson was a dangerous weapon that became the Arizona Cardinals’ nightmare. His involvement often creates one-on-one matchups on the outside and opportunities for WR Jamison Crowder and Reed to put a significant amount of pressure on the middle of a defense.
With no lead being safe around the Saints’ No. 3 scoring offense (34.2 points per game), Washington needs to perform its due diligence in finding ways to take full advantage of the Saints defensive weaknesses. Thompson, so far this season, has a combined 238 yards and one touchdown.