The 0-2 Washington Redskins look to rebound this week against a talented division rival in the 1-1 Chicago Bears. Last Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys it was much of the same from Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. As a crisp and fluid performance suddenly turned into mistakes and inconsistencies, Washington’s defense gave up 17 second-half points in their 21-31 loss at home.
Past meetings with the Bears have gone well for the Redskins with Washington winning the last five. Dating back to 1989, the Burgundy and Gold are 13-2 in the series and lead it all-time 26-23-1. That said, to follow are several key endeavors that, if accomplished, should help the Redskins secure their first victory of 2019:
1). Stopping the Run
Being able to stop an opponent’s run game is an obvious yet vital achievement. In Week 1, some of last season’s problems with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky’s defense reappeared, especially in the second half. Washington struggled to stop the ground game, allowing 123 yards on 31 attempts and surrendering one rushing touchdown. In Week 2 against the Cowboys, Manusky’s unit allowed 213 yards on the ground.
The Bears offense averages 99.5 yards per game with them having their best rushing performance on the road, recording 153 yards. If the Redskins want to have a shot at winning this home Monday Night game, it will be imperative for them to slow down Chicago’s rushing attack led by David Montgomery. Manusky’s unit cannot allow the 6.3 yards per rush they allowed in Week 2. Maintaining proper gap responsibility, sure tackling and attention to detail will be imperative.
2). Limiting Bears Third-Down Conversions
Getting the opposing team’s offense off the field is just as crucial as creating turnovers. Stifling drives negates offensive consistency for an opponent. Over the past two weeks, the Redskins haven’t done a great job of this, allowing 18 of 28 third-down conversions. Washington is dead last in the NFL, allowing a staggering 64.29 percent of opponent’s third-down conversions.
It will be crucial for Manusky to put his talented players in positions to make plays, especially on third down. However, proper technique and sound fundamentals will be key in getting three-and-outs against a sluggish Bears offense.
3). Eliminate Offensive Penalties
The Redskins have been penalized 18 times for 140 yards in the first two weeks. Eleven of those penalties were from the offensive side of the ball. These infractions often place the squad in long down-and-distance situations that kill drives before they even get started. Washington will need to do its due diligence in this department and avoid shooting itself in the foot by committing these types of negative plays.