The Redskins are a desperate team after losing to the Titans at home and falling to 2-4.  A loss against the Colts will really hurt any chance the Redskins have of returning to the playoffs this season.  The Colts have had two weeks to get ready for the Redskins as they are coming off their bye week with a 5-0 record.

When the Redskins have the ball, Brunell will be handing off to Clinton Portis (371 yards rushing) alot.  And when Portis needs a breather, it’s LeDell Betts turn (223 yards rushing) to run the ball.  The Colts defense has been absolutely horrible against the run, allowing 166.8 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per carry.  After the Colts get the run game going, look for Mark Brunell to take some deep shots down the field to Santana Moss (25 rec, 415 yards).  It would really help the Redskins offense if Antwaan Randle El or Brandon Lloyd could do anything to take the double-coverage off of Moss.

The Colts will try to run the ball to keep their pitiful defense off the field.  The Redskins allow 111.0 yards rushing per game, so the Colts should have some success.  Dominic Rhodes (273 yards rushing) and rookie Joseph Addai (269 yards rushing) have done a good job replacing Edgerrin James so far.  The Colts will never be shy about throwing the football.  Peyton Manning (1,278 yards passing, 95.6 QB rating) should be able to have a field day against the Redskins secondary which allows 222.2 yards passing per game and has allowed 10 TD passes.  WRs Marvin Harrison (32 rec, 442 yards) and Reggie Wayne (21 rec, 382 yards) should have monster games.

The Redskins have a chance in this game, if Clinton Portis goes over 150 yards rushing.  Unless that happens, the Colts will win this game easily.

It’s always a bad sign when your safeties are among the leading tacklers for your defense.  The Redskins safties have really played well, but they are too busy.  Adam Archuleta has 43 tackles and a sack this season.  Sean Taylor has 39 tackles this season.  The Redskins front 7 on defense really need to get some tackles and let the safeties make the big plays that they are capable of.

The Redskins got pushed around by a Titans team that looks to run the ball most of the time.  So the Redskins knew it was coming and couldn’t do anything about it.  It’s a bad sign when your safeties are making a lot of tackles against a running team…..Sean Taylor led the team with 10 tackles and Adam Archuleta had 8 tackles!  The Titans ran the ball 41 times for 194 yards (4.7 ypc).  The Redskins allowed the Titans to complete 13 of 25 passes for 150 net yards thru the air.

Mark Brunell completed 16 of 30 passes for 180 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.  Clinton Portis carried the ball 14 times for 58 yards (4.1 ypc) and 2 TDs.  Portis also caught 5 passes for 17 yards.  WR Santana Moss caught 5 passes for 50 yards and carried the ball twice for 33 yards.  TE Chris Cooley caught 2 passes for 27 yards.

This is a big blow to a team that has/had playoff aspirations!

Both starting DTs, Cornelius Griffin (quadriceps) and Joe Salave’a (calf) could both miss tomorrow’s game as neither of them has practiced all week.  It looks like this year’s 5th and 6th round picks could be both starting.  Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston will get challenged by the Titans is the running game, that is for sure.

CB Shawn Springs practiced all week and will likely play in nickel and dime packages for the Redskins. 

 

The Titans are coming off of their best football game of the season, losing 14-13 to the Colts.  The Redskins are trying to bounce back from a beating that the Giants applied to them last week (19-3).

The Titans would love to use the same gameplan they used against the Colts.  The bad news for the Titans is that the Redskins have a good run defense (94.4 yards per game, 3.5 yards per carry).  With the Titans defense being so awful, it seems to me that Coach Fisher will try to run anyway.  Travis Henry (205 yards rushing) and LenDale White (111 yards rushing) will be the main ball carries and Vince Young will take off once in a while (70 yards).  Opposing teams have thrown the ball well against the Redskins, averaging 236.6 yards passing and posting a QB rating of 95.4.  The Titans just aren’t equipped on offense to take advantage of that weakness.

The Redskins have to be licking their chops.  The Titans allow 172.4 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.   Clinton Portis probably can’t wait until Sunday!  Portis has 313 yards rushing this season, and when he’s done putting up his numbers for the day….it will be Ledell Betts turn (225 yards rushing).  The Titans pass defense is pretty poor too.  The Titans allow 202.4 yards passing per game, 67.8% completions and a opposing QB rating of 99.3.   Look for Mark Brunell to rebound after a bad game against the Giants.  Santana Moss should be able to beat the Titans all day long (20 rec, 365 yards).  Also look for Brunell to get TE Chris Cooley and WR Antwaan Randle El more involved in the passing game.

This game will be a blowout.  The Titans just don’t match up well with the Redskins.