The Redskins have only won 1 of their last 4 games but they are still only 2 games behind the Giants & Cowboys in the NFC East so this is a very big game for them.  The Giants are 4-2 at home this year so it’s not going to be easy for the Redskins to prevail this weekend.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins are likely going to go all out passing the ball this Sunday because it’s the best chance they have of winning this game.  For them to have success throwing the ball they are going to have to give Donovan McNabb time to throw the ball.  McNabb has been sacked 32 times already this year while the Giants already have 31 sacks.  With that in mind look for McNabb to target TE Chris Cooley a lot in this game.  Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong are also going to have to have nice games for the Skins to have a chance of winning this Sunday.  James Davis and Keiland Williams couldn’t get much going on the ground last weekend and the Skins probably don’t have a lot of faith in them right now.

When the Giants have  the ball:  The Giants are likely going to pound the Skins on the ground (they are allowing 131.5 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry) with Brandon Jacobs & Ahmad Bradshaw.  That doesn’t mean that Eli Manning won’t be throwing the ball as Mario Manningham and Kevin Boss both stepped up last week.  The Redskins are giving up 269.4 yards passing per game this year so there are plays to be made in the passing game for the Giants.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 27, REDSKINS 19

The Redskins won a hard fought game on the road last week in Tennessee while the Vikings fired their head coach after getting punished 31-3 at home last weekend.  The Redskins are only 2-3 at home this year while the Vikings are 0-5 on the road.  This game will mark Leslie Frazier’s head coaching debut for the Vikings.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins are likely going to come out passing this Sunday.  If Donovan McNabb has time to throw the ball he could have some success as the Vikings are giving up 218.0 yards passing per game.  McNabb is going to have to get yards through the air because the Vikings have a very stout run D.  Keiland Williams is going to have to fight for every yard he gets this weekend.  Also, Santana Moss is a little iffy for Sunday and if the can’t go the Redskins might have issues moving the ball.

When the Vikings have the ball:  I have a feeling that the new head coach is going to want to get the ball in his best player’s hands (Adrian Peterson) as often as possible.  The Redskins must go all out to stop him as they are giving up 131.0 yards rushing and 5.1 yards per carry.  If the Redskins can slow down Peterson and force Brett Favre to pass they might be in luck.  That being said, the Redskins are allowing 280.1 yards passing per game so maybe Brett Favre wakes up this week. 

PREDICTION:  VIKINGS 23, REDSKINS 17

The Redskins are reeling as they have lost two games in a row by a combined score of 96-53!  The Titans have also lost two games in a row (on the road) in which they have been outscored 62-38!  Someone’s going to turn it around this weekend and here’s a look at the matchups:

When the Redkins have the ball:  The Redskins need to run the ball in this game to attempt to keep the defense off the field.  Keiland Williams is getting the start again at RB for the Redskins and he did a good job of both running and catching the ball out of the backfield.  He’s going to have to fight for every yard as the Titans are giving up 103.1 yards rushing per game but only 3.9 yards per carry.  The O-Line could have a hard time protecting Donovan McNabb this weekend as the Titans have 27 sacks already this year.  The Titans are giving up 247.7 yards passing per game so there are plays to be made down the field if he has time to throw the ball.

When the Titans have the ball:  This is a really bad matchup for the Redskins.  Vince Young is a QB with the same kind of skill set as Michael Vick and that’s got to be scaring the heck out of the Redskins in the film room.  The Redskins are giving up 128.8 yards rushing and 5.0 yards per carry so look for Chris Johnson & Vince Young to gash their defense.  The Redskins are giving up 286.6 yards passing per game so look for Vince Young to throw the ball long to Randy Moss and Nate Washington a few times each in this game.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 30, REDSKINS 17

The Redskins are a team in disarray right now coming off their bye week.  The Eagles are sharp right now and they are looking to avenge a Redskins win earlier this year in Philly by the score of 17-12.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Eagles are going to be blitzing when they get off the team bus on Monday Night so the O-Line is going to be in for a big challenge.  Donovan McNabb is going to have to make quick decisions to have success throwing the ball on Monday Night but it’s not impossible as the Eagles are allowing 214.9 yards passing per game this year.  The Redskins would be smart to give the ball to Ryan Torain and Clinton Portis quite a bit if they are healthy and ready to go for this game.

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles are going to run some sandlot plays on Monday Night where Michael Vick sends everyone deep and either throws it or runs the ball.  He is deadly in that scenario.  Vick & Lesean McCoy will be taking aim at a Redskins’ D that is allowing 112.4 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  The Eagles will also be throwing the ball deep a lot against a Redskins’ D that is allowing 280.9 yards passing per game this year.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 27, REDSKINS 17

This should be a very interesting game this Sunday.  The Redskins have traveled well this year as they are 2-1 on the road despite being outscored 56-50.  The Lions had a bye last week and it helped Matthew Stafford get ready to play in this game.  The Lions are playing well at home this year as they are 1-1 despite outscoring the opposition 75-41.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins would be smart to keep balanced on offense this Sunday.  Ryan Torain should find running room against a Lions’ D that is allowing 138.8 yards rushing and 4.9 yards per carry so far this year.  If Donovan McNabb has time to throw the ball he should have success throwing against the Lions’ D which is allowing 224.0 yards passing per game this year.  TE Chris Cooley & WR Santana Moss are both likely in for big games this Sunday.

When the Lions have the ball:  The Redskins are going to have to blitz a lot this Sunday to put pressure on Matthew Stafford or he’s going to have success throwing the ball.  The Redskins are giving up 292.1 yards passing per game and the Lions are averaging 258.7 yards passing per game so chances are that Stafford could have a big game on Sunday.  He also has a much bigger arm than Shaun Hill does so look for him to pound the ball down the field to Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson.  The Lions don’t have much of a running game due to rookie Jahvid Best having a case of turf toe.

PREDICTION:  LIONS 30, REDSKINS 27

Both of these teams are coming off tough losses so it will be interesting to see which one is hungrier this Sunday in Chicago.  This game looks very even to me and here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  This game will be a tough test for the Redskins’ offense.  The Redkins would like to be balanced on offense with Ryan Torain running the ball and Donovan McNabb chucking it down field.  The Bears have a good run defense allowing only 84.0 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry but that won’t stop the Redskins from giving the running game the old college try.  The Bears only have 9 sacks so far this year so Donovan McNabb might have more time to throw the ball than usual as long as the O-Line can keep Julius Peppers away from him.  The Bears have 7 interceptions so far this year so McNabb will have to be careful with the football.  With TE Chris Cooley likely ready to go this week, McNabb will look to him on the short stuff and Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong down the field.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears want to be a throwing team but the O-Line has allowed 27 sacks which isn’t giving Jay Cutler much of a chance to make plays.  OLB Brian Orakpo and Co. will be bringing the heat against Cutler all day long.  If Cutler is smart (and I’m not so sure he is) he will look to get the ball to his RBs (Matt Forte & Chester Taylor) and TE Greg Olsen on the short stuff in an attempt to slow the pass rush.  It would also help if Forte & Taylor got the running game going against a Redskins’ D that is allowing 121.8 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  REDSKINS 23, BEARS 20

The Colts don’t play well on the road where they are 1-2 on the year.  The Redskins are solid at home where they are 2-1, losing only a O.T. game to the Texans that they should have won.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins will likely try to run the ball a bit more than usual tomorrow night with Ryan Torain against a Colts’ D that is allowing 142.2 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry.  This game is why the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb over the off-season.  The Colts are having big time trouble at safety and Donovan McNabb loves to throw to his TE short and his WRs deep.  If the O-Line succeeds in blocking DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, then McNabb is going to throw for more yards then Peyton Manning will in this game.  TE Chris Cooley should have a huge game tomorrow night.  WRs Santana Moss, Anthony Armstrong and Joey Galloway will be targeted deep by McNabb tomorrow night.

When the Colts have the ball:  No disrespect to Joseph Addai and Mike Hart but the Redskins are going to use only the front seven to contain the Colts’ running game.  The Redskins will have to get after Peyton Manning or he’s going to have a big game as the Skins are giving up 298.0 yards passing per game this year. 

PREDICTION:  REDSKINS 30, COLTS 27

This should be a very interesting game as the Packers & Redkins both won hard fought battles last weekend.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  I look for the Redskins to try to run the ball a lot kind of like last weekend against the Eagles.  The Packers are allowing 118.3 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per carry so far this year so Ryan Torain could find a lot of running room in his first ever start for the Redskins.  The passing game will likely be of the shorter variety this week because the Packers already have 16 sacks this year.  Clay Matthews already has 7 sacks this year so the O-Line is going to have to give him special attention so that he’s not hassling Donovan McNabb all day long.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Redskins are going to have to blitz a lot in this game because if Aaron Rodgers has time to throw the ball it’s going to be a very, very long day.  Rodgers and his receivers are going to come off the team bus throwing the ball against a Redskins pass D that is allowing 305.0 yards passing per game so far this year.  This is a matchup nightmare for the Redskins as Jermichael Finley, James Jones, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings are on the field together at times when the Packers go to a empty backfield.  The Packers don’t have much of a run game so the Redskins hope the front seven can contain Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn on their own.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 27, REDSKINS 17

Forget the records in this game as all eyes will be on Donovan McNabb in his return to Philly.  Michael Vick will try to steal the spotlight from McNabb tomorrow afternoon.  Here is a look at the match-ups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins would be smart to at least attempt to run the ball more than usual in this game.  The Eagles’ D is giving up 125.7 yards rushing and 4.1 yards per carry so far this year so Clinton Portis/Ryan Torain should have running room.  The Redskins also need to run the ball to help slow the Eagles’ pass rush down a bit as they have 11 sacks so far this year.  Santana Moss and Chris Cooley have been outstanding this year but this is the type of game the Redskins will need some other WR or TE to step up and help out in the passing game.

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Redskins are likely going to blitz a lot from the edges in this game to try to contain Michael Vick to the pocket.  He also holds the ball too long sometimes as he has already been sacked 11 times this year.  It will be up to Rocky McIntosh and London Fletcher to stop Vick from running and to stop RB Lesean McCoy to make the Eagles one dimensional on offense.  The Eagles have been throwing deep a lot this year so the corners and safeties are going to have their hands full with Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 23, REDSKINS 21

The Redskins and Rams are both coming off heart breaking losses.  But the Redskins have a better team than the Rams do…..period.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  I look for the Redskins to try to run a more balanced offense this week as they need to start getting something out of their running game.  Clinton Portis has not played too well so far this year but he will be taking aim at a Rams’ D that is giving up 142.5 yards rushing and 4.7 ypc so far this year.  Donovan McNabb will still be taking his shots down the field to WRs Santana Moss and Joey Galloway against a Rams’ D giving up 248.5 yards passing per game so far this year.  TE Chris Cooley will also get targeted quite a bit in his game by McNabb.

When the Rams have the ball:  The Redskins will likely go all out to stop Steven Jackson forcing rookie QB Sam Bradford to beat them with his arm.  The Redskins will have to get after Bradford to force him into making some mistakes which he’s more than capable of.  His favorite receivers are Danny Amendola and Mark Clayton so the Redskins will need to keep tabs on them.

PREDICTION:  REDSKINS 24, RAMS 17