When the Washington Redskins came out of their bye week, many looked at their schedule as brutal. With games against some of the top team in the league in 2015, it would be a true test of the revamped Redskins. Here we are two games into that stretch, and the Redskins look to be in complete control. After Sunday night’s game, the Redskins still sit as the 6th seed in the playoff race. Here are three observations from the win over the Green Bay Packers.
Playmakers R Us
The Washington Redskins have playmakers on all three sides of the football; Offense, defense, and special teams. On offense, the Redskins are led by QB Kirk Cousins, TE Jordan Reed, RB Robert Kelley, WR Pierre Garcon, WR Jamison Crowder, and WR DeSean Jackson. On defense, there are players like DL Chris Baker, LB Ryan Kerrigan, LB Will Compton, LB/DE Preston Smith, DB Bashaud Breeland, and CB Josh Norman.
On special teams, they are led by K Dustin Hopkins, who rarely has a kick returned, rarely used P Tress Way and KR Jamison Crowder. Anywhere you look on this team there are playmakers. The Redskins are utilizing these playmakers as well. Every week there is someone different that steps up. This makes them a hard team to play and beat.
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Defense is timely
The defense of the Washington Redskins may be the Achilles heel of the team. However, they get plays when they count the most. Two weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings DE/LB Preston Smith got an interception late in the 4th quarter to help seal a win. On Sunday night against the Packers, the Redskins defense came up with a few big plays at key times. With the Packer having the ball with 35 seconds left in the first half and two times outs they were looking to score.
DL Chris Baker penetrated the middle and started the series with a sack. This killed any chance the Packers had to score at the end of the half. Then with 4 minutes left in the game, CB Josh Norman puts a strong right hook throw the ball while it was in the hands of Packers TE Jared Cook. The Redskins would recover the fumble. There would also be an interception on the Packers final drive to seal the 42-24 victory. The defense may not be the team’s strong point, but it comes up big when it needs to.
Pay the Man
It is time for any naysayers to put all the negative-Kirk Cousins talk to bed. This guy is a franchise QB, and it is time that he gets paid like it. He is playing as good as or better than he did in 2015. He now holds multiple franchise records. He set another last night with the number 300 yards passing games. Cousins should be paid like the rest of the top 10 QBs in the league. He has surely proven his worth. A long-term deal is going to cost the Washington Redskins anywhere from $80 million or north. If the team could have gotten something done this last off-season they may have gotten away with a much smaller salary. Now Kirk Cousins has turned up the heat. One thing is for certain; PAY THE MAN!!
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The Washington Redskins are now sitting at 6-3-1. They have a Thanksgiving game on the horizon against the division and NFL leading Dallas Cowboys. A win and Thursday and we can start talking of strong chances of a division repeat. One game at a time. Here we come, Dallas! ALWAYS HTTR!!