ES Coverage Redskins vs Vikings

Entry posted by JimmiJo November 13, 2016

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ES Coverage Redskins vs Vikings

11/13/16

VICTORY!!!

Redskins 26 - 20 Vikings

Hello Brothers & Sisters! JimmiJo here, joined by Spaceman Spiff, and together we bring you ES coverage of today's match between the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings. The weather is picture perfect; a bright, clear fall day with temps in the high fifties. Probably low-sixties by kickoff.

I see these teams as similar in stature, though not in circumstance. Minnesota is 5-3 and leading the NFC North, by virtue of bye-week and one fewer losses in the division (Detroit is 5-4). Washington is 4-3-1 and in third place in the NFC East. But in terms of overall quality I see both as near-equal. Minnesota has better offensive and defensive lines while Washington has much better skill-position players.

The bookies see it the same way, with the Redskins getting the obligatory 2.5-points for home field.

At the half-way point, this is a game Washington very much needs. It is important for them to stay within shooting range of the streaking Dallas Cowboys. That said, Washington has done ok by themselves in beating both New York and Philadelphia. All the Redskins need to do is play well and they will be relevant in December.

I am hoping Washington enters this game with a high degree of urgency. Since I no longer cover the midweek open locker rooms, I cannot give you any feel I have for temperament. But they need to play as if their hair is on fire.

This is a home game and the Redskins need to take full advantage of the crowd. I was surprised walking in by the number of Minnesota jerseys at the tailgates. But there will still be more Redskins fans and the team needs to keep them in it.

:1386: Photo by Spaceman Spiff :1386:

:1386: Keys to victory

- Strike early - Washington needs to first-drive score to set the tempo. If they win the toss or if the Vikings defer, they need to take advantage and put Minnesota back right-away
- Pressure - Sam Bradford is arguably the comeback player of the year so far. Washington needs to make sure he is uncomfortable from the opening whistle. Sacks. Hurries. Hits. They all work.
- Limit the big play - Defensively, the Redskins need to force the Vikings into playing small-ball and not give up the big explosive plays on defense.
- Turnovers - Get and don't give please

:1386: Photo by Spaceman Spiff :1386:

:1386: Inactives

The Redskins declared the following players as inactive:

o No. 2 QB Nate Sudfeld

o No. 11 WR DeSean Jackson

o No. 31 RB Matt Jones

o No. 67 DL Jordan Hill

o No. 68 T Blaine Clausell

o No. 74 G Arie Kouandjio

o No. 98 DE Matt Ioannidis

No. 14 Ryan Grant is expected to start in place of Jackson at wide receiver.

No. 32 Robert Kelley is expected to start in place of Jones at running back.

On Saturday, the Redskins activated No. 89 TE Derek Carrier from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list and waived No. 35 CB Dashaun Phillips. Carrier (6-4, 248) is a 26-year-old fourth-year veteran out of Beloit College.

The Vikings declared the following players as inactive:

o No. 6 QB Taylor Heinicke

o No. 11 WR Laquon Treadwell

o No. 24 CB Captain Munnerlyn

o No. 35 CB Marcus Sherels

o No. 64 G Willie Beavers

o No. 67 G Zac Kerin

o No. 73 DT Sharrif Floyd

Team taking the fields and wearing throwbacks. You can follow-along in-game on Twitter @Skinscast

See you at the half...

:1386: Photo by Spaceman Spiff :1386:

:1386: Half

Penalties, turnovers, and giving up the big play. All the things we said they had to avoid.

Let's hope the missed PAT comes back to haunt them...

:1386: Photo by Spaceman Spiff :1386:

:1386: JimmiJo

I like the way this team does not fold when they get behind in a game. I asked Jamison Crowder how confident they were once the Vikings took the lead and he said very. There seems to be a belief about this offense that when they need a drive they can get one. That said; I'm not sure the same may be said about generating a touchdown instead of a field goal.

Washington once again jumped out to a good lead scoring two to go 14-0. But as has been the case many times this year, they became lackadaisical and allowed the opponent to score thrice to get back in the game and take the lead.

I asked head coach Jay Gruden if he ever tells the offense it would be nice to not be chewing on his nails at the end of a game. He said; "Yes, but they would find a way to make it interesting anyway."

I also asked Gruden and Crowder about the sense of urgency coming in to this game. Both suggested from here on out they need to play with a high degree of urgency. Crowder said it seemed like a playoff atmosphere for the offense and that giving this is the back-half of the season - every game is a must-win deal.

I tweeted in-game how I was unimpressed with the Minnesota offense. That was before they went 3-for-3 on touchdown drives to end the first half. Once again, it seemed as if in-game adjustments were favoring the opponents.

But Washington appeared to make some of their own over the half and shut down the Vikings the rest of the way. The gem of a defensive effort was highlighted by Preston Smith's athletic interception of Sam Bradford late. Smith's momentum should have carried him past the ball, which was thrown behind him to a Minnesota receiver. Smith was able to reach back and tip the ball up to himself, then return the pick for 22-yards.

Smith also led the team in sacks on the day, registering 2 in addition to 2 tackles and an additional 2 assists.

Offensively, the Redskins posted another solid day.

- Kirk Cousins went 22/33 for 262-yards, 2 touchdowns and a rating of 110.9.
- Rob Kelley logged 97-yards on 22-attempts with a 4.4 yards-per-play average.
- Pierre Garcon led receivers with 6-catches for 81-yards.
- Jamison Crowder showed some skills with 4-catches for 37-yards and a touchdown.
- Veteran tight end Vernon Davis pulled in 3 for 66-yards, none more important than the 38-yard touchdown pass from Cousins

I wrote pregame I considered these to be two evenly matched teams. The statistics support this:

First downs: Redskins 23 - 22 Vikings
3rd Down Efficiency: Redskins 6-12-50% - 5-11-45% Vikings
Total Yards: Redskins 388 - 331 Vikings
Rushing: Redskins 128-yards - 47-yards Vikings
Passing: Redskins 260-yards - 284-yards Vikings
Red Zone: Redskins 1-4 25% - 2-2 100% Vikings
Time of Possession: Redskins 29:56 - 30:04 Vikings

Bottom line is this was a game the Redskins had to have to stay current with the division. The Eagles beat a very good Atlanta today and Dallas in hanging in with Pittsburgh as I type. Washington does not have the luxury of letting games slide.

The Redskins face a struggling Green Bay Packers next Sunday in another home game they really need to win. The way Washington has been playing (and the way the Packers have been reeling) you feel like it is one the Redskins can win. But it is a night game and Washington historically has been that side struggling teams get better on.