Detroit Lions vs. Washington Redskins Preview: 5 Questions with Riggo’s Rag
By Zac Snyder
Sep 15, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver
(85) rushes with the ball after catching a pass during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
In anticipation of this week’s game between the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins, I got together with Kiel Maddox of Riggo’s Rag for a quick Q&A.
1. Let’s start with the obvious, RGIII doesn’t look healthy. Is this setting up to be a lost season unless the knee starts gaining strength rapidly?
"While RGIII is a MAJOR concern for the Redskins, it’s just not him. The Redskins are looking as if they simply overachieved last year thanks to a semi-easy schedule and an NFC East division that fell apart. The defense is still a problem, especially within the secondary. The hope was with starters back, the pass rush would return and make life easier, but that hasn’t been the case for either position.RGIII definitely wasn’t ready for week one and probably still isn’t ready now. It makes you really wonder if the rumors that the Redskins denied of Dr. Andrews saying Griffin shouldn’t play until after the bye week were true. He definitely has rust to get off, but he still continues to not want to plant his foot, which was the case going as far back as the second game against the Eagles last season.If RGIII doesn’t turn it around, expect to see Cousins after the Bye Week."
2. The Redskins have problems on the other side of the ball, what do you see as the defense’s biggest problem?
"The biggest issues is still the secondary. Bacarri Rambo is by no means fit to start in the NFL right now and if you watch Redskins games you are seeing it. With Brandon Meriweather banged up, that leaves Reed Doughty as the starting Strong Safety, a player who needless to say is a backup at best. Washington might be best to take a look at Tanard Jackson if he can be reinstated because the secondary isn’t going to get any better."
3. The Lions have a nasty history of suddenly allowing teams to “get right” and they have never won in Washington. What do you think the Lions need to do to break that history?
"The Lions really need to do nothing, but play the game of football. The Redskins are in a downward spiral and as long as their D line does what it has been known for the past couple of seasons, they should have no problem keeping the offense on the field, resulting in the defense being worn out by halftime, which has been the case for the past two games."
4. Finish the sentence, the Redskins will win if…
"The Redskins will win if the offense can click early, but that’s a major if considering they haven’t been able to do so until about late in the third quarter when it’s too late and defenses are playing more conservative."
5. How do you see this game playing out and what is your prediction?
"I expect the Lions defensive line to dominate a poor Redskins offensive line, and Calvin Johnson to annihilate an exposed secondary. Washington might pull their late scoring to make the game appear closer than what it will be, but Lions take it 31-24"