Cardinals-Redskins: Momentum on the Line

For the Washington Redskins, Week Three of the NFL regular season brings the second-highest rated passer and two of the more dangerous wide receivers in the league. The Arizona Cardinals invade FedEx Field on Sunday and intend to improve their record to 3-0 for the first since 1974.

Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are both top-10 wideouts, with a combined 23 catches for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Big plays are the name of the game. But Cardinals' quarterback Kurt Warner (the NFL's second-rated passer with 128.5 quarterback rating) is also capable of long, patient drives as well, presenting an interesting dilemma for the Redskins' defense.

In a win over the Miami Dolphins last week, Warner posted a perfect passer rating, 158.3, while completing 19 passes on 24 attempts for 362 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was the third time in Warner's career he has reached the mark.

With the Cardinals' running game being less than stellar (averaging only 2.7 yards per attempt through two games this season), the Redskins are sure to press the issue this week. Warner has been known to be susceptible to pressure, and the Redskins are sure to press Boldin and Fitzgerald at the line of scrimmage and attack Warner and the running game.

The Cardinals surely noticed the performance of New York Giants' wide receiver Plaxico Burress in the Redskins' Week One loss. Burress used his size to "box out" Redskins' defenders to collect 10 passes for 133 yards. Warner and the Cardinals' offense will hope to do the same thing with Boldin and Fitzgerald.

Cardinals' right tackle Levi Brown and left tackle Mike Gandy could be the keys for the Cardinals. Each will have his hands full this week, as they face Redskins' defensive ends Andre Carter (a half sack and seven tackles)and Jason Taylor (one sack and six tackles).

While the Redskins' defense has posted only four sacks in their first two games, they have provided consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Last week, the Redskins pressured Saints quarterback Drew Brees into a very pedestrian 69.8 quarterback rating, forcing two interceptions. Overall, the Redskins' defense ranks sixth in the league for lowest opposing quarterback rating allowing a 65.3 thus far.

That may not be enough for the Redskins, however, as the Cardinals' defense has also played well, currently ranked seventh in the NFL in total defense. They shut out the Dolphins through most of three quarters in Week Two and forced four turnovers in their Week One win over the San Francisco 49ers.

While the 49ers were able to move the ball well, turnovers ended at least two drives that seemed destined be scoring drives. The Cardinals have also done a good job of putting pressure on quarterbacks, as evidenced by their six sacks in two games. Allowing only a 73.7 quarterback rating and ranked 10th in rush defense, the Cardinals' defense has been solid.

Cardinals' defensive tackle Darnell Dockett wasn't much of a factor, statistically, against the Dolphins, involved in only one tackle, but he is the type of interior lineman that has given the Redskins' offensive line fits for years. Dockett also hails from nearby Burtonville, MD, and he always plays with an attitude when in Washington. 

The Redskins will need good performances from quarterback Jason Campbell and running back Clinton Portis

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