Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins: Complete Week 5 Preview for Washington
Reeling off consecutive losses to division rivals, the Washington Redskins have to hope that their extended layoff will bring them closer to full strength. Slated to face the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 5, there's no doubt the team could use some healthy reinforcements.
Short on preparation and marred by a growing injury list, a depleted Washington team was manhandled in a 45-14 defeat at the hands of the New York Giants.
Shifting the focus to Seattle's side of things, the team is coming off a bye week. Prior to the time off, though, the Seahawks garnered a statement win with their 26-20 defeat of the Denver Broncos.
With a trip to the undefeated Arizona Cardinals looming after this contest, a 1-5 start could await this team if the Redskins are unable to protect their home turf this Monday night.
Can they pull off the upset?
Let's find out. Here is the Week 5 preview for Washington.
Washington Redskins Week 4 Recap
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Set back by six turnovers, the Redskins fell into the cellar of the NFC East with their loss to the Giants.
For all the hoopla that's surrounded Kirk Cousins in recent weeks for his work in relief of Robert Griffin III, this loss marks his fifth straight as a starter. Completing 19 of 33 passes for 257 yards, Cousins had four interceptions and one lost fumble, with the defining moment of his ineptitude being the three interceptions he tossed in the third quarter.
Not to be outdone, a battered Washington defense surrendered five touchdowns to Eli Manning and 449 total yards of offense. In the first contest minus DeAngelo Hall, the secondary allowed Manning to complete more than 70 percent of his passes.
Despite boasting one of the league's top rushing defenses, Washington managed to surrender two touchdowns and 154 yards to New York's set of running backs.
Speaking of rushers, Alfred Morris continued to climb the NFL's rushing ranks after tallying 63 rushing yards and a touchdown, breaking into the top five of both categories.
As if getting blown out on national television wasn't bad enough, the team's mounting injury list gained new members when both Trent Williams and Niles Paul left the contest with injuries.
With three of its next four contests slated to be on the road, a loss to Seattle could end any chance Washington had at competing for the NFC East crown.
News and Notes
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Can Kirk Cousins Limit His Mistakes?
Three years into his NFL career, the debate rages on. Is Cousins a starting-caliber quarterback?
Looking at his performances against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles—for the most part, anyway—the answer is a resounding yes.
But for those who are hesitant to anoint Cousins with such a distinction, his showing against the Giants in Week 4 is evidence.
It wasn't just that he threw four interceptions. Whether it be from a tipped ball or bad route from a receiver, interceptions aren't always representative of a bad decision from the quarterback. But in Cousins' case, that always seems to be the problem.
In 11 games now, not starts, Cousins has amassed 14 interceptions. New York's Zack Bowman highlighted Cousins' plight after the game:
"Asked #Giants DB Zack Bowman what it was like going against #Redskins Kirk Cousins tonight: "It's like Christmas." #RedskinsTalk
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayCSN) September 26, 2014
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Going against a Seattle secondary that is renowned as the NFL's best, Cousins could factor into another embarrassing loss on national television if he doesn't clean up his play.
When Will Brian Orakpo Play Like a "Franchise Player"?
Yeah, Brian Orakpo has had his share of injuries thus far in 2014. First, he had the nagging ankle injury, and now he's saddled with an injured finger.
But haven't we heard this story before? Playing for a long-term deal contract, alongside the likes of Ryan Kerrigan and Jason Hatcher, weren't things supposed to be different this year?
Owner of a porous secondary, especially now, Washington was counting on its pass rush to mask this deficiency. With the exception of the win over the Jaguars, that hasn't been the case.
Through four games, Orakpo, the supposed best player of this trio, has not one, not two, not three but half a sack. In light of the $11.45 million he's earning this season, it's safe to say that Orakpo isn't living up to his contract:
"Might be one of the most critical posts I've written. Brian Orakpo not playing up to his franchise tag: http://t.co/HthRD2Cn3p #Redskins
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) September 30, 2014"
Going against a Seattle offensive line that allowed Russell Wilson to be sacked 44 times in 2013, Orakpo should have another chance to validate himself as an elite player on the national stage Monday night.
Bashaud Breeland's Struggles
Filling in for an injured Hall, as expected, rookie Bashaud Breeland was targeted early and often by Eli Manning:
"#Giants pick on rookie Bashaud Breeland - in for DeAngelo Hall - on the 1st play AND get a personal foul out of it.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) September 26, 2014"
Not that he was the lone player to struggle in the team's secondary, but Breeland's poor play in his starting debut forced the Redskins to turn to a hobbled Tracy Porter in the Week 4 loss. All told, if anything, Breeland looked unprepared for his ascension into the starting lineup:
"Said earlier this week you're going to have to be patient with Bashaud Breeland. He'll make some plays, he'll miss some and he'll get flaged
— Emmanual Benton (@Manny_PPI) September 26, 2014"
The rookie led the defense in penalties with four. If Breeland is to avoid repeating his performance against the Giants, he'll need to remain disciplined and avoid the back-breaking penalties that have marred Washington's defense this season.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Chris Baker | DL | Probable |
| Jason Hatcher | DL | Probable |
| Akeem Jordan | LB | Questionable |
| Tracy Porter | CB | Questionable |
| Jordan Reed | TE | Questionable |
| Kedric Golston | DL | Questionable |
| Robert Griffin III | QB | Out |
| Jarvis Jenkins | DL | Probable |
| Trenton Robinson | S | Questionable |
| DeSean Jackson | WR | Probable |
| Brian Orakpo | LB | Probable |
| Niles Paul | TE | Questionable |
*All injury statuses from CBSSports.com.
With 12 players on this week's injury list, it doesn't appear that Washington's extended layoff did much to improve the health of its players.
Set to face off against Marshawn Lynch this week, the Redskins' injuries along the defensive line are of chief concern. Depleted in Week 4's loss to the Giants, a fatigued defensive line was beaten at the point of attack, and Washington surrendered 154 rushing yards. Going against the NFL's third-best rushing attack, a similar effort would surely extend the losing streak to three games.
On the offensive end, the injuries to Jordan Reed and Niles Paul are worth monitoring. In Seattle's lone loss on the season, it was the tight end position that gave the defense fits. Antonio Gates tallied seven catches, 96 yards and three touchdowns in the San Diego Chargers' 30-21 win.
If Paul or Reed is in the lineup, the Redskins can emulate this game plan. But if they are out, this task is too big for Logan Paulsen, who's best suited as a blocker. With all four of Cousins' interceptions last week coming outside the numbers, via ESPN Stats and Information, the absence of Reed and Paul could lead to a repeat effort from the quarterback.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Washington's Pass Rush vs. Russell Wilson
While the perception is that Russell Wilson is most dangerous outside the pocket, as Grant Cohn of The Press Democrat notes, his numbers from the 2013 season paint a different picture.
In addition to completing just 56.9 percent of his passes, compared to a 66.1 percentage from the pocket, Wilson's touchdown and interception percentage also dipped when throwing outside the pocket.
With the Redskins already fielding a wounded secondary, Wilson scrambling could benefit the defense—provided they can limit his impact as a rusher, of course. By flushing him from the pocket, the defense would make half the field essentially out of play for Wilson to throw to.
After allowing Manning and Nick Foles to complete more than 65 percent of their passes in the absence of its top corner, this could be the only measure available for Washington to keep Wilson from matching his season average of 69 percent.
DeSean Jackson vs. Richard Sherman
While Washington's other upper-echelon receiver, Pierre Garcon, will likely get his shot at Sherman, the onus will fall on DeSean Jackson to win this matchup.
One of the league's best corners, particularly in press coverage, it's a foregone conclusion that Sherman will shut down opposing receivers the moment he gets his hands on them at the line of scrimmage.
Still, while Sherman's 6'3", 195-pound size is an asset in this regard, it also inhibits his ability to stick with jet-quick receivers. Slower getting out of breaks and changing directions, Sherman has had his moments of vulnerability going against the likes of Keenan Allen, Eddie Royal and, most notably, T.Y. Hilton.
Boasting a similar skill set to this group of players, Jackson has the potential to cause similar problems for Sherman. Provided that Washington utilizes bunch formations and motion on offense to free him from Sherman's press, Jackson could make some plays downfield and draw additional coverage away from the team's other wideouts.
Redskins' X-Factor of the Week: Alfred Morris
As great as the Seahawks defense is, like every other defense, fatigue is its kryptonite. While it doesn't happen often with Marshawn Lynch in tow, it's worth noting that in the team's past three defeats, Seattle has lost the time of possession battle.
With that in mind, it's crucial for Washington to lean heavily on its rushing attack, namely Morris. Seattle may boast the NFL's No. 5-ranked rushing defense, but the Redskins still have to remain committed to the running game.
For one, by passing, Washington would be playing into the Seahawks' strength, the secondary. Second, and most importantly, the Redskins have never won when Morris was a non-factor.
In all 11 games in which he's received less than 15 carries during his career, Morris has been on the losing side. This isn't to say that the team is a juggernaut when he eclipses this number, but with a turnover-prone quarterback like Cousins under center, the recipe for victory has Morris as the main ingredient.
Prediction
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Coming off an embarrassing loss in front of a national audience, expect for the Redskins to rise to the occasion when they square off with the defending Super Bowl champs Monday Night.
Set to commence in the friendly confines of FedEx Field, this contest puts the Seahawks in a vulnerable position. Of the team's past four losses, three have come on the road. Littered in with these losses, Seattle has also had its share of underwhelming performances against lesser teams.
Against the Houston Texans and St. Louis Rams—teams that combined to win 11 games in 2013—the Seahawks' average margin of victory was four points.
Even with that in mind, the reality is they still won. For all the talent that Washington possesses, it does the team no good when so many of its best players are hampered by injury. While you can expect the team to be within striking distance of the Seahawks if it implements a game plan centered on ball control, going against a secondary of ball hawks, Cousins' penchant for turnovers will hinder any chance the Redskins have at winning this game.
Prediction: Seahawks 30, Redskins 17
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