Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in Redskins' Week 7 Contest vs. the Titans

Returning to the confines of FedEx Field, the Washington Redskins will host the Tennessee Titans in Week 7. In a contest that features two teams with a combined nine losses, which set of matchups will Washington have to win to garner its second victory of the season?

Let's find out.

LB Brian Orakpo vs. OT Taylor Lewan

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He may have been designated as the team's franchise player in the offseason, but Brian Orakpo certainly hasn't looked the part through six games.

Slowed by ankle and finger injuries—when isn't he hurt, though?—Orakpo has just half a sack on the season.

Going against the Arizona Cardinals' pass-happy attack in Week 6, Orakpo drew two holding penalties and dropped an interception late in the game—not what you'd expect from a player making north of $11 million, right?

In the aftermath of the team's defeat, Orakpo expressed his frustration and took responsibility for not making the crucial play he's being paid to make, via ESPN's Chris Russell:

"

Brian Orakpo "I just missed it." RAK said "I feel like I lost this game for us." He called it a "f-ing frustrating year." #Redskins

— Chris Russell (@Russellmania980) October 13, 2014"

Slated to go against rookie left tackle Taylor Lewan in Week 7, Orakpo will have to sing a similar tune if his impact on the game is again limited.

On an offensive line that's struggled all season, Lewan was the lone bright spot in the Titans' 14-12 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to The Tennessean's John Glennon:

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4 out of 5 #Titans starting O-Linemen graded out negatively on Sun, per @PFF. Only 1 with a positive grade: rookie Taylor Lewan.

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) October 13, 2014"

Even with that said, Lewan does have his warts. Although he wasn't penalized in his first start, Lewan had already been flagged twice during limited snaps in mop-up duty. Additionally, he was beaten by Chris Clemons on multiple occasions last week, once resulting in a sack.

Fielding a wounded secondary, Washington is counting on Orakpo to win this matchup handily.

With the likelihood of him re-upping with the team on a long-term deal shrinking by the day, a no-show performance from Orakpo could entice Washington to increase rookie Trent Murphy's amount of snaps going forward.

LB Keenan Robinson vs. TE Delanie Walker

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One of the many Redskins players who were undressed by the New York Giants' Larry Donnell back in Week 4, Keenan Robinson played an integral role in Washington containing Arizona scatback Andre Ellington.

Coming off a 100-yard outing against the Denver Broncos, Ellington was held to 4.3 yards per reception by the Redskins. Arizona's tight ends didn't fare any better. Rob Housler and John Carlson had six receptions for 30 yards between them.

Going against Delanie Walker this week, the sledding won't be as easy for Robinson.

Regardless of who's lined up under center, Walker has been the favorite target of Tennessee's quarterbacks. He is the team leader in targets (45), receptions (29), receiving yards (421) and touchdowns (3).

No longer possessing the speed that made him a wideout in college, Walker's chief asset is his versatility. A good route-runner, he is comfortable lining up in the backfield or out wide.

With Walker being an owner of five receptions of 20-plus yards, the key for Robinson will be to limit Walker's treks downfield. He may concede some short throws in the process, but doing so would leave the inconsistent Justin Hunter as Tennessee's lone deep threat.

WR Pierre Garcon vs. CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson

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He may possess the speed and big-play ability to terrorize a defense, but one thing DeSean Jackson does not excel at is moving the chains. Instead, that distinction belongs to Pierre Garcon. Rather, it used to.

It was just last season that Garcon set the franchise record for receptions with 113, 60 of which went for a first down. But as ESPN's Chris Russell notes, Garcon has been a forgotten man in Washington's offense this season:

"

Pierre Garcon had 17 games in a row with 5 + catches (2013 + @ HOU) ..Since then three out of four games with one catch, two and two (SEA)

— Chris Russell (@Russellmania980) October 7, 2014"

Against Arizona, Garcon's involvement in the offense didn't grow much. Finishing with four receptions, he was targeted just six times.

Seeing the struggles Washington has had sustaining drives going back to the second half of its contest with the Philadelphia Eagles, it's time for this to change.

Matched up against Blidi Wreh-Wilson, there's little reason for this not to occur for Garcon in Week 7. While Wreh-Wilson is coming off the high of gaining his first career interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his play from earlier in the season makes him a player Washington should target.

Touching on this very subject, The Tennessean's Jim Wyatt gave his two cents on the sophomore cornerback.

"Wreh-Wilson was flagged six times in the first four games of the season. He also gave up plenty of plays on his side of the field," he wrote.

Assessing his own play, Wreh-Wilson echoed the same sentiment. "For me, I want to make sure I clean up the penalties. For myself, the attention to details is what I need to focus on. I put myself in some bad situations," he said.

With Michael Griffin and Jason McCourty likely to match up with Jordan Reed and Jackson, Garcon should return to being the focal point of the Redskins' aerial attack.