Redskins vs. 49ers: Complete Week 12 Preview for Washington
On the verge of posting yet another losing season, all the Washington Redskins have to look forward to is playing the role of spoiler. With a Week 12 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, they'll get their first chance at fulfilling this role.
After a 27-7 loss to one of the NFL's worst teams in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling off this feat could be challenging for the Redskins.
Winners in their last three outings with Washington, the 49ers won 16-10 over the New York Giants their last time out.
With two of its four losses coming against teams with losing records, is San Francisco primed to be upset? Let's find out. Here is the Week 12 preview for Washington.
Week 11 Recap
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With the loss to the Buccaneers, the Redskins reached a new low point in 2014.
After how the game started, though, perhaps they should've seen it coming. Turnovers have long been an issue for the team, and on the Skins' first play of the game, Robert Griffin III threw an interception. It's safe to say the game went downhill from there.
Although he did complete more than 70 percent of his throws, Griffin's negative plays proved to be too difficult for the offense to overcome. Not only was he sacked five times, but his two interceptions resulted in 10 points for the Tampa offense.
While he owned his poor performance after the game, he also pointed the finger at his teammates for the team's struggles, via Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post:
"It was a travesty. It was a travesty out there today. We didn’t play well. I didn’t see the field as well as I would’ve liked to. We had turnovers. I can’t throw interceptions.
We were playing good team ball. It takes 11 men. It doesn’t take one guy, and that’s proven. If you want to look at the good teams in this league and the great quarterbacks, the Peytons and the Aaron Rodgers, those guys don’t play well if their guys don’t play well.
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When you look at the performance of his teammates, Griffin wasn't too far off the mark. Washington's leading receivers weren't receivers at all but running backs. Roy Helu and Alfred Morris led the team in receptions and receiving yards.
As for the defense's showing, an ineffective pass rush enabled the Bucs to thrive on big plays. Rookie receiver Mike Evans was the biggest beneficiary. He had seven catches, 209 yards and two touchdowns. Maligned quarterback Josh McCown averaged 19.2 yards per completion and played turnover-free football.
All told, this loss is likely to stay with the Redskins for some time. With the team entering a closing stretch that features four opponents above .500, the opportunities are limited for Washington to garner another victory this season.
News and Notes
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Can Robert Griffin III Avoid Sacks?
In five of his last seven starts, RG3 has been sacked at least five times. While it's no secret that Washington's offensive line struggles in pass protection, you have to wonder why the likes of Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins never suffered a similar beating during their time under center.
Between them, McCoy and Cousins have been sacked 13 times in 2014. As for Griffin, his total of 15 has come in half the time. What's the deal?
As Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times points out, it's all tied to Griffin holding onto the ball too long:
"Part of the reason why #Bucs had season-high 6 sacks on Sunday: Robert Griffin III too slow to throw. 2.96 seconds was 6th longest. @PFF
— Thomas Bassinger (@tbassfootball) November 17, 2014"
Given the strength of San Francisco's pass rush, head coach Jay Gruden would be best served by calling plays that force Griffin to get the ball out quickly.
Alfred Morris' 100-yard Drought
Alfred Morris eclipsed the 100-yard barrier 12 times in his first 25 NFL games, but the last time he ran for 100 was in Week 10 of last season. While he's came close in 2014—he has three games of 90-plus yards—Morris' struggles are tied to his dwindling production late in games.
In 2013, after reaching his 10th rushing attempt, his yards per carry jumped from 4.3 to more than five. Fast forward to this season, his average has dropped from 4.4 to 3.5 yards per carry.
With depth being an issue for San Francisco up front on defense, Morris could have the opportunity to reverse this trend if the Skins are within striking distance in the second half of this game.
Buyer's Remorse for DeSean Jackson?
Despite all the negative speculation that surrounded DeSean Jackson's release from the Philadelphia Eagles, he wasn't short on suitors when free agency opened.
A California native, Jackson revealed in a conference call this week that the 49ers were one of the teams that pursued him in the offseason:
"DeSean Jackson said picking the Redskins over the 49ers in free agency was a 'close call' http://t.co/FwgWtRB8tb pic.twitter.com/G1uu4m71Jv
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 20, 2014"
With the Niners again making a run toward the playoffs and the Redskins already looking ahead to the 2015 season, it appears Jackson made the wrong call.
As his Instagram post following his team's loss to the Bucs indicates, the constant losing is beginning to take a toll on the seventh-year receiver:
"Desean Jackson honest post on Instagram after Washington's 27-7 loss to Tampa Bay at home. "You can't do epic (bleep) with basic people."
— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) November 17, 2014"
While it's unknown how money played into his decision, the Skins' struggles are certainly more than Jackson bargained for.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Chris Baker | DT | Questionable |
| Trent Murphy | LB | Questionable |
| Jordan Reed | TE | Questionable |
| Trent Williams | LT | Questionable |
| Shawn Lauvao | G | Questionable |
Washington's injury report may not be long, but it isn't short on major players this week. In a game that will be decided in the trenches, the team will be at a great disadvantage if any of these players don't suit up, namely Trent Williams and Chris Baker.
Barry Cofield may have made his return to the lineup, but Baker's absence would be a huge hit to the team's depth. With the Niners leaning heavily on their running game, the Skins' depleted defense could be susceptible to the run in the second half.
As for Williams' potential absence, in addition to Shawn Lauvao's, it would significantly hamper the team's chances at exposing the lone vulnerability of the San Fran defense, the secondary. The Niners may be fourth in the NFL in pass defense, but they have given up their share of big plays. With Jackson and Pierre Garcon on the roster, the Redskins had to like their chances of exploiting this matchup.
It's a moot point now, though. To survive the onslaught of San Francisco's pass-rushers, Washington will have to utilize max protection and lean heavily on quick hitters and screen passes in the passing game.
*All injury statuses from CBSSports.com and ESPN.com's John Keim.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Morgan Moses vs. Justin Smith/Aldon Smith
In last season's matchup, the duo of Justin Smith and Aldon Smith had seven quarterback hits and four sacks between them. Mind you, that was with an All-Pro like Williams in the lineup.
With a rookie like Morgan Moses in line to start if Williams can't play, a strength of Washington's offensive line is now a weakness.
Not only did Williams steady the offensive line in pass protection, but he also paved the way for Morris in the running game. Averaging 4.1 yards per rush on the year, Morris' per-carry total jumped to 5.4 yards on runs to the left side according to ESPN.
With that said, look for the team to utilize two-tight end sets more frequently in an effort to aid Moses. Specifically, blocking tight end Logan Paulsen should see additional playing time.
Washington Blitz vs. Colin Kaepernick
Forget about Washington's investment into the pass rush. A group that should be able to manufacture pressure on its own accord has been reliant on the blitz to get after the quarterback.
Fortunately for the Skins, though, handling the blitz has been an issue for the 49ers all season. Of the 32 times Colin Kaepernick has been sacked, 15 have come against the blitz according to ESPN. Even when the blitz hasn't gotten to Kaepernick, it's still had an adverse effect on him as a passer. He's a 60 percent passer overall, and his accuracy dips to 55 percent against the blitz.
With a secondary that doesn't match up well with the 49ers' abundance of receiving weapons, the Redskins will need to implement the blitz-heavy scheme they utilized to great success against the Dallas Cowboys if they're to pull off the upset.
X-Factor of the Week: Bashaud Breeland
The strength of the 49ers offense is clearly the running game. Even so, the Skins are equipped to handle their ground game. Not only is Washington 11th in rushing defense, but in 2013's loss to San Fran, it held Frank Gore to 31 yards.
The issue last year, though, was in the secondary. Left on an island with the Niners receivers, the Redskins defensive backs were scorched by the likes of Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis.
Which brings us to rookie Bashaud Breeland. While he stepped up to the plate against Dez Bryant, he, and the secondary as a whole, was taken out to the woodshed by Mike Evans in Week 11.
With a matchup looming between him and Boldin this week, how will he respond? For all the weapons that San Fran sports, the reality is Kaepernick, similar to Griffin, doesn't move through his progressions fast enough to utilize them.
If Breeland can neutralize Boldin and move Kaepernick off his first read, Washington's chances of getting to the quarterback will be bolstered.
Prediction
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Despite the disparity in talent and record between these two teams, the brand of football San Francisco plays gives the Redskins hope in their bid to pull off the upset.
Because of their insistence on running a ball-control offense, the point differential between the Niners and their opponents leaves a lot to be desired. At 6-4 on the season, San Fran has actually been outscored 212 to 211 on the year.
Without the aid of turnovers, the 49ers oftentimes don't pull away from their opponents. Unfortunately for the Skins, ball security isn't a strength.
Washington is fourth in the NFL in giveaways, and its turnover differential is last in the NFC. With San Francisco being one of the best defenses in the league at forcing turnovers, this isn't the week the Redskins will improve on this front.
The game may be close for a half, but as has been the case all season, Washington's mistakes will put the team in a hole it can't dig itself out of.
Prediction: 49ers 24, Redskins 10
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