New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Redskins: Full Washington Game Preview

Back at the friendly confines of FedEx Field, the Washington Redskins will look to register a fourth consecutive home win in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints.

To accomplish said feat, the team will first have to slow down the scorching Drew Brees. In the past two games alone, the New Orleans quarterback has thrown for 10 touchdowns—or in other words, Kirk Cousins' season total.

Given the Saints' propensity for turnovers, the opportunity will be present for the 'Skins to extend their run of takeaways. The team has forced at least one turnover in five straight games.

Will Washington extend this streak and breathe life into its fading playoff hopes?

Let's find out. Here is the Week 10 preview for the Redskins.

Location: FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland

Time: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday

TV: Fox

Week 9 Results and Recap

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With its loss at New England, Washington remained winless on the road.

NFC EAST	W	L	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK
New York Giants	5	4	3-1	2-3	2-2	4-4	247	226	+21	W1
Philadelphia Eagles	4	4	2-1	2-3	2-2	3-4	193	164	+29	W1
Washington Redskins	3	5	3-1	0-4	1-1	3-2	158	195	-37	L1
Dallas Cowboys	2	6	1-4	1-2	2-2	2-5	160	204	-44	L6

In Week 9, the Redskins' struggles on the road again resurfaced. With its 27-10 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots last Sunday, Washington's losing streak away from home reached eight games.

With its loss, the team failed to keep pace in the NFC East race. Both the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles were victorious, dropping Washington to third place. Having already lost to the Giants, the Redskins are essentially two games back of first place.

The playoffs are a distinct possibility with four division games remaining, but that's only if the team can first navigate a brutal November schedule. Including the Pats, the overall record of the Redskins' four opponents during this stretch is 25-9. 

Given the team's struggles on the road (it plays the Panthers at Carolina) and against the Giants (five-game losing streak), Washington can't afford a loss at home to New Orleans.

News and Notes

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Riley's poor play could lead to his demotion.

Lineup Change at Linebacker?

While it was cast as the strength of the team's defense entering the season, in actuality, Washington's front seven has been the Achilles' heel.

The pass rush has been uneven, and after a brief stay atop the defensive leaderboard, the team's run defense ranks as one of league's worst.

The 'Skins are 30th in the NFL in yards allowed per carry (4.8) and 29th in yards allowed per game (132.5).

Amid such struggles, a lineup change is in order. Following his performance against the Patriots, inside linebacker Perry Riley has emerged as the player most deserving of a demotion.

In a contest in which New England ran the ball 37 times, Riley had zero tackles in 49 snaps, per Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post. Worsening matters was Riley's shoddy coverage. He was beaten on Brandon Bolden's 18-yard touchdown reception. And if not for a drop by Dion Lewis, Riley would've surrendered two touchdown receptions on the day.

Head coach Jay Gruden wouldn't commit to making a change at linebacker after the game, per ESPN.com's John Keim.

“We like Perry a lot, we like Will (Compton) a lot,” Gruden said. “They’re both good linebackers.” 

But with Compton already seeing time in place of Riley in predetermined packages in addition to outplaying him (10 tackles in Week 9), one could say the writing is on the wall for a change.

Welcome, Brian de la Puente

Already having lost starting guard Shawn Lauvao for the season, the 'Skins suffered another major blow up front with center Kory Lichtensteiger being placed on injured reserve.

In a corresponding move, the team announced it brought veteran center Brian de la Puente into the fold. He's the latest Washington player with a connection to current general manager Scot McCloughan.

Signed out of Cal as an undrafted free agent, de la Puente got his NFL start with the San Francisco 49ers.

During his seven-year career, he's played for six teams and started most recently for the Chicago Bears in 2014. 

Josh LeRibeus has filled in for Lichtensteiger at center. A guard by trade, LeRibeus has had his troubles blocking and snapping the football during his brief stay at center.

With de la Puente's acquisition, the team now has a true center to turn to should LeRibeus continue to struggle with the transition to the position.

Injury Report

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

With the Saints' high-powered offense on deck for Washington, now is as good a time as any for Hall to make his return.

Player	Position	Injury Status
Keenan Robinson	LB	Questionable
DeAngelo Hall	CB	Questionable
Dashon Goldson	S	Questionable
Jason Hatcher	DL	Probable

Washington is closer to full strength in the secondary following the return of Bashaud Breeland and Chris Culliver in Week 9. This isn't to say it's out of the woods yet, though. 

Against the Saints, the injury statuses of Dashon Goldson and DeAngelo Hall loom large. Down Jimmy Graham as a primary target, Brees has spread the ball around to a bevy weapons in 2015. Five Saints have tallied 30 receptions or more, with eight different players registering touchdowns.

The likes of cornerback Will Blackmon and safety Kyshoen Jarrett have performed admirably in relief for Washington. But for all intents and purposes, the Skins defense would be better off with both players serving more complementary roles.

Injury statuses courtesy of CBSSports.com.

Key Matchups

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Slowing Ingram has to be a top priority for Washington's slumping run defense.

Washington Front Seven vs. RB Mark Ingram

New Orleans goes as Brees does. Or so you thought.

Truth be told, the measuring stick is actually running back Mark Ingram.

In contests in which Ingram averages north of 4.0 yards per carry, the Saints are 3-1. In the one win not accounted for here, he posted two touchdowns.

As prolific as Brees can be airing the football out, the state of the New Orleans defense (31st) and offensive line—22 sacks allowed—makes it essential the offense has balance.

This puts the onus on the 'Skins to play to their talent up front. Injuries have played a role, but a front featuring Ryan Kerrigan, Keenan Robinson and a two-deep rotation along the defensive line has no business ranking 29th in the NFL in run defense.

Redskins Offensive Line vs. Saints Pass Rush

Say what you want about the offensive line's job creating rushing lanes, but pass protection has been a strength of the Redskins' hogs up front in 2015.

Washington has allowed an NFL-low nine sacks. This comes on the heels of a 2014 campaign when it allowed 58 sacks, 31st in the league.

The team's reliance on short passes factors into the improvement here, but it's progress nonetheless. After holding their own against New England's vaunted rush (one sack allowed), the Redskins now have to deal with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's aggressive defense.

In the sack department, New Orleans is a middling team with just 19. Against the Tennessee Titans' porous offensive front (28 sacks allowed), Ryan's defense registered zero sacks.

Even so, knowing Trent Williams is the lone starter up front with more than nine starts on his resume, Ryan's exotic blitzes could be problematic. As such, a key to the game will be how Washington handles such pressure.

Matchup X-Factor

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Going against New Orleans' porous secondary, Reed will be no stranger to the end zone.

Washington X-Factor: TE Jordan Reed

At this point in the season, the Redskins' running game can't be relied upon. The 172 yards the team mustered the past four games speak to this fact.

The absence of a running game would be a death sentence in most contests but not against New Orleans.

Its defense is porous enough that it entices opposing teams to pass the football. On the season, opposing quarterbacks have 24 touchdowns to four interceptions against the Saints, all while completing over 65 percent of their passes.

This should be music to the ears of a quarterback as turnover-prone as Cousins and thus to his top target, Jordan Reed.

According to Football Outsiders, New Orleans' defense is the NFL's worst when it comes to covering tight ends. On average, its defense yields over seven receptions and 77 yards per game.

Given Reed's standing as Cousins' top target on third down and in the red zone, a big day from the 25-year-old tight end would spell a productive outing from Washington's offense. 

Prediction: Saints 31, Redskins 26

Bill Haber/Associated Press

Behind Brees, the Saints will exit D.C. victorious.

This contest won't be a defensive slugfest by any means.

New Orleans has consistently been anemic on the defensive side of the ball. With 2013 standing as the outlier, the Saints have finished 28th or worse in defense in three of the past four seasons.

Due in part to injury and underperformance, the Redskins rival their opponent on this front in 2015. The team sports one of the worst run defenses and is 25th in third-down defense.

Hence the question, who do you like more on offense?

The Saints, right? There you have it then, your winner.

Through the air and on the ground, New Orleans has the means to attack Washington's defense. The same can't be said for the 'Skins. A nonexistent running game has put the offense solely on Cousins' shoulders the past month of the season.

While a pass-first attack could succeed against the Saints given their shortcomings in the secondary, Washington has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce the explosive plays it'll take to match Brees and Company point for point. 

With its offense settling for field goals in place of touchdowns, Washington will come up short.