Washington Redskins vs. Chicago Bears: Full Washington Game Preview

While the Washington Redskins still control their playoff fate, if recent history is any indicator, they suffered a major setback losing in Week 13.

The team is winless on the road, and beginning with its tilt against the Chicago Bears, Washington closes the season with three of its final four games away from home.

With their season hanging in the balance, is this the week the Redskins get off the schneid?

Let's find out. Here is the Week 14 preview for Washington.

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago

Time: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday

TV: Fox

Week 13 Results and Recap

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Validated by their loss in Week 13, the role of favorite proved to not suit the Redskins.

NFC East Standings

Washington Redskins (5-7)

Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)

New York Giants (5-7)

Dallas Cowboys (4-8)

With its 19-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington blew a prime opportunity to separate itself from the pack in the NFC East.

Playing the role of goat and hero, DeSean Jackson was at the center of the team's upset loss. He both handed the Cowboys the lead late with a punt-return fumble and took it away with a tying 28-yard touchdown reception.

In totality, the offense at large was responsible for the team's Monday night slip-up. The Skins were out-gained 317-266 in total yards. And with a meager 16 points, they fell well short of their scoring average (29 points per game) during their five-game home winning streak.

Courtesy of this defeat, anarchy now reigns within the division. The three-way tie atop the division, with Dallas also not out of the picture, gives the team little margin for error. 

While they have the benefit of not playing a winning team the rest of the way, the Redskins' struggles on the road keeps them from being the favorite here.

On to Chicago.

News and Notes

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Is four games all that remains in Morris' Washington career?

Closing Stretch of Alfred Morris' Washington Career?

Robert Griffin III's regression from his rookie year draws more attention, but what about that of Alfred Morris?

Since posting 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns his rookie year, Morris' production has steadily declined. Looking at his production under head coaches Mike Shanahan and Jay Gruden, respectively, this much is clear.

During Shanahan's tenure, when the team ran a zone-blocking scheme primarily, Morris averaged 90.2 yards per game on 4.7 yards per carry. Under Gruden, his numbers fall to 56 yards per game and 3.8 yards a rush.

Taking a snapshot of his 2015 season at large, the writing is on the wall for this season to be Morris'—a free agent—last in D.C.

He's eclipsed 60 yards rushing just three times in 12 games and toted the rock less than 10 times on six occasions. Rookie Matt Jones has stolen some of Morris' thunder, but it's not as if his production is relegating him to the bench.

In addition to his fumbling problem (four lost), Jones is only averaging 3.4 yards a rush. Even amid these struggles, though, Jones brings things to the table Morris simply doesn't. 

Jones can churn out big plays on the ground and through the air, neither of which is Morris' forte. With the second half in the Dallas game serving as the first glimpse—Morris had zero carries—the odds favor the team turning over the backfield to Jones and Chris Thompson in 2016.

Tackling Key to Improvement in Defending the Run

Despite its efforts to make it a strength in the offseason, defending the run has been the Washington defense's weakness.

Entering Week 14, it comes in at No. 25 in rushing defense at 124.2 yards allowed per game. Injuries along the front seven played a part in the team's struggles. But as ESPN's John Keim noted, tackling was the main culprit.

From Weeks 4-10, the Redskins allowed an average of 2.2 yards after contact from Week 4 to Week 10. This number has dropped to 1.5 yards the past three weeks and 1.1 yards in the last two games. 

As a by-product, the team hasn't been gashed for big runs. With matchups against the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles—first and fifth in runs of 20-plus yards, respectively—looming in the weeks ahead, Washington will have to maintain this level of play.

Injury Report

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Injury will keep Paea from playing his old team.

DL Stephen Paea

Against the Cowboys, Stephen Paea exited with a sprained toe and didn't return. After undergoing an MRI, it was revealed Paea would miss the reunion with his former team, the Bears, if not more time.

In regard to his recovery timetable, Gruden said it would be "one or two weeks, minimum," per ESPN's John Keim.

He's long lost his starting job to Chris Baker. But with Jason Hatcher also leaving the Dallas game with an injury, Paea's absence will hurt Washington's depth up front. 

LB Keenan Robinson

With Perry Riley Jr. recently undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, Keenan Robinson can't return to the lineup fast enough.

While he was active, Robinson's shoulder injury kept him from playing against Dallas. This left Mason Foster to start alongside Will Compton, and he impressed. He had seven tackles and forced a fumble. 

Even so, with Washington depleted at linebacker and the Bears sporting a two-headed rushing attack, Robinson's playing status looms large. 

TE Derek Carrier

In Derek Carrier's absence, the Redskins were forced to use Tom Compton and Ty Nsekhe in multiple tight end sets in Week 13. With their presence a clear indicator of a run call, Washington didn't reap the benefit of having seven offensive linemen in the game.

With his ability to bolster the Redskins' play-action game and contribute as a blocker, Carrier's playing status is something to monitor. As it stands, he's listed as questionable on the team's injury report, per CBSSports.com.

Key Matchups

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Cutler is at the center of Chicago's wins and losses.

Washington Running Backs vs. Chicago Front Seven

The Redskins' running game has been an afterthought in road games but for good reason. The team has mustered a meager 224 yards in five road games, averaging only 2.5 yards per carry.

Thing is, this production isn't solely representative of Washington's ineptitude running the ball. None of its five road opponents rank in the league's bottom third in rushing defense.

But no more. Chicago is the NFL's No. 29 outfit defending the run, allowing 127.9 yards per game.

Given their most recent success against a run defense of this caliber—the New Orleans Saints, anyone?—the Redskins, for once, should field a balanced attack.

Redskins secondary vs. QB Jay Cutler

Injuries have been a constant in the Washington secondary. DeAngelo Hall, Bashaud Breeland and Chris Culliver have all missed time in 2015.

In their absence, though, the team has found some unexpected contributors. Former receiver Quinton Dunbar, Will Blackmon and rookie Kyshoen Jarrett have played pivotal roles in holding the secondary together. 

As a result, unexpectedly, the Redskins sport the NFL's No. 10 pass defense.

Even so, Washington has to be concerned with the lack of big plays it's produced against the pass (nine interceptions). Against a boom-or-bust quarterback like Jay Cutler, turnovers are the difference in winning or losing.

In four of his five losses as the starter, Cutler has thrown at least one interception. On the opposite end, he has 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions in wins.

So in this respect, if it's to exorcise its demons on the road, Washington has to force Cutler turnovers.

Matchup X-Factor

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Similar to the team at large, Cousins hasn't had success on the road.

Redskins X-Factor: QB Kirk Cousins

More than anybody, Kirk Cousins epitomizes the team's disparity in playing at home and on the road. Cousins has 12 touchdowns to two interceptions at home and five touchdowns to eight interceptions on the road.

Not only that, he also goes from completing 74 percent of his passes at home to 61 percent away. 

The home-road splits haven't been as drastic since DeSean Jackson returned to the lineup. But by all accounts, Washington can't win receiving this level of quarterback production.

Life doesn't figure to get any easier here with Chicago fielding the NFL's second-best defense in passing yards allowed. By the same token, it's only tallied six interceptions on the year.

If Cousins is only sacrificing accuracy in favor of taking more shots downfield, in addition to playing turnover-free ball, Washington stands a chance at pulling the upset.

Prediction: Redskins 21, Bears 20

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

For another week, Washington will lead the NFC East.

Washington's woes on the road are well-documented. The team is 1-12 away from FedEx Field under Gruden. And on defense, the team is allowing 32.4 points per game here in 2015.

In the Bears, though, the Redskins have an opponent that both struggles to score and win at home.

Chicago is 1-5 and averages 20.1 points per game at home. Having forced 10 turnovers in its past five games, Washington will add to the Bears' woes at Soldier Field.

With a running game to ease his offensive load, Cousins will avoid the mistakes that have led to him losing nine consecutive road games.

In contrast, an aggressive Redskins defense will neutralize Jeremy Langford and Matt Forte and force Cutler to carry his team to victory. And as he's done throughout his tenure in Chicago, Cutler will in turn throw the game away in the form of multiple interceptions.