Redskins Prepare to Keep Lions Tame in Week Three Gut Check

The Redskins escaped their home opener against the St. Louis Rams with a 1-1 record and a bevy of questions facing their offense, particularly their red zone performance.

Over the course of the game against the Rams, the Redskins moved the ball efficiently between the 20s, recording drives of 83, 64, 74 and 76 yards. But despite their ability to move the ball into scoring position, the Redskins couldn't score.

The previous week, the Rams defense allowed 28 points to the Seattle Seahawks. Somehow, the Redskins managed just nine measly points against one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Enter the reigning champions of futility, the Detroit Lions.

The Lions are riding a 19-game losing streak into Sunday's matchup with the Redskins. But they are confident they can run down their first win in over a year.

Last season, the Redskins lost to the Rams in week six on their home turf. Two weeks later, the Lions lost to the Redskins 25-17. Both Teams are on a mission going into this game.

The Redskins are out to score points and dispel the long-standing offensive woes that have plagued them for so long. The Lions are out to steal one from their wounded opponents by any means necessary.

Sunday's game holds plenty of implications for both teams.

If the Redskins lose, they are in for a wild ride when owner Daniel Snyder decides to intervene and give Jim Zorn the Norv Turner treatment.

If the Lions win, their season takes on new meaning. They no longer have to prove that they are better than the 0-16 team from 2008. They will have a renewed fire that could propel them to a multiple-win season for the first time since 2007.

The Redskins absolutely have to score on the Lions every chance they get. Correction, they absolutely have to score TOUCHDOWNS against the Lions every chance they get.

If the Redskins go to Ford Field and squeak by with a 13-10 win against the Lions, of all teams, the Redskins will be the talk of the sporting world.

And not in a positive way.

The Redskins need to take the ability to move the ball they exhibited against the Rams and translate it into scoring touchdowns. The players are responsible for getting it done, but Jim Zorn is responsible for putting them in position to make the plays for touchdowns.

Zorn's red zone play-calling after the first quarter was questionable at best: four passes, highlighted by two dropped passes that would have been touchdowns and nearly a dozen runs that produced zero points.

That's not the way to go.

The Redskins drafted Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas and Fred Davis and gave Marko Mitchell a roster spot for a reason - to increase red zone scoring.

Jim Zorn has yet to call a fade to the corner of the end zone to anyone. Devin Thomas' drop came on an underneath route who someone of his stature has no business running.

A player that stands 6'2" and weighs 215 pounds should be put in jump ball situations and be allowed to utilize his size to make plays. Let Santana Moss and Antwan Randle El run the underneath routes.

The run game for the Redskins has not been up to par with what fans are used to, which greatly affects the red zone game.

Clinton Portis is only in on first and second downs and Ladell Betts has taken over third downs. They made that move in the name of saving Portis for the second half of the season.

If Zorn intends to play meaningful football in the second half of the season he would do well to give Portis the ball more than he has in the first two games.

The run game was stagnant in the red zone against the Rams. Inside the Rams 10-yard line, Portis rushed six times for one yard.

If Zorn and the Redskins want to put points on the board, their attack between the 20s is going to have to be more multifaceted.

Zorn has a habit of having an irrational rhythm to his play-calling. After the long run on the opening play against the Giants week one, he dialed up a trick play that was stopped for a big loss.

Zorn has had a week to work out whatever kinks he sees in his red zone play calling to make sure the game against the Lions isn't another baseball score.

The Lions have no business scoring more points than the Redskins or remotely stopping the Redskins from scoring.

If Zorn likes his job he will score at least 30 points and put on a New Orleans Saints-like performance against the Lions. The Redskins aren't built for running up the score, but maybe it's time the Redskins threw out the old blueprints and built a culture of winning.

The best way to right the ship is to get a convincing win over a terrible team. And that has to happen Sunday.