7 Keys to Victory in Washington Redskins' Thanksgiving Day Matchup
Samaje Perine and Vernon Davis can help the Washington Redskins boss the New York Giants' defense on Thanksgiving night in Week 12. Both players can let the team keep things simple amid a myriad of injuries on offense, particularly along the line.
Controlling the ball on the ground will help the Burgundy and Gold avoid the pass-rush threat posed by Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who looked close to his dynamic best during the win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The Giants may have beat KC to put only their second W on the board this season, but familiar problems continued to plague Big Blue. Specifically, quarterback Eli Manning and his receivers still struggled to get on the same page, while the running game isn't going to scare anybody.
Washington's D can take full advantage by getting around Manning early and often. It will be essential for a pass rush inconsistent in recent weeks to be on point for a defense that wilted late against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11.
Find out what are the seven keys for a Redskins victory this week.
Target the Tight Ends Early and Often
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To say the Giants have struggled against tight ends this season is putting it mildly. Simply put, players at the position have routinely burned Steve Spagnuolo's defense for big plays through 11 weeks.
The Chiefs not being able to get the win wasted an eight-catch, 109-yard effort from Travis Kelce last week. Two weeks earlier, Los Angeles Rams rookie Gerald Everett needed just one grab to tally 44 yards.
Hunter Henry caught three passes for 42 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown, for the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5, while even Garrett Celek of the San Francisco 49ers helped himself to four catches for 67 yards, including a 47-yard score, when his team beat the Giants in Week 10.
The theme is clear: Tight ends can find yards in chunks at will against this Giants defense.
It's great news for a Redskins offense still blessed with ample talent at the position, despite an injury-derailed season for premier playmaker Jordan Reed. His absence has meant more opportunities for veteran Davis to prove he still has a lot left in the tank.
The 33-year-old has responded to the challenge, averaging 16 yards per reception this season. He also has nine catches of 20 yards or more and two for 40-plus, per NFL.com. Head coach Jay Gruden and quarterback Kirk Cousins must work Davis into the mix early and often.
There will be space for Davis against a New York front seven seemingly permanently short of elite talent at linebacker during this decade.
Davis should figure prominently since Reed is still struggling for fitness. The latter missed practice on Tuesday as he continues dealing with a hamstring problem, per RotoWire (h/t CBSSports.com).
Cousins will likely have more success exploiting Davis, Niles Paul and rookie Jeremy Sprinkle, who caught his first touchdown as a pro against the Saints, against linebackers than he will testing Giants cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Feed Samaje Perine
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The Redskins collapsed late on in New Orleans, but one of the silver linings evident in defeat was the emergence of Perine as a credible workhorse in the backfield.
He gained 117 yards on 23 tough carries against the Saints, while showing a flair for the one-cut-and-go style needed to make Washington's zone-based plays work. The rookie also proved he can pound defenses between the tackles.
It will be important to feed Perine another 20-plus carries this week. Establishing the run early will keep edge-rushers Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon on their heels, something Cousins will need to see.
Washington's quarterback will again be lining up behind a depleted offensive line. Left guard Shawn Lauvao and center Spencer Long have been sent to injured reserve, per Matthew Paras of the Washington Times.
Meanwhile, Paras confirmed in another report for the Times how backup center Chase Roullier will likely miss out this week after undergoing hand surgery.
Keeping things simple for the next men up along the O-line will be vital this week. There's no better way to do it than to lean on the run. It won't be easy against a formidable Big Blue defensive line underpinned by Pierre-Paul and monster tackle Damon Harrison.
Even so, ESPN.com's John Keim believes the Redskins should expect success on the ground in the next few weeks: "But of the Redskins' next six games, starting Thursday vs. the New York Giants, four are against teams currently ranked 23rd or lower in yards per carry allowed."
Perine has proved he can handle a heavy workload, so Gruden should trust him to keep the Giants honest on Thanksgiving.
Run at Olivier Vernon
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This slide could easily read "run away from Jason Pierre-Paul." However, there will be more incentive for the Redskins to avoid No. 90 if Olivier Vernon is lined up at the other defensive end spot.
Vernon injured his shoulder in the win over the Chiefs, but he was present at practice on Tuesday, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY:
"The good news at practice was DT Damon 'Snacks' Harrison and DE Olivier Vernon were both at practice, but were limited in what they could do. They were previously out on Monday after both suffering injuries in the win on Sunday. Vernon was said to have a shoulder injury on Sunday, but he was listed with an ankle issue which has bothered him the past few weeks. Harrison is nursing an ankle injury."
If Vernon plays Thursday, the Redskins must target him on running plays. They can work over the former Miami Dolphins ace by targeting him on cutback runs.
While Vernon is a capable pass-rusher, he's not the strongest at the point of attack in the running game. It's one reason why the Giants own the 30th-ranked rushing defense in the NFL.
The Redskins can exploit Vernon's weaknesses, as well as his strengths, on Thursday night. His instincts as a pass-rusher can also be used against him on read-option plays.
His natural inclination to get upfield on wide rushes will leave space for Perine to attack the vacant edges of the Giants defense. Cousins could also use his mobility, an underrated asset this season, to find daylight as a runner any time Vernon tries an inside move.
Washington will have more success running at Vernon's side than they will going at Harrison or Pierre-Paul.
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Double-Team Jason Pierre-Paul
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Pierre-Paul may be a mercurial talent, but he is also one of the most physically gifted defensive ends of his generation. He looked in the mood again against the Chiefs, getting in on five tackles and generally proving disruptive against both the run and the pass.
The Redskins should ignore Pierre-Paul's relatively meagre statistical output this season and still pay him a lot of attention on Thursday. In fact, No. 90 should see regular double-teams throughout the game.
If his menacing showing against the Chiefs was a precursor for Pierre-Paul returning to his best, the Redskins should be worried. When he's been good this season, he has been awfully good.
He was against the Detroit Lions in Week 2 when he logged a sack, forced a fumble and was in on six tackles. Pierre-Paul was downright dominant on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 6, making eight combined tackles, including seven solo stops, forcing another fumble and recording a season-high three sacks.
You get the picture, Pierre-Paul is still capable of taking over a game if the opposition lets him. The Redskins won't allow it to happen if they bracket him with regular help for right tackle Morgan Moses.
Using Davis or Sprinkle to chip Pierre-Paul will help, as will letting guard Brandon Scherff also slide his way. However line coach Bill Callahan schemes things, he must make sure the Giants star is kept quiet.
Target Chad Wheeler with the Blitz
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He performed admirably against Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston, but Chad Wheeler is still a player the Redskins must test with the blitz.
The first-year blocker started out of position at right tackle against the Chiefs and made his debut count, per John Healy of the New York Daily News: "Houston has 7.5 sacks this season and the Chiefs have 19 as a team, but Wheeler and the offensive line kept Eli Manning on his feet and did not allow a sack in the game."
Things won't get any easier for Wheeler this week, not when he's going up against Ryan Kerrigan. No. 91 is the best pass-rusher the Redskins have, but he should still be supported by some aggressive blitz calls from defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.
Assuming Kerrigan will simply whip the inexperienced man in front of him will make life too easy for Wheeler. It's better to play on his lack of experience and see how he handles juggling a focus on the Washington linebacker with identifying and picking up late blitzes off the edge.
Manusky should send safety D.J. Swearinger off Kerrigan's side and even work in some cornerback blitzes to keep the young tackle guessing.
Working a few blitzes into the playbook will also help the Redskins snap their recent inconsistency getting to the quarterback. Washington failed to register a sack against Case Keenum and the Vikings in Week 10 but sacked Drew Brees twice last week.
The Redskins boast the second-best pressure percentage in the league, according to NFL Matchup on ESPN. Yet the same source also puts Manusky's unit 10th in blitz percentage. Increasing the latter number will make life tougher for a Giants O-line with its own share of injury problems.
Healy noted how Wheeler's fellow linemen, Justin Pugh and John Greco, missed practice this week. Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan reported tackle D.J. Fluker will miss Thursday's game, with center Weston Richburg already on injured reserve.
Raanan predicts Wheeler will start again on the right, leaving Mansuky no excuse not to send pressure his way.
Don't Ignore Shane Vereen
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He's not used as often as he should be by Giants head coach Ben McAdoo, but Shane Vereen is still a player who could give the Redskins trouble if they forget about him.
Specifically, Vereen's dual-threat skills can expose a major weakness evident in Washington's defense last week. The Redskins simply couldn't cope with running backs catching passes in New Orleans, as Saints duo Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram combined for nine receptions for 95 yards, with rookie Kamara turning one of his catches into a score.
If McAdoo and his staff have paid attention, they will be sure to try to work their running backs into the passing game this week. Orleans Darkwa and rookie Wayne Gallman can help, but Vereen remains New York's best pass-catching back.
Vereen only saw three passes aimed his way against the Chiefs, but he caught them all, proof the 28-year-old hasn't lost his knack as a receiver. In fact, he has always been a useful option out of the backfield, one with a flair for big plays dating back to his time with the New England Patriots.
Manusky would be smart to spy No. 34 whenever he is on the field, which will likely be in third-down situations. Nickel linebacker Martrell Spaight has the speed for the job, but a hybrid type such as rookie safety Josh Harvey-Clemons may be better suited to tracking Vereen in space.
Either way, the Redskins must factor this dangerous veteran into their plans.
Double Roger Lewis
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Just because there's no Odell Beckham Jr. or Brandon Marshall available, it doesn't mean there aren't still legitimate big-play threats in the Giants' passing game.
Like Vereen, wideout Roger Lewis is one player the Redskins can't afford to ignore; Washington's defense should pay special attention to the former Bowling Green star.
Lewis has been producing big plays in clutch moments lately, enjoying something of a breakout in Week 11. He caught three passes for 55 yards against the Chiefs, including a spectacular 34-yard reception to position the Giants to win it in overtime.
The player has talked up his flair for the spectacular, per John Healy of the New York Daily News: "One thing nobody can take away from me is my big-play mentality and my ability to make a play and that’s what I do every time."
Such bravado will likely convince Manning to keep looking Lewis' way whenever he needs a big gain. The Redskins can take this avenue away from the Giants by doubling Lewis.
Since he most often lines up on the side away from star cornerback Josh Norman, Washington should have fellow corner Bashaud Breeland roll up tight on Lewis and rotate a safety over the top.
It's elementary stuff, but the pre-snap look of press coverage with a safety behind it may deter Manning from chancing any deep strikes toward Lewis.
Paying extra attention to the second-year flanker also makes sense since he's likely to remain the feature of Big Blue's passing game, with Sterling Shepard unlikely to play as he battles migraines, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.
Taking away Manning's lone remaining big-play target will further stymie a struggling Giants offense and increase the Redskins' chances of putting a fifth win on the board.
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