NFL Week 2: How the Washington Redskins Stack Up Against the Houston Texans

Okay, so everyone should be coming down from the sugar rush high experienced from beating the Dallas Cowboys to open the 2010 NFL season. Back to business and let's take a look at what is coming up for Week 2.

The Houston Texans.

Traditionally, the Texans have been one of those teams that you really want to root for because they were always losing and you'd just like to see them be successful occasionally. There has been a break in tradition in the Lone Star state.

Is it fair to say Arian Foster is going to put up the monster stats he did last week against the Colts every week? Probably not, because now people are paying attention to him. But what is very underrated for the Texans running game is their run blocking ability, mainly fullback Vonta Leach.

Like Redskins fullback Mike Sellers, Vonta Leach does just about everything right at the fullback position. Sadly, those two players play fullback, which is one of the most overlooked positions on the team.

Matt Turk is back in D.C., but only for this game. The former Redskins punter is now punting and holding for the Texans.

Speaking of special teams players, Jacoby Jones is one of those guys that can break a game wide open. He has scary quickness. Look him up on YouTube, his kick and punt returns are fantastic. He has excellent vision and a quick-cut ability.

Jones is also a pretty good receiver too. Many people get caught up talking about Owen Daniels, Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter when they talk about the Texans playmaking ball hawks. Keeping things in perspective, Jones can do things on the field whether he catches it after a kick or a throw.

The largest offensive weapon the Texans have is the league's second most underrated quarterback, in my opinion, Matt Schaub. A product of the University of Virginia, Schaub got to sit behind the first coming of Michael Vick in Atlanta after playing against him in the ACC. Schaub had time to sit back, watch, and learn defenses at the NFL level and boy is it paying off for Houston.

The Texans defense has gotten much better over the years. Mario Williams was a controversial first overall pick in the 2006 draft that saw so many good players drafted. Do yourself a favor and brush up on your history and check out how many good players came from this draft all the way into the late rounds.

What do the Redskins have to offer?

The Texans can run the ball well, the Redskins can stop the run well.

The Texans can pass the ball well, the Redskins have LaRon Landry and DeAngelo Hall playing great right now. Heck, even London Fletcher can cover people 30 yards down field.

The Redskins are not running the ball well right now, the Texans apply a lot of pressure from defensive end position. This means that I see the Redskins having to throw a lot of post routes and cross routes to keep the ball in the middle of the field and move it slowly with a lot of dump offs and screen passes.

For those who play fantasy football, I could really see Chris Cooley having a monster weekend. Remember, Donovan McNabb really likes to throw to his running backs and tight ends.

The history of the Texans says that after a big win they will usually cough one up, but this week I do not see that happening.

I say 17-14, Texans edging the Redskins.

The Redskins offense is still getting going and I think they will struggle to move the ball on the ground again. The Redskins defense shows a lot of promise and will keep them close in all games.

I know this is the second week in a row I've picked the opponent to beat the Skins, but don't string me up too quick. Let's get through this week and wait for next week's prediction and please check out my GameDay Grades recap of this week's matchup.

Hail to the Redskins!