New York Jets vs. Washington Redskins: 6 Matchups the Redskins Have to Win

Hoping to build on Sunday's sterling victory in Seattle, the Washington Redskins face a tough test in the form of the wild card-chasing New York Jets.

Overcoming Rex Ryan's battle-tested group will certainly not be easy. But the Redskins are more than capable of scoring an impressive upset over the AFC East club.

Like the Redskins, the Jets have been plagued by a poor offense this season. Quarterback Mark Sanchez has struggled to make sufficient strides in his third year under center.

A lack of a coherent identity has stifled the overall offensive output. Ryan's defense has kept the team in most games.

The unit is not as physically dominant as two seasons ago, but it's very opportunistic. This could spell problems for a Washington offense that has been particularly generous in the turnover department in 2011.

The game presents some challenging individual matchups for the Redskins on both sides of the ball. Here are six personnel battles the Redskins have to win to beat the Jets.

6. Barry Cofield vs. Nick Mangold

If the Redskins are going to have any hope of disrupting the Jets offense, nose tackle Barry Cofield has to deliver a strong performance.

Cofield faces a daunting task, attempting to get the better of All-Pro center Nick Mangold. But Cofield must generate a consistent push inside.

Mangold is the fulcrum of the Jets' blocking schemes. His power, technique and instincts provide the perfect launch pad for both pass protection and the running game.

Under Ryan, this is usually the time of the season when the Jets revert to heavy "ground and pound" mode.

That's not a good prospect for a weak Redskins run defense.

Cofield has to handle Mangold to prevent the Jets from simply relying on numerous runs up the middle.

5. Brian Orakpo vs. D'Brickashaw Ferguson

This could be the game for Brian Orakpo to drag himself out of his slump and return to form. Orakpo will be matched up against Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Both players have big reputations but have struggled mightily at times this season. Ferguson often resembles an overrated player, whose hype outshines his performance.

He was brutally victimised by both the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. The Redskins must make sure Orakpo has plenty of one-on-one rush opportunities against him.

Getting pressure on Sanchez is the best route to creating a game-changing turnover for the Redskins, and attacking Ferguson on the edge could yield big success.

4. DeAngelo Hall vs. Santonio Holmes

DeAngelo Hall will need to build on his solid display against the Seahawks and be at the top of his game to subdue the efforts of Santonio Holmes.

Plaxico Burress may have been the danger man last week, and Dustin Keller remains Sanchez's favourite target. But, in clutch time, the Jets usually look towards Holmes.

The 5'11", 192-pound wideout is blessed with a knack for making big plays when it counts.

If Hall can take Holmes away, particularly on third down, the pressure will increase on Sanchez to try and find other ways to beat the Redskins defense.

Hall will need to stay focused and not allow himself to become distracted and embroiled in consistent trash talking.

He must be physical with Holmes at the line of scrimmage and prevent a clean release down the field. If he plays his natural, aggressive style then Hall can certainly impact the outcome of the game.

3. Fred Davis vs. David Harris

The Redskins must find ways to exploit the gaps in the underneath coverage created by the Jets' multiple blitz schemes.

Tight end Fred Davis is the perfect weapon to use in order to gain consistent yards and create big plays in the middle of the field.

But Davis will have his work cut out for him, as he will likely most often be matched up with outstanding inside linebacker David Harris.

Given that the Jets usually position their strong safety up on the line of scrimmage, over on the weak side of the formation, the inside linebackers will be responsible for patrolling the intermediate zones.

Bart Scott is the better blitzer, so Harris could be given the job of attempting to corral Davis. The budding Redskins star has the size, strength and speed to defeat any linebacker.

Kyle Shanahan must craft some more intricate pass plays to target Davis in space. This could be the Redskins' best hope of scoring big plays against the Jets' skilled defense.

2. Trent Williams vs. Calvin Pace

Left tackle Trent Williams faces a difficult task this Sunday. Not only will he be locking horns with Calvin Pace, but Williams mans the side most often targeted by the Jets' blitz packages.

The Jets tend to overload that side of the line of scrimmage. Safety Eric Smith usually aligns next to the weak-side outside linebacker.

Recognition will be key for Williams, who must receive help from Rex Grossman, who will have to ensure his protection is correctly numbered and shifted prior to the snap.

Williams has shown some improvement in recent weeks. He seems to be gaining a better understanding of how to use his natural size and strength more to his advantage.

Footwork remains an issue, although his use of his hands appears to be progressing. Technique will be vital against a savvy veteran like Pace.

1. Santana Moss vs. Antonio Cromartie

It will be interesting to see who Darrelle Revis opts to take in one-on-one coverage. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Revis concentrate his efforts on Jabar Gaffney.

This would leave fellow corner Antonio Cromartie to try and deal with able veteran Santana Moss. The experienced pass catcher enjoyed a solid, but unspectacular, return to the lineup against the Seahawks.

Moss hauled in four catches for 29 yards, and he could be a key target against his former team. No Redskins fan wants to see Rex Grossman challenge Revis.

Washington's quarterback needs to lean on the reliable and intelligent play of Moss, whose experience can make him a dependable target against such an aggressive defensive scheme.

Cromartie will take his share of gambles in coverage, believing he can mitigate any risk with his natural athleticism.

But Moss has the smarts and instincts to consistently free himself from the clutches of Cromartie and could prove to be an invaluable outlet.

The Kind of Win That Would Demonstrate a Real Turnaround

Defeating a team like the Jets, who are pushing for a playoff spot, would be a real indication that the Redskins are turning things around after their horrendous mid-season slump.

A Washington win would be viewed by many as an upset. But the Jets have experienced plenty of problems themselves in 2011.

They are not as strong and efficient on either side of the ball as in years past. Their issues on offense still threaten to derail the season.

So, the Redskins can go into this game full of confidence, secure in the knowledge that in front of their home crowd, they have a real chance of pulling off a tremendous, morale-boosting victory.