Patriots vs. Redskins: 5 Keys to a Washington Upset

The Washington Redskins will be heavy underdogs when they entertain the high-flying New England Patriots this Sunday.

Relying on an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense, the Patriots have carved out a 9-3 record. They will be expected to comfortably dispatch a 4-8 Redskins team, mired in a prolonged slump.

The Redskins ran the New York Jets close in Week 13, before a fourth-quarter collapse saw them slump to yet another defeat.

The offense continues to self-destruct and the defense often fails to make a big play when it's needed the most.

But the Patriots were pushed close themselves by the winless Indianapolis Colts. Their shaky defense and lack of a proven running game offer promising areas of attack for Mike Shanahan's team.

Here are five keys to the Redskins scoring a victory, which would be one of the highlights of their otherwise disappointing season.

5. Blitz Tom Brady Up the Middle

If there is one effective way to attack Tom Brady, it is to blitz him straight up the middle. No quarterback likes pressure through the middle, especially a rhythm passer like Brady.

The Redskins should take the gamble and opt for a blitz-heavy approach. After all, what is there left to lose? Blitzes should be designed to attack the central areas of the Patriots' blocking schemes.

This is definitely the game for Jim Haslett to utilize his high-risk pressure packages. The Patriots offense will only go as far as Brady takes it. Cutting plays off at the source could help to keep the game close.

Washington's defense has to find a way to consistently disrupt Brady. Taking away his vision and preventing him from stepping up, via blitz pressure, is one proven way to do that.

4. Stay in a Nickel Defense

Given New England's lack of a reliable, every-down running game, the Redskins would be well served adopting some form of a nickel defense on almost every play.

The four-man line ought to be able to handle the run, and it's also an opportunity for the Redskins to get their best pass-rushers on the field more often.

Stephen Bowen is an effective rusher from a tackle position in a nickel front. The presence of Bowen and Barry Cofield inside can create a significant push and reduce Brady's vision.

The nickel front also supports multiple pressure options, including the A-gap blitz. Pressuring the A-gaps will be crucial against Brady.

3. Don't Become Affected by All of the Patriots' Pre-Snap Adjustments

When facing Brady and the Patriots, many defenses become confused and panicked trying to counter all of Brady's pre-snap adjustments.

The Redskins must avoid this common trap. The first step is to identify effective fronts for facing the Patriots offense and emphasize those looks.

The Redskins must be prepared to stick with a single, coherent strategy, regardless of the Patriots' shifts or personnel. Washington's defense cannot allow itself to be caught scrambling to adjust on the field.

2. Emphasize the Run to Control the Clock

Despite the Patriots' 32nd-ranked pass defense, the Redskins should let the ground attack dictate the flow of this game.

A heavy dose of Roy Helu, Ryan Torain and Evan Royster is certainly called for.

Helu has emerged as a legitimate playmaker in recent weeks. After his breakout game in Seattle in Week 12, Helu managed to churn out 100 yards against the Jets' rugged defense.

He has the speed, instincts and deceptive strength to torment the New England front seven. Helu should be given the ball early and often.

Setting a tone with the run early on will create plenty of opportunities in the play-action game, which is one of the strengths of Kyle Shanahan's sometimes questionable play-calling.

By keeping the ball on the ground, not only can the Redskins catch the Patriots off guard, they can also control the clock and keep the ball away from Brady.

1. Stick with What Is Working

This may appear to be a painfully obvious suggestion to make, but the Redskins have frequently been guilty of moving too quickly away from what is working this season.

The running game in particular is often abandoned too soon. Washington cannot afford to make this kind of mistake against a Patriots team built to pounce on any opportunities.  The Redskins must be efficient with the ball and not provide any openings for the ruthless Patriots to exploit.

Teams that have gotten the better of New England in the past have always trusted a clear game plan. The New York Giants stuck to their fire zones in Super Bowl 42, regardless of the Patriots weapons.

The Jets reigned in their blitzes and maintained a seven- and eight-deep coverage scheme in last year's divisional playoff.

The Redskins have to avoid trying to do too much and getting too clever. The best way to handle the Patriots is to take them out of their comfort zone.

The Type of Win That Could Convince Many About the Redskins' Future Potential

If the Redskins are able to pull of a victory over a perennial Super Bowl contender like the Patriots, it would go a long way towards convincing many people about the future prospects of this team.

For an underachieving coach like Shanahan, an upset of this caliber would renew trust in his rebuilding project and generate optimism heading into the offseason.

The Redskins will need to strike exactly the right balance in order to topple Brady and company. They will need to gamble and be aggressive on defense and be efficient and protect the football on offense.