Vikings vs. Redskins: 5 Keys to a Washington Victory

The Washington Redskins entertain the Minnesota Vikings for the second season running this weekend. Mike Shanahan's team can use the confidence gained from their mauling of the New York Giants last Sunday to overcome a struggling Vikings squad.

The Redskins were measured and efficient on both sides of the ball against the Giants and need to display the same patience and discipline this week.

Finishing the season strongly is important for the Redskins and after three weeks contesting playoff contenders. This is a game that they should certainly be expected to win.

Here are five keys to a second Redskins win in as many weeks.

5. Control Remi Ayodele

Handling mammoth defensive tackle Remi Ayodele should be a priority in the Redskins' blocking schemes. The former New Orleans Saint is a nasty and physically dominant interior presence.

Ayodele is capable of moving the pocket on almost every play. It is no coincidence that an otherwise porous Vikings defense has managed to collect so many sacks since Ayodele begin plugging the middle.

Containing the underrated 6'2", 318 pounder will be the key to successfully executing each phase of the offense.

4. Pressure the Edges Against Christian Ponder

The Redskins defense should rely on their two best weapons, pass-rushing tandem Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan, to attack the edges of Minnesota's pass protection schemes.

Applying consistent pressure and forcing accomplished rookie Christian Ponder into mistakes is a big key for the Redskins defense.

The unit binged on turnovers last week. Presenting the offense with favourable scoring opportunities again, will increase the pressure on Ponder to try and keep pace.

The first-year signal-caller has been surprisingly effective at times since taking over from Donovan McNabb.

The Redskins must maximise the skills of Kerrigan and Orakpo to make life uncomfortable for Ponder and move him off his spot.

Washington's defense has frequently used blitzes up the middle this season. However, the Vikings' most dangerous playmakers, tight end Vincent Shiancoe and wideout Percy Harvin, operate best in central areas.

The Redskins cannot afford to vacate the underneath zones on a regular basis and their pass-rushers will find more success focusing on suspect edge blockers Charles Johnson and Phil Loadholt.

The tackles are the weak links of the Vikings front five. A regular attack from Kerrigan and Orakpo should yield significant rewards for Jim Haslett's unit.

The Redskins need not do anything complex. Simply by bringing an extra defender up on the edge or stacking two linebackers on one side, the Redskins will ensure one-on-one rush opportunities for Orakpo and Kerrigan.

3. Go Deep

The Redskins should take to the air and go deep often against the Vikings' suspect cornerbacks. Minnesota's defense has struggled against the deep ball for most of the season and the Redskins must exploit this weakness.

Washington's offense may lack a true burner, but Kyle Shanahan should be able to design some plays to get behind the Minnesota secondary.

Corners Asher Allen and Benny Sapp lack genuine vertical speed and Anthony Armstrong and Santana Moss should have the beating of them down the field.

Moss may be aging, but he has a natural instinct for the deep ball. Given the Redskins' recent strength in the running game, play-action plays to stretch the field should prove very effective.

2. Trust the Same Soft Zone Coverage as Last Week

Washington's defense needs to maintain the same loose umbrella zone coverages the unit deployed so effectively against the Giants.

By adopting a soft mode of coverage, the Redskins' defensive coaches allowed the natural instincts of their ball-hawking players to take over.

The result was three interceptions, one each for O.J. Atogwe, Josh Wilson and DeAngelo Hall. The same approach will be ideal against the rookie Ponder.

The Redskins can rely on the impetuous nature of youth to lead Ponder into becoming impatient and eventually forcing some throws into the teeth of the coverage.

With Harvin on the field, the Vikings possess the big-play capability to expose overly aggressive, gambling coverage concepts.

A more patient, read and react approach will take away the big play and force the Vikings to string together long drives.

It's hard to see Minneosta's offense being able to go 10-15 plays against the Redskins defense, without falling victim to a costly mistake.

1. Show the Same Patience with the Running Game as Last Week

One of the best things the Redskins did on the road last week was to stick with the running game. Despite a paltry per-carry average of just slightly over three yards, Washington's offense stayed with the run.

Rex Grossman and company will need to do the same this week. The offensive line has looked particularly strong blocking for the run in recent weeks and the more opportunities they have to build chemistry in this area, the better.

A heavy workload will give Redskins fans another glimpse of the skills and potential of rookie duo Roy Helu and Evan Royster.

A consistent dose of running plays will also create better opportunities for the play-action and deep passing game.

Avoiding a Letdown Will Reveal a Lot About the Future Prospects of the Redskins

Recent games have shown that this Redskins team is more than capable of playing tough against some of the league's stronger teams.

They gave the New York Jets and New England Patriots all they could handle and demolished the Giants in their own stadium.

After playing solid football against a postseason-chasing trio, the Redskins must guard against a letdown against opposition they will be expected to beat.

If the Redskins dismiss the Vikings and avoid a slip-up, it will provide a positive indication about the future prospects of this team.

Teams struggling to find their identity and consistency fail to take advantage of opponents they should beat.

It is the hallmark of a team not yet ready to be winner, to follow up a great win with a disappointing defeat.

Avoiding this pitfall will show that Mike Shanahan's team is heading in the right direction and only fine tuning is needed to turn them into contenders next season.