My 2 cents:
1. I agree with those who lambasted Pats fans who, without reason, blasted Skin fans who visited this board. It was simply uncalled for. This board loses a lot of good discussion possibilities when it dismisses other teams' fans with the PRESUMPTION that they are Trollers. My apologies to them
2. ANY team in the NFL can beat ANY other team on a given day. The Redskins are a good team (at least in the NFC
), and can certainly win on Sunday.....if the Pats play poorly and the Redskins play a perfect game.
3. This is certainly the best test the Pats passing offense will get so far. I think their strategy will be to try and generate a pass rush with just the front Four with occassional blitzes from a LB.
Using mostly nickel packages, I think they will try to funnel the Passing routes into the middle of the field where they are the strongest. They will allow the Pats to catch some balls with the intention of getting so physical with them, that by the end of the game Pats WRs won't want to venture into that area of the field.
Against the run they will try and make the Pats recently non-existent running game beat them, by only playing 6 and 7 men in the box.
I think that they understand that the Pats WILL gain their yards, but they will hope that trips into the read zone will result in FGs not TDs. They longer they stay close in the game the more their physical play on our WRs will play in their favor.
On offense their game plan will be to run the ball and playaction pass off the run. We haven't played the run well the last few games, AND Portis is the kind of slashing RB that has the most success against us. Betts has also been a good RB this season. Its a nice 1-2 punch.
Joe Gibbs and his DC will give his team a game plan that THEY will believe they can hold the Pats to under 20 points. Whether it works or not will be found out on Sunday, but the Skins will go on the field believing that it will.
4. Here is why it WON'T work.
a. The game ISN'T in DC. This would be MUCH more difficult in Washington. That's a very tough crowd to play infront of.
b. Even without Watson, the Pats just have too many options for the skins to cover Moss, Stallworth, AND Welker.
c. The Skins front line WILL NOT get to Brady consistantly enough to throw off his rhythm. The OL including Kyle Brady has been excellent in protecting Brady. Washington's DL isn't better than Dallas', and they couldn't consistantly get to Brady. Granted a sack or 2 should be expected, but not more. And it will take more to get the job done
d. We will witness the rebirth of the Pats run game this week, especially in the first half of the game. Once THAT happens the skins will HAVE to compensate and the flood gates of the Passing attack will open.
BOTTOM LINE - The skins will be the toughest test to date, but a fairly close game will open up in the 4th quarter and the Pats will prevail 31-13
JMHO