Let’s take it back the same way that Kirk Cousins brought us back in the day with his old school Starter jacket yesterday: The last time the Packers and Redskins met in the playoffs was 1972. That same year the Redskins went to the Super Bowl. You like that?!
The Redskins are hosting the Packers on Sunday and are the last game in the Wildcard Playoffs. Fans have not been this excited or confident in their team a long time. In fact, earlier this week on I did a poll asking my followers which team they had more confidence in going into the playoffs, the 2012 team or the 2015 team. Overwhelmingly with 81% of the votes, the 2015 team won. You can’t argue with that. This team feels special and really gives you the feeling that they could be the dark horse team of the playoffs to really make a run.
Let’s take a look at the keys to Sunday’s game and see what it will take for the entire crowd at FedEx to be chanting “You like that?!” after the game.
Captain Kirk
Kirk Cousins has had one of the greatest seasons ever for a Redskins Quarterback. Let that sink in. The Redskins are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL, and Cousins has broken multiple long standing records this season. Nobody saw that coming, and a lot of people doubted him, but the person you really need to look at and give credit to is Jay Gruden. Coach Gruden believed in Cousins from the very beginning and put his job on the line for his beliefs. Cousins and Gruden have both won the fan base over and give everyone something to be excited about for years to come. They have a good opportunity on Sunday to extend that legacy and continue to take this team to places that nobody believed imaginable.
This week Cousins is going against a weak Packers secondary that could also be without Sam Shields who is going through the concussion protocol, and has not practiced all week. If Shields misses the game, the Pack will be counting on a rookie to step in his place.
Cousins is coming into this game as one of the hottest QB’s in the NFL. This is Cousins’ first playoff start and is carrying the team on his back. The possibility is there that this game could end up being a shoot out, and with the way Cousins is playing you can still feel confident that he can hang in there with one of the league’s best QBs on the other side.
Aaron Rodgers
Everyone can agree that Rodgers is one of the best QBs in all of football and he’s one of the last guys you want to have to play against on defense. He always seems to come up with a crazy play and pull off a miracle, like a few of his famous hail mary passes. The Redskins are hoping that won’t be the case on Sunday and Rodgers’ cold streak continues.
As good as Rodgers is, he is having the worst season of his career as a starter. His QB rating of 92.7 is the lowest he’s had since 2008, which was a 93.8. There are multiple stats you could bring up to show that he is struggling this season, and it’s obvious that injuries to the offensive line and the injury to Jordy Nelson really has held him back this season. With that said, it’s further proof that even the best in the league need help.
The scary thing about Rodgers is with a flip of the switch he can take over a game. He always seems to pull off something magical. Not to mention his playoff experience is something that has me nervous. We all know what he is capable of, but the question must be asked: are we more scared of Rodgers’ reputation and his past or actually considering how he is playing now? Because if you’re living in the now, the Redskins have the hotter hand at QB going into this game.
The running game
I get the sense that both teams could surprisingly try to run the ball more than people might expect. Neither team has been real successful at running the ball this season, but both teams will be looking to try and make their opponents one dimensional. Eddie Lacy only finished the season with 7 more rushing yards than Alfred Morris but both guys have had a rough season. However, do not look past the possibility that one of these guys could have a breakout game when their team most needs it. Both defenses are allowing close to 120 rushing yards to opponents per game.
What gives the Redskins the advantage in the running game is their diversity. It’s unclear which RB will end up on the inactive list but the team has options. Pierre Thomas has playoff experience and has played well when given the opportunity, some out there even believe he should be the starter at this point. Chris Thompson has really shined when given the opportunity and has been a force to reckon with in the passing game. Matt Jones is the most likely RB to be inactive due to a nagging hip injury, but if he plays, he has shown flashes throughout the season. These options gives the Redskins the ability to keep fresh legs on the field, but the key will be finding a rhythm, something the team has struggled with.
The secondary
The pressure will be on the secondary for both teams. The Packers will be facing one of the hottest QBs in the NFL with Cousins, while the Redskins are facing Rodgers who is capable of putting up points on any one play. The Redskins will be without Kyshoen Jarrett , who has been quite the surprise as a 6th round pick. He was a bright spot playing the Nickel spot, and will surely be missed. The good news is that another surprise, Quinton Dunbar seems to be healthy and will be making his return. On the outside it’s important that Will Blackmon and Bashaud Breeland stay aggressive and don’t allow their man any separation. If they do, expect Rodgers to look for the deep pass. With that said, it’s important that Deangelo Hall and Dashon Goldson are ready at all times for those deep shots. I don’t believe there is a better QB in the NFL who can throw deep, and it’s something the Redskins need to be ready for.
Defensive Backs Coach Perry Fewell deserves a ton of credit for the job he has done with this secondary and is getting the best out of his guys. Considering the constant injury rotation in the secondary, he has always had his guys ready. With that said, this game could very well come down to the secondary. In recent years it’s not been an area that the team could be confident in, right now that seems to be changing.
Pass Rush
Rodgers has been sacked 46 sacks this season, and 13 times in the last two weeks combined. How Rodgers has been able to stay healthy is pretty crazy, if you ask me. The Redskins need to take advantage of a weak Packers offensive line who has struggled all season to protect their QB. The opportunity is there for guys like Preston Smith (8 sacks on the season) and Ryan Kerrigan to have a big game. If you hit Rodgers it throws him out of rhythm and stops him from getting any type of momentum. This is key because if the Redskins give Rodgers time to throw he will burn them. Look for DC Joe Barry to bring a lot of heavy blitzes and take advantage of a bad Packers offensive line.
PROS
#1: Kirk Cousins. The Redskins can be confident knowing that Cousins is in control and is playing on fire right now. He’s going up against a struggling secondary and could end up continuing his streak and putting up another solid game. Last week Cousins threw up 3 TDs in the 1st quarter alone, despite a weak opponent that momentum will carry over.
#2: Packers bad offensive line. Redskins will blitz, and they will blitz often. If the Redskins get good pressure that will end up causing a snowball effect of bad QB play on Rodgers’ part and will cause a turnover (or few).
#3: Momentum. The Redskins did not lose a game in December and are accomplished their mission of keeping the momentum alive going into the playoffs. The fans are hyped up and FedEx field will be rocking on Sunday.
CONS
#1: Aaron Rodgers. Despite his struggles this season, he is still Aaron Rodgers. He has deep playoff experience and has the ability to take over a game. If the Packers win this game it will be because of Rodgers. I could put him in all 3 spots on this list.
#2: Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. This is the first time I brought up their names in this article, but two names that should be heavy on the Redskins’ minds. These two guys are dangerous and need to be accounted for at all times, if not they will make the Redskins pay.
#3: Extended plays. One thing not being talked about enough are the extended plays and improvised plays that Rodgers is known for. The longer he runs around, the more likely he is to find an open man. This is a big part of Rodgers’ game that makes him dangerous and something that the Redskins need to account for.
Redskins fans-
If you will be at FedEx field on Sunday, we ask that you show up early and get to your seats early. It’s important that the home field advantage reminds the Packers exactly where they are. The electricity and intensity in the stadium is controlled by the fans, and the fans are a big part of momentum. Wear that Burgundy & Gold proud, and have FedEx field rocking for the Redskins.
Green Bay Packers vs Washington Redskins is Sunday at 4:40 PM EST on FOX
As always follow me on Twitter @anthonyraposa for all things Redskins as well as your news and outlook.
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