Week 6- Vikings @ Redskins Preview
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-1) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-3)
Where: FedEx Field
When: Sunday at 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time
Watch: Fox5 WTTG
Listen: SportsTalk980
Pointspread: Vikings -1.5
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The Redskins look to get back on track when they host the Vikings on Sunday at Fed Ex Field. Minnesota has been one of the pleasant surprises in the NFL with a 4-1 mark. Vikings second year quarterback Christian Ponder has developed a reliable tandem in the passing game in Percy Harvin and Kyle Rudolph, while Adrian Peterson is among the league's top running backs. Jared Allen is a regular Pro Bowl participant and supplies the spark to lead the Minnesota defense. Rookie Blair Walsh has been the league's most effective kicker with range approaching 60 yards on field goal attempts.
Washington received some great news this week when quarterback Robert Griffin III was able to practice on Wednesday and more importantly without negative effect from the concussion he suffered in Sunday's loss to Atlanta. All signs point to RG3 being able to go on Sunday, but expect a larger dose of Albert Morris and the 'Skins running game. Ryan Kerrigan has stepped up to lead the Washington defense that continues to adjust to the season ending injuries to Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker. The Redskins continues to look for a reliable place kicker with rookie Kai Forbath getting a shot on Sunday.
VIKINGS: QB CHRISTIAN PONDER ranks 2nd in NFL with 69.0 comp. pct. Aims for 4th win in row as starter…Since entering NFL in 2007, RB ADRIAN PETERSON leads league with 7,172 rush yards & 66 rush TDs. Aims for 3rd in row at Was. with rush TD. RB TOBY GERHART rushed for career-high 109 yards in last game vs. Was…WR-KR PERCY HARVIN & HOFer GALE SAYERS are only players in NFL history with 20+ scrimmage TDs & 5 KR-TDs in 1st 4 seasons. Harvin had rush & rec. TD last week, finishing with 8 catches for 108 yards. Had TD catch in last meeting. Ties for 2nd in NFL with 38 receptions. Since Ponder’s 1st start (10/23/11), Harvin has 100 receptions, 2nd most in NFL. TE KYLE RUDOLPH had 17-yard TD catch in last meeting. Had TD last week…DE JARED ALLEN has 35 sacks in past 30, incl. 23.5 in past 19. Since entering NFL in 2004, Allen has NFL-best 108 sacks. Aims for 4th in row vs. Was. with sack. In past 3 meetings, has 5 sacks, 2 FFs & 2 FRs. LB CHAD GREENWAY had 16 tackles in last meeting. S MISTRAL RAYMOND had 1st career INT in last game vs. Was. DT KEVIN WILLIAMS had sack in last meeting…REDSKINS: Rookie QB ROBERT GRIFFIN III leads NFL with 69.1 comp. pct. & ranks 2nd with 8.35 avg. gain. Leads NFL rookies with 101 rating. Is 1st among NFL QBs with 241 rush yards & 4 TDs. His 4 rush TDs are tied for 2nd by any player…RB ALFRED MORRIS leads NFL rookies with 491 rush yards & ties for 2nd among all players with 4 rush TDs. Redskins are only team with 2 players (Griffin, Morris) with 4+ rush TDs. Morris aims for 3rd in row with 100+ rush yards…TE FRED DAVIS had TD catch in his last game vs. Min. Is only TE in NFC to lead club in both catches (20) & rec. yards (266). WR PIERRE GARCON avg. 19.1 yards per catch. WR SANTANA MOSS aims for 6th in row vs. Min. with 3+ catches. Had 77-yard TD last week, longest rec. TD for Moss since 10/16/05 (78 yards). WR LEONARD HANKERSON has 50+ rec. yards in 3 of past 4…LB RYAN KERRIGAN had 28-yard INT-TD last week, 2nd career INT & both have been returned for TDs. LB LONDON FLETCHER had 16 tackles in last meeting. CB DE ANGELO HALL has 2 INTs in 4 career meetings.
Prediction: Will RG3 play? Will he show signs of the concussion? Obviously, when Robert Griffin is clicking, the Redskins offense can be very dangerous, but we won't really know how much (if at all) the injury will effect his play. Expect the Washington game plan to include a bigger dose of Alfred Morris running the ball, supplemented by a quick, short passing game to minimize contact on Griffin. Defensively, the Redskins will need to control Adrian Peterson or it will be a very long day. If AP can get going, Christian Ponder will work the play action to monster tight end Kyle Rudolph and deep threat Percy Harvin. Lets hope it doesn't come down to a battle of the kicking game because Minnesota will win that with the strong leg of rookie Blair Walsh. Minnesota is on a roll and Washington's home field advantage is negligible at best. The Redskins lose their eight straight at Fed Ex Field; Vikings 27 Redskins 21
CLICK ON CONTINUE READING FOR MORE ON REDSKINS-VIKINGS MATCHUP
SERIES
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VIKINGS |
REDSKINS |
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SERIES LEADER |
Series tied, 8-8 |
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STREAKS |
5 of past 7 |
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COACHES VS. OPP. |
Frazier: 2-0 |
Shanahan: 3-4 |
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LAST WEEK |
W 30-7 vs. Titans |
L 24-17 vs. Falcons |
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LAST GAME |
12/24/11: Vikings 33 at Redskins 26 |
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LAST GAME AT SITE |
12/24/11 |
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BROADCAST |
FOX (4:25 PM ET): SIRIUS: 93 (Min.), 128 (Was.). XM: 235 (Was.). |
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| WASHINGTON REDSKINS | ||||
| Passing | Cmp | Att | Yds | TDs |
| Robert Griffin III | 96 | 139 | 1161 | 4 |
| Kirk Cousins | 5 | 9 | 111 | 1 |
| Rushing | Car | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| Alfred Morris | 100 | 491 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Robert Griffin III | 42 | 241 | 5.7 | 4 |
| Receiving | Rec | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| Fred Davis | 20 | 266 | 13.3 | 0 |
| Leonard Hankerson | 14 | 184 | 13.1 | 1 |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS | ||||
| Passing | Cmp | Att | Yds | TDs |
| Christian Ponder | 109 | 158 | 1082 | 6 |
| Rushing | Car | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| Adrian Peterson | 96 | 420 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Toby Gerhart | 28 | 100 | 3.6 | 0 |
| Receiving | Rec | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| Percy Harvin | 38 | 407 | 10.7 | 1 |
| Kyle Rudolph | 19 | 169 | 8.9 | 4 |
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Former Vikings on Redskins:
CB Cedric Griffin (2006-11)
C Kory Lichtensteiger (2009)
S Madieu Wiliams (2008-10)
O Line Coach Chris Foerster (1993-95)
Former Redskins on Vikings:
Tight Ends Coach Jimmie Johnson (TE, 1989-91)
Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave (QB Coach, 2005)
