1. Who won’t play? Starting with the toughest question first because, really, it’s hard to know. About all that is known is that Ryan Torain and LaRon Landry are out. But I have doubts about how long LBs Lorenzo Alexander and Rocky McIntosh can play. If they are healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if they rotate them more than in the past. Along the line, RG Artis Hicks and C Casey Rabach were said to be good to go, but nothing is definite there. So Will Montgomery might get some action. And now with Terrence Austin being promoted, you have to wonder about Brandon Banks. He was limping around on Friday; bad sign. Not sure yet about CB Carlos Rogers.
2. Which player will be missed the most? Guess it depends who is out. But losing Rogers would hurt, especially if Minnesota tries to spread the field as expected (assuming its WRs are healthy). Landry is always missed; Reed Doughty is a good backup SS, but Landry’s speed makes a difference. Alexander’s ability to play in space more than Andre Carter would be missed, along with how he can play the run.
3. How much bump will Minnesota get from Leslie Frazier? Another tough question because that’s impossible to measure. But this is not like when Terry Robiskie took over in Washington. Robiskie had no shot at the head coaching job and the players knew it; they played out the season and that was about all they did. But with Frazier, there’s an excellent chance at keeping the job. A good finish and it would be hard not to give it to him. You have to expect more energy out of the Vikings. Brett Favre, according to Hicks, is beloved by players and if he’s having issues with Brad Childress, you’d have to expect others feel the same way. With him gone, there has to be a sense of relief.
4. Will this change Minnesota’s offense? Maybe a little bit, but what would change it more is good health by the receivers. Both Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice are questionable. The way they want to attack Washington’s defense is by spreading the field and running. Hard to do that if everyone is hurt. Maybe the Vikings try to focus more on the run with Adrian Peterson. That would be smart, no?
5. Can the Redskins keep Brett Favre’s bad season going? The same thing that happened to him in his next to last season in Green Bay a few years ago is happening now; he forces more passes when his teams are losing to try and make a play. Not always the smartest strategy. But with 17 interceptions, that’s what is going on this year. But he hasn’t received as much help from his offensive line; he’s also hurting – the injury report should just say ‘body’ next to his name. So, yes, it’s hard to imagine Favre won’t force a few throws. The question is, can they actually pressure him? Other teams have.
6. How can they stop Peterson? Chris Johnson has more explosive speed, but Peterson is bigger and can break more tackles. That’s the danger. I actually thought they did OK vs. Johnson, who did not hurt them despite 130 yards rushing. But Peterson presents a different danger because of his size – don’t forget a couple one-on-one tackles were needed to stop Johnson; will those get made vs. Peterson? The other problem is that, despite Favre’s poor season, he’s a better QB than Rusty Smith. If the Vikes spread it and get the Redskins in their nickel and then run, there could be more gaps for Peterson. And that could be trouble. The key will be to swarm Peterson. But Maake Kemoeatu, who has played better, needs a strong game vs. Vikings C John Sullivan.
7. Who needs a big game? Brian Orakpo. With others hurting, it’s a good time for your Pro Bowler to have a multi-sack game. Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie has struggled at times this season, so this could be a good matchup for Orakpo. He and DL Albert Haynesworth can harass Favre into errors on a consistent basis. Haynesworth will face Steve Hutchinson, who is not what he used to be. Still, an interesting pairing.
8. How can the Redskins move the ball vs. this defense? By being patient with the run and attacking the secondary – or, more specifically, the corners not named Antoine Winfield. Chris Cook and Asher Allen have been bad and the safeties aren’t considered terrific in coverage. The Vikings have not pressured the passer as often as they did a year ago – part of that stems from rarely having leads big enough to rush the quarterback with abandon. Still, go after Cook and Asher. Also, the Vikes don’t cover tight ends all that well.
9. What is the concern vs. Minnesota’s defense? The interior, with middle linebacker E.J. Henderson and tackles Pat and Kevin Williams. Though the Williams’s aren’t as dominant as even a year ago, they’re still solid and that’s a big reason why the defense remains strong. Also, OLB Chad Greenway is having a Pro Bowl type season. It will be difficult for Washington to run the ball vs. this front. The Redskins have struggled vs. good fronts, especially ones that have some power at tackle. That could spell trouble for LG Kory Lichtensteiger.
10. Who is on the spot? The tackles. Vikings DE Jared Allen had two sacks last week, giving him 6.5 for the season. That pace is far from what he did last year, but Allen is still relentless, even if he’s having a harder time getting off blocks. LT Trent Williams has done OK this season and if he can handle Allen one on one it would help immensely. Shocking, I know. On the other side, DE Ray Edwards has 5.5 sacks, including four in his last three games. RT Jammal Brown should get help from tight ends; it could be that the TEs are often more responsible for Edwards than Brown. His mobility, though better, is still an issue. And if the tackles struggle, it’s sort of hard to take advantage of weaknesses in the secondary.
11. Who will win? Went back and forth about 20 times on this game. If the Redskins were healthy; I’d pick them. If Frazier hadn’t been promoted, I’d pick the Redskins. If, if, and if. But the Redskins aren’t healthy; the Vikings do have talent and the coaching change will make a difference. I think. This might be the toughest game to pick all season because of all the uncertainty. I do know that Washington must win if it has any postseason aspirations, unless you think they can lose this game then rip off five straight to end the season. Yeah, like that’s ever happened. Anyway, Vikings 24, Redskins 20.
