With the season quickly approaching, it’s about that time for fans to buckle in and get ready for September 12th. For the Washington Redskins, it consists of a prime time, Monday night showdown against the six-time World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh finished the 2015 season with a 10-6 record and came within two wins of a Super Bowl appearance. Washington was eliminated in the NFC Wild Card round by the Green Bay Packers 35-18. Can the ‘Skins start the season off with a bang or will they drop yet another Monday Night game? Let’s dive into it!
Washington Redskins 2016 Season Opener Analysis
Week 1 – Monday Night vs Pittsburgh Steelers
- Redskins all-time record vs Steelers: 42-32-3 (Pittsburgh has won the last 5 meetings)
I know what ‘Skins fans are thinking, “We’re ready for any team. Kirk Cousins and all of the offensive weapons, Josh Norman has been added to our defense, we’re ready.” Hold your horses. When I think about this year’s season opener, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘Monday Night.’ Washington historically isn’t too successful in those ESPN (formally ABC until 2005) primetime showdowns. Since MNF first aired in 1970, Washington is 28-37. Their most recent prime time loss came lst December 7th in that heartbreaking loss to the Cowboys, 19-16, also known as the “DeSean Jackson blooper game”.
Now if you recall Washington’s history with Pittsburgh on Monday nights, you immediately have a nightmarish flashback to 2008 when the Steelers fans took over FedEx Field. Michael Wilbon, a Washington Post sports columnist at the time, released an article on Thursday, November 6, 2008 entitled “Fan Depreciation at Fedex.” In it, he reported that about 25,000 seats or more were occupied by the Terrible Towel wavers. Now it’s no secret that the “Steel Curtain” fans travel extremely well. But the way Washington fans are optimistic about this upcoming season, home crowd attendance may be a different story.
Now enough with all the other stuff, let’s dive into the match-ups!
Washington’s Offense vs. Pittsburgh’s Defense
- 2015 Ranking: 17TH In Total Offense vs. 21st in Total Defense
For most fans, this is the matchup that everybody wants to see. With the addition of TCU’s superstar wideout Josh Doctson to the already ‘star studded’ receiving corps of DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed, Jamison Crowder, Niles Paul and Vernon Davis, Washington’s aerial attack seems to be primed for an even more productive season. Of course, this is barring the consistency and/or improvement from Cousins who is going into 2016 under a $19.953 million franchise tag.
Washington’s running game will be the key ingredient for them to be looked upon as an elite offensive threat in the NFL. Matt Jones is going into his second year in the NFL and his first year as the starting running back for the ‘Skins. One thing that has been on the minds of all during this offseason is the fumble issue that plagued Jones last year. Jones put the ball on the turf five times in 2015. And four of them were recovered by the opposition.
Redskins running backs coach Randy Jordan has been working with Jones on his ball security and believes that Jones is the kind of ‘high character’ guy to get it done in 2016.
“[Jones]’s a guy who you can really grind on and you can really coach hard,” Jordan told the Washington Post. “Some guys, they get in a shell when you yell at him or you’re like, ‘Hey man, that ain’t good enough.’ You challenge their manhood because there are times where I will do that. I’ve learned through him that he takes that pretty good.” (washingtonpost.com)
With all that being said, Washington will have an opportunity to prove themselves against a heavily renovated Pittsburgh defense.
Washington’s Defense vs. Pittsburgh’s Offense
- 2015 Ranking: 28TH In Total Defense vs. 3rd in Total Offense
Welp. Talk about a week one test. With the additions of cornerback Josh Norman, outside linebacker Su’a Cravens, cornerback Kendall Fuller, an emerging star in cornerback Bashaud Breeland, a hungry linebacker in Junior Galette and solid veterans in linebacker Ryan Kerrigan & cornerback DeAngelo Hall, it is now show time.
In 2015 quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown absolutely demolished defenses averaging 287.7 passing yards per game. Running back Le’Veon Bell is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November. If he can duplicate or surpass his production from 2014 (1,361 rushing yards), Washington will have their hands full.
Defensive line play for the ‘Skins is a big question mark going into 2016. Last year they gave up 122.6 rushing yards per game which ranked 26th in the NFL. Trent Murphy, Chris Baker, Kedric Golston, Ricky Jean Francois, and Stephen Paea have a lot on their plate this year and it starts week one. Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro and the rest of the Steelers offensive line are looking to pick up right where they left off and it’s up to Washington’s ‘plug and play’ defensive line to put a stop to an elite offense.
And one more thing…
Antonio Brown vs Josh Norman … See you Monday Night!
