This game is a lot bigger for the Redskins than the Vikings in terms of fighting for a playoff spot, but it’s huge for Minnesota fans who are literally cheering against their favorite team in order to achieve a better draft pick. Washington actually has a puncher’s chance in the NFC East, where they are only two games behind the Dallas Cowboys.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: At 1-7 there isn’t a lot at stake for the Vikings. Perhaps the No. 1 talker out of this game is whether players publicly question decisions made by the coaching staff. It happened after the loss to Dallas, and it if continues happening it’s a scary sign that Leslie Frazier is losing the locker room.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: Washington beat the Vikings 38-26 in D.C. last year. Robert Griffin III ran for 138 yards including a 76-yard burst to put the finishing touches on the game late in the fourth quarter.
PLAYER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Robert Griffin III and Adrian Peterson. Both are being relied upon to carry their teams. RGIII’s torn ACL and return to action was compared to Adrian Peterson’s of last season, but Griffin has just nine touchdowns and nine interceptions — and he’s a shell of his former self on the run. However, Leslie Frazier believes Griffin is looking more and more like his former self.
WHAT THE OTHER GUYS ARE SAYING: According to the Washington Times, the Redskins are concerned about stopping Adrian Peterson on the ground and Cordarrelle Patterson on kick returns. The report also hints that the Redskins are confident they’ll be able to put a lot of pressure on Christian Ponder.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I haven’t played there in a few years, but the last time I was there I barely could hear myself think. It can get real loud and those people can get going. And the crowd will be a factor. It’s always going to be a factor on third downs and crucial situations, and the better you can get off to a start, the quieter they get. It’s something we’d obviously like to do.” — Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on the noise inside the Metrodome.
INJURY REPORT: The Redskins are almost completely healthy while the Vikings enter the game with as many injuries as they’ve had in recent memory. In fact, the Vikings could be without seven starters. Kyle Rudolph, Phil Loadholt, Chris Cook, Jamarca Sanford and Fred Evans have been rule out, and Letroy Guion and Charlie Johnson are listed as doubtful.
THE LATEST LINE, OUR PREDICTION:The lines on Wednesday at ESPN.com have the Redskins favored by anywhere from 1-to-3 points. This prediction is tricky. The way we see it is that if RGIII is able to extend plays with his mobility, he’s going to torch the Vikings through the air. The Redskins’ running attack is already stout — they rushed for 208 yards last week against San Diego. On short rest with a ton of injuries the Vikings won’t be able to stop their losing skid. Redskins 31, Vikings 20.
