If the Washington Redskins (3-4) have any chance to pull into the postseason race they’ll have to shock the world this Sunday in hostile territory when they travel to CenturyLink Field to take on the Seattle Seahawks.
The game will be laid out before you by the folks at FOX and their nationwide affiliates at 4:05 p.m. EST.
The Game: Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (-7.5)
O/U: 45.0
The History
The Seahawks and Redskins have faced off just 19 times since 1976. Washington leads the all time series 11-8.
Three of those meetings have come in the playoffs. The Redskins won the first two postseason match ups, 20-10 in 2006 and 35-13 in 2008. Seattle took their final playoff contest, 24-14 in 2013.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-4)
The Redskins come into this game with four losses and a murderer’s row schedule ahead of them. After Seattle Sunday, they’ll host the Minnesota Vikings then play at the New Orleans Saints. If they can’t flip the switch and surprise a couple of those teams, their season could already be over.
It’d be a shame. This is a solid Redskins team that’s just had the deck stacked against it. Their schedule was front loaded with two games against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first six weeks. The second they wrapped that up, they got a hungry Dallas Cowboys team. Needless to say, those were both double digit losses.
The only other team to beat Washington is the Kansas City Chiefs. As hot as the Los Angeles Rams are, the Redskins got them in Week Three, winning 27-20.
In what could be his final season with the team, Kirk Cousins is putting up his usual, reliable stats. He’s completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 1,900 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. If there’s a knock on Cousins, it’s that stats are really all he can do. He doesn’t seem to rise to the occasion when facing top tier opponents and hasn’t been the X-Factor quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith and Carson Wentz are.
Cousins will be without two of his best offensive weapons in this game. Tight ends Jordan Reed and Niles Paul are both listed as out. Wide receiver Jamison Crowder will also be in street clothes. Center Spencer Long and offensive tackle Ty Ksekhe are both questionable.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-2)
With all the injured players on offense for the Redskins, this might be a good time for Seattle’s defense to show up this season. They’ve not been themselves in 2017. That could have a lot to do with age, or just the fact that teams can better scheme against them now. Either way, it’s a whole new world for the Seahawks and the shootouts they find themselves in.
If the defense is going to put forth an improved performance, they’ll have to do it without All-Universe safety Earl Thomas. Thomas is out with a hamstring. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is officially listed as questionable, but he hasn’t practiced all week. On offense, new left tackle Duane Brown will have to be plugged in immediately as Luke Joeckel remains sidelined with a knee injury.
While the defense hasn’t performed up to snuff, Russell Wilson seems to have taken another leap into the upper echelon of quarterback play. Last week against the Texans, Wilson was 26 of 41 for 452 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He added four carries for 30 yards to lead the team in rushing too.
Wilson spread the ball around to eight different receivers last Sunday. Tyler Lockett caught six passes for 121 yards. Paul Richardson had six catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
The Pick
I like Seattle at home here as I’m sure 90 percent of people picking this game do, but I don’t like this spread at all. The Seahawks defense is living off its reputation and not its performance on the field. Washington can move the ball, even with their injuries, and keep this one interesting until the fourth quarter. Seahawks 34, Redskins 31
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 8-5
Season
Straight up: 69-50
Against the spread: 58-61
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