Washington Redskins (2-1) vs New Orleans Saints (3-1)
Preview
Coming off of their bye week, the Washington Redskins travel to the “Big Easy” to face off with the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. New Orleans is riding a two game winning streak and is trying to keep pace with the Carolina Panthers, who won their game against the New York Giants yesterday to improve to 4-1. Washington, meanwhile, is currently sitting in first place in the NFC East and is trying to stave off Dallas for at least another week. Both teams will be coming out on all cylinders, but only one will get the win and a possible tiebreaker advantage come December.
Players to watch
The main storyline in this contest is will Saints quarterback Drew Brees throw for 201 yards and break Peyton Manning’s career passing yards record. The Saints also get back Mark Ingram from a four game suspension, so he will be splitting time with Alvin Kamara in the passing and rushing attack. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is still on a tear, and might be the person to catch Brees’ history making throw. On the visitors side, quarterback Alex Smith will be tasked with keeping pace against one of the very best to ever play, and he has a former Saint in his backfield by the name of Adrian Peterson.
Keys to the game
Washington
Feed Peterson and get him rolling
Don’t have any costly penalties
Plan for the Saints two-headed rushing monster?
Can they keep Brees from history?
New Orleans
How will Ingram for back into the system?
Can Thomas continue his hot start?
How will the defense play?
Can Brees etch his name into history?
Injury list
Washington
Trent Williams, OT - Knee (questionable)
Josh Doctson, WR - Heel (questionable)
Shawn Lauvao, G - Calf (Out)
Troy Apke, S - Hamstring (Out)
New Orleans
Trey Hendrickson, DE - Illness (questionable)
Cameron Tom, C - Knee (questionable)
Manti Te’o, LB - Knee (questionable)
Ted Ginn, Jr., WR - Knee (out)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Drew Brees, QB (NO)
Alvin Kamara, RB (NO)
Michael Thomas, WR (NO)
Alex Smith, QB (WASH)
Jordan Reed, TE (WASH)
Prediction
The Saints know there’s history on the line for #9, and they’re going to do anything they can to ensure he gets that record. The question with that is if Washington can prevent that from happening before halftime, and that’s a big fat N-O.The home squad gets Ingram back, and his return will be felt all over this game. Brees will get the record by no later than ten minutes remaining in the third quarter, and the Saints defense will seal the game with a critical fourth down stop inside their own 45 coming out of the two minute warning.
Final Score: New Orleans 31, Washington 24
Written by: Joe Carlino