Absence of Trent Williams might be tough to overcome vs. Bears
If the Washington Redskins go to an 0-3 record, they’re in rough shape in the NFC East. And it might be time for them to look at their “quarterback of the future.” The problem is, their quarterback of the present isn’t doing to badly. If he can stay upright against the Chicago Bears on Monday night, he could do some business. Game time at FedEx Field is 8:20 PM ET. ESPN televises. And BetAnySports customers can place wagers during the game with Live Betting Ultra.
Take a look at the Redskins vs Bears numbers….
In the Monday Night Football odds that have been posted on this game by US sportsbooks – with reduced juice, as you can see – the Bears are favored on the road:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | -5 (-116) | 41 (-115) | -225 |  |
| RedSkins | +5 (-104) | 41 (-105) | +211 | |
| ||||
Keenum hasn’t been bad at all
You would have to say that as a seat-warmer, Case Keenum is fulfilling his purpose. He has been 69% accurate. And he has not thrown an interception. He was brought in because Alex Smith’s broken leg may prevent him from ever suiting up again.
But he has been a journeyman for a reason. Yes, he was outstanding for Minnesota a couple of years ago. But the consistency just isn’t there. And he has been known to miss a lot of wide-open receivers, which betrays the accuracy level that is needed to run a West Coast attack.
His best attribute right now might be his ability to release the ball quickly. But that is going to be tested against the Bears, with Khalil Mack and others. Chuck Pagano is the new coordinator, replacing Vic Fangio, now head coach in Denver. And though he has changed some of the coverage schemes, they’ll still come after passers.
The protection problem
And the Redskins won’t have Trent Williams to protect. Williams has been holding out, and hasn’t been that public about it, although some believe it is connected to the way the Redskins’ medical staff handled an injury issue. Gruden replaced him with Donald Penn, once a Pro Bowl tackle but down a few notches.
Tight end Jordan Reed is concussion-prone and isn’t available. That makes things rougher, because he was the best receiver they had. Vernon Davis and running back Chris Thompson are the top guys in the short game. And third-round draft pick Terry McLaurin of Ohio State is actually the leading receiver, with ten grabs for 187 yards. One day he will no doubt hook up with college teammate Dwayne Haskins.
When will we see the rookie?
Let’s talk about Haskins for a moment. He was obviously picked in the first round with the idea that he would inherit the QB job. He started only one year in college, and didn’t play a West Coast scheme. So it is understandable that he’s going to be a work in progress. But at some point, if the Redskins are out of playoff contention, a decision has to be made. With Smith and Colt McCoy hurt, should they insert Haskins and see what he can do?
Well, barring an injury, that’s a decision for another time. For now, Keenum leads a one-dimensional attack. Gruden has given up on running against the Bears. So there is going to be a lot of pressure on Penn to hold off pass rushers, who know what’s coming.
Redskins can’t stop people
The Washington defense puts pressure on the offense as well. They have been absolute roadkill in the secondary. That’s what happens when you give up 78% completions and a bloated 8.3 yards an attempt. It’s tough to draw an especially strong conclusion off a small sampling, but they’ve surrendered 47.5 yards and drive and 64% on third down. And that just won’t do.
It would appear that the Redskins would have their best chance here if Chicago’s offense misfired. And that might make it easier for them to “back door” their way in, as they are getting more than a field goal. This will be a considerable task, because they may just provide the elixir for the struggling Trubisky to “get well.”
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