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Redskins vs. Vikings: Riggo’s Rag Week 10 Prediction Duel

By Matthew Valdovinos

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins meets with cornerback Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Washington Redskins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 at FedExField on November 13, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins meets with cornerback Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Washington Redskins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 at FedExField on November 13, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 22: Tom Johnson #92 of the Minnesota Vikings jumps on the back of teammate Danielle Hunter to celebrate a sack in the first quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens on October 22, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 22: Tom Johnson #92 of the Minnesota Vikings jumps on the back of teammate Danielle Hunter to celebrate a sack in the first quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens on October 22, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Wrong, Matt!

I would be confident heading into a matchup like this, but a couple factors in this game concern me. The most concerning is the fact that although Trent Williams is playing, he’s playing hindered with a knee injury. Now, the Redskins have shown they can win without Williams, but if the Redskins form their game plan around him, and suddenly, he can’t play because his knee is hurting too much, that would be a big blow. Kind of like the Calvin Johnson dilemma, but compressed into one game. Him going up against Everson Griffen is a huge cause for worry with a bum knee.

I have a couple more concerns as well. The Redskins are playing at home, and while common knowledge would suggest that they’d do better at home, they’ve recently put up quite a few clunkers in their own stadium, whether it be against the Cowboys or the Eagles. Those two teams have combined records of 13-4, and the Vikings are right in that area at 6-2.

Matt does bring up a good point about their strength of schedule, but their defense is very, very good, and our offense is not as good as some people (*cough* Matt *cough*) say it is. In this parity-riddled league, it’s tough to get a read on borderline contenders, like these two teams. Kirk Cousins has no running game to help him out, and his receivers are just now starting to build chemistry. With Jordan Reed out, that only further complicates things. At full strength, this offense is decent. But they’re playing wounded. And that’s a problem.

The Redskins can only afford one or two losses through the second half of the season, with the former being a far more attractive option. Today, I see them using up that lifeline quickly. The team, in my eyes, isn’t ready to go up against the Vikings defense. Yes, they faced off against Seattle, but they might still have a hangover from that game. I’ll take the less-injured Vikings over the more-injured Redskins by a score of 23-13. That defense will be too much.

Next: Interviewing the Enemy: Q&A with The Viking Age

Who do you think got it right? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and make sure you tune into the game at 1:00 EST today. In an important matchup, who will come out on top? Washington, or Minnesota? In just a few hours, we’ll find out.

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