Washington Redskins week-by-week season prediction
By Ian Cummings
Week 9 – Redskins vs. Falcons
Alex Smith usually doesn’t lose in lopsided games. Of the Chiefs’ six losses last season, only one featured a margin of more than a touchdown. In contrast, of the Chiefs’ ten wins, seven were by more than one possession.
That said, Smith’s transition to the Redskins’ offense was viewed as a slight downgrade before Derrius Guice went down for the season with an ACL tear. Now, it’s clear that the Smith will need to do more on his own in 2018, and somewhere along the line, that formula won’t work.
Against the Falcons, a solid team all-around, the risk is as high as it gets.
The Falcons’ offense figures to be effective once again in 2018; They won’t soon reach the historic heights of 2016 again, but Matt Ryan is a top ten quarterback with a top-tier offensive cast. The defense is just as solid. The interior defensive line needs a bit of work with Grady Jarrett as the lone disruptive player, but every other position group is formidable.
The Redskins, coming off a demoralizing loss against the Giants, will crumble against the Falcons. Matt Ryan’s diverse cast of playmakers will have its way with the team’s young secondary, and Smith will experience considerable friction when trying to move the football. The running game will have some success, but it won’t be enough.