Redskins Challenge: Hogs 2.0, it’s time to ‘Put up your Dukes’
Sunday’s game against the Giants is a must win for the Washington Redskins.
I hate using the term ‘must-win’ in Week 8 of the NFL season. However, that term should definitely apply to the Washington Redskins.
Sure, the New York Giants are 1-6 and appear to be conceding the 2018 regular season. But if you’re the Redskins, if you don’t learn from your history, you’re bound to repeat it. Washington is 3-7 in their past ten games against the G-Men. This game has the makings of a ‘trap game’ so it will be interesting to see if Washington can gain some distance in the NFC East.
With an opportunity to end 2017 on a positive note, the Redskins lost to a 2-win Giants team. Nearly nine months later, Washington leads the NFC East with a 4-2 record. Good teams dominate the teams they’re supposed to beat. Like the great Bill Parcells once said, “you are what your record says you are.”
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Washington has been fueled by the rushing attack on offense. It’s refreshing to see, considering that the team has struggled in that area for the majority of the Jay Gruden’s tenure. With Kirk Cousins no longer at the helm, Washington has been forced to become a run-first offense. The Redskins are third in the NFL in that department, averaging 29.5 rushes per game.
Running back Adrian Peterson has been an absolute steal for Washington. Nearly at the halfway mark of the NFL season, Peterson is hands down the MVP of Washington’s offense. Peterson leads the Redskins with 438 rushing yards and three touchdowns, in addition to averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Many doubted if Peterson had much left in the tank but he’s defying the odds. He’s without doubt exemplified what the ‘Put up your Dukes’ challenge is all about.
Of course, the Redskins will need to maintain that success against the Giants. In the past ten games against the New York Giants, Washington has only one 100-yard rusher in Samaje Perine, who did so last Thanksgiving. The last Redskins running back to rush for over 100 yards at MetLife Stadium was Alfred Morris in 2012.
The offensive line for Washington has been major factor during the 4-2 start. Heading into the season, the offensive line was considered to be one of the best. In the team’s four wins, the line has certainly lived up to that billing. As a result, Adrian Peterson has rushed for at least 95 yards in each victory. On Sunday, they’ll face off against a unit that recently traded away its best run defender in Damon Harrison. The Giants already were in the bottom third of rush defense, ranking No. 23 in the NFL against the run. Washington would be wise to exploit the Giants on the ground as much as possible.
Next. Washington Redskins midseason mock draft. dark
Washington has notoriously struggled on the road in New York and Sunday could be no different. However, a dominant performance by their offensive line would almost certainly improve the Redskins to 5-2 and enable them to gain some distance within the NFC East standings. So, Hogs 2.0, I challenge you to dominate the defensive front of the New York Giants, and continue to be the driving force for Washington’s offense.