Redskins Reality Checks: Realistic predictions for Week 9 vs. Falcons

The Redskins’ defense faces another true Reality Check this week as they host the Falcons and their potent passing attack.

There’s an old adage in sports that says, “You can only beat whoever you play.” In their current three-game winning streak, the Redskins have impressed, defensively. They have managed to limit the Panthers, Cowboys, and Giants to an average of under 16 points. That is as impressive a stretch of defensive football as has been seen in Washington in a very long time.

And yet, there is a legitimate question mark lingering in the minds of many fans not quite ready to declare this team a defensive juggernaut. Can they perform similarly against a potent passing attack?

The Redskins’ two losses this season have come against the Saints and Colts, not coincidentally, the two best passing attacks they have faced. Their wins have come against teams with much less scary passing attacks. While Green Bay, with Aaron Rodgers, would typically be a dangerous passing offense, remember they played Washington on a rainy night with Rodgers playing basically on one leg. And the Giants are putting up a lot of yards through the air, but anyone who has watched them play knows that most of those yards have been in garbage time or in the desperate attempt to catch up in games mostly out of reach.

Atlanta is another story, though. In this week’s Reality Checks, we’ll consider some key factors that will determine whether or not the Redskins’ defense can pass the test and be certifiably elite, and if the Redskins as a whole can notch another impressive win and close the first half of the season 6-2.