5 bold predictions for Redskins vs. Jaguars in NFL Week 15
4. Redskins once again commit 10-plus penalties
In the last two games, the Redskins have committed 15 and 10 penalties respectively for a total of 25. That is an absolutely woeful number, and while some may blame officiating for a handful of the calls, it still speaks to one of the bigger issues with this Redskins squad. A lack of discipline.
This season, the Redskins have been very sloppy in losses. They tend to lack energy, effort, and attention to detail. If they want to somehow sneak into the playoffs with their fourth-string quarterback, that cannot continue. Unfortunately, I think that it will.
The Jaguars have some solid players on both sides of the ball that will make life difficult for the ‘Skins. With backups now playing bigger roles on the offensive line and a new quarterback and cadence in, it’s likely that Washington will have some more false start penalties. Additionally, they may get tagged with some holding calls, as the team’s beat up interior line will have to contain a solid Jacksonville front.
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On defense, the issues aren’t quite as bad for the ‘Skins, as they match up okay with the Jaguars on that side of the ball. Still, the team has had issues with coverage in the middle of the field, so expecting a holding call or two out of the linebackers is well within the realm of possibility.
In short, this doesn’t seem like the game that the Redskins are going to break their 10-plus penalty streak in. More likely than not, Jay Gruden will once again be disappointed with the effort of his team, and the continued lack of discipline will raise concerns about the long-term viability of sticking with him as the team’s head coach.