Realistic predictions, expectations for Redskins vs. Bears in NFL Week 3
By Tim Payne
3. Reality Is, the defense has to man up.
Sometimes, analysis of defensive football goes way too far down the rabbit hole of analytics, scheme, data, and tendencies. And while all of those things have their place, defensive football still comes down to this: somebody has to make a play. Right play called? Make a play. Wrong play called? Make a play. Getting tired? Make a play. Not normally a starter? Make a play. Rookie? Make a play.
The coaching staff has to be better. Trust me, I wish the Redskins had different defensive coaching. The referees have to be better. Trust me, I hate the blown calls just as much as the next guy. But at the end of the day, somebody has to step up and make a play to get this team, this defense, off the field. Nobody has done that in the second half for the Redskins this season. Not their perennial pro-bowl outside linebacker, not their high-priced stud safety, not their vaunted defensive line. Nobody.
On the bright side for the Redskins, Jonathan Allen says he’s going to play on Monday. Maybe he’ll be the spark they need. Maybe someone we don’t expect will make the play. But somebody has to make a play.
My prediction? This is the Landon Collins game…the game where he takes his spot as a leader on this defense…not with what he says, but with his play on the field. It might be a key pass breakup, or a key tackle for loss, or a forced fumble…but Collins makes his mark in this game.