Redskins vs. Patriots: Keys to victory in Week 5 of the 2019 season

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins reacts in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. Redskins must do better on third down on both sides of the ball

Through one quarter of the season, the Redskins have been terrible on third down on both sides of the football. On defense, they are currently dead last, allowing teams to convert on third down almost 63 percent of the time. On offense, they are 29th, only converting on third down about 29 percent of the time. That’s not a winning recipe.

Meanwhile, the Patriots are currently the best defensive team in the league, allowing teams to convert only 13 percent of the time on third down. While they are not quite as potent as in years past, they are still converting on 41 percent of their offensive attempts, good enough for 12th in the league. They were 5 of 18 against Buffalo.

If the Redskins are going to stand a chance against the Patriots on Sunday, they must find a way to extend drives and convert when they have the ball. They also must get Brady off the field on third down when they have the chance. If Washington struggles in these two areas again, they likely will fall to 0-5.

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