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Five bold predictions for Washington Football Team vs. Cardinals in Week 2

By Jacob Camenker

Football Team tight end Logan Thomas (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Football Team tight end Logan Thomas (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 25: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football after a reception during a NFL team training camp at State Farm Stadium on August 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 25: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football after a reception during a NFL team training camp at State Farm Stadium on August 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

3. DeAndre Hopkins catches 15 passes for 150+ yards

Last week against the San Francisco 49ers, DeAndre Hopkins logged a career-high 14 catches. This week, he may have a chance to exceed that against the Washington Football Team.

In Week 1, Washington was solid against the pass. After allowing some massive completions to tight ends and a 55-yard catch to Jalen Reagor, they were able to lock down the Eagles. They had two picks, thanks to the efforts of Jimmy Moreland and Fabian Moreau, and didn’t let Carson Wentz move the ball much at all through the air.

That said, the Cardinals’ passing attack is a much more multi-faceted weapon than that of the Eagles. They should be able to find ways to isolate Hopkins in advantageous situations and get the ball to him.

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It also helps Arizona’s cause that they have other weapons that Washington will need to focus on. Notably, receivers Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald can still be playmakers, so Washington can’t overcommit to Hopkins. He needs to be given attention and probably should be doubled each play, but if they do overcommit, Kirk and Fitzgerald will be able to move the chains for Arizona.

Because of the many weapons that the Cardinals have on offense, I expect that Hopkins will get some chances to catch the ball. After all, Murray loved throwing to him in the first game of the season and that seems unlikely to change in Week 2.

And simply put, Washington doesn’t have a true No. 1 corner to help slow down Hopkins. They’ll need to rely on Moreland, Moreau, and Ronald Darby to get the job done there. Those three could work for some amount of time, but it’s likely that they will gradually lose the battle to the elite receiver.

At the end of the day, don’t be surprised if Washington allows Hopkins to set a new high in catches with 15. And if he exceeds 150 yards again as he did in Week 1, that wouldn’t be a surprise either.

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