John’s Redskins Keys to the Game vs. New Orleans Saints

By Staff Writer John Manuel:

Here are my 5 keys to the game for the Redskins to beat the New Orleans Saints:

1- One is obvious but going to be very hard.  Have to, have to, have to get after Drew Brees.  

Brian Orakpo wants to be considered a top pass rusher so Sunday would be a great day to show it.  The suspect secondary will need some help from the Skins front seven for sure.  My worry is this is every team’s number one objective when playing New Orleans and they still can’t hold them under 28 points.  Brees is a superstar and rarely has an average game.  Have to knock him around from snap number one.

2- Vernon Davis traded to the Redskins.  Wish that was the case since he crushed New Orleans last playoffs.  So I am calling out Counselor Davis to step up his game.  

Like Orakpo it could be his time show the NFL he is a top guy at his position.  The Saints defense is a huge unknown especially without Jonathan Vilma.  Curtis Lofton comes over from Atlanta which questions his play since a rival let him walk like that.  Fred Davis was pretty quiet in the preseason, but pretty much everyone was from the starting eleven.

3- Can’t believe a rookie well-hyped quarterback is going to fall to #3 on my list.  

Maybe its because I feel that I have a lot of confidence in Robert Griffin III even in his first game.  I think this is a great match-up for him to debut.  I am probably more worried about the crowd noise than the Saints defense when it comes to RG3.  Thanks for the new bubble that has been installed at Redskins Park.  I am pretty excited to see Griffin on fast turf in NOLA.  Can’t wait actually.  A solid run game would help big time.

4- Can Shanny out coach the Saints third string head coach?   Is his staff going to be able to take advantage of a very inexperienced Aaron Kromer?  

He does have Steve Spagnuolo to help but he was a disaster as a head coach of the Rams.  We better have an advantage here with Shanahan and to win in the Superdome he is going to make the right calls.  With a tough schedule Shanny could really use a 2-0 road start to build momentum early with this team.

5- When your playing a better team on the road with a rookie QB, possible rookie RB and a suspect offensive line you need breaks.  

One of those breaks needs to be a special teams return touchdown.  All training camp the player on the chopping block more than anyone was Brandon Banks.  To the surprise of many Banks made the 53.  Now he needs to show he was worth the spot.  He needs to take one back Sunday even if his punt return chances are limited against a great offense.  Two takebacks would be even nicer.

I think numbers 2-5 are very possible, #1 not so much.  But if they can achieve my goals for the team, they can win this game.  I called this as an upset the day the schedule came out.

Going with Skins 27-24 on Sunday.