Keys and Key Matchups for Redskins vs Texans

 Ok time to get over it, the Dallas win was nice, but like I have been saying all week much more work is needed.  This Sunday, at Fed Ex Field our beloved Redskins will be playing host to the other Texas team, the Houston Texans.  The Redskins lead the all time series with the Texans by 2-0.  The last time the teams met was in Houston, in 2006.  Clinton Portis rushed for 85 yards and 2 TD's while QB Marc Brunell completed an NFL record 22 consecutive passes in a  31-15 victory for the Burgundy and Gold.  That was then, this is now the Texans are coming off of a very convincing 34-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts last week.  The Texans win was due to RB Arian Foster's performance as he rushed for 231 yards and 3 TD's last week.  But just because the Texans ran the ball a ton last week doesn't mean that they have forgotten about Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson.  On the defensive end rookie, for the Texans, LT Trent Williams will have another big job as he will go up against DE Mario Williams as he had 1 sack and 4 tackles last week.

Key Matchups:

Trent Williams vs Mario Williams: In the battle of the trenches this week, the key battle will be on left side of the ball as rookie LT Trent Williams will have his hands full for the second week in a row against DE Mario Williams.  Trent Williams did a fairly good job last week against Damarcus Ware, but Ware got injured in the 2nd half so Williams received somewhat of a break.  I highly doubt that Mario Williams will get injured and sit out the rest of the game so if Mario Williams is in the whole game, this will be the first complete test for the rookie Trent Willaims.

Redskins Secondary vs Andre Johnson:  Despite what was a good defensive performance, the pass defense in the final minute of the game looked like complete shit last week.  And Reed Doughty looked like complete shit the whole game.  D Hall will most likely be matched up with Johnson for most of the game, but if Johnson is double teamed or blanketed over the top in cover 2, it'll most likely be Reed Doughty doing those duties and will have to do them well or else its going be a long day for the Skins secondary.



Donovan McNabb vs Texans Secondary: Last week the Texans gave up 419 and 3 touchdowns to Peyton Manning and last year the Texans pass defense was ranked 18th in the league.  This should be a huge plus for Donovan McNabb since it looks like McNabb will be going to Chris Cooley and Santana Moss alot this year.  If McNabb can keep finding Cooley and Moss, look for him to have a big day and just maybe the Skins red zone blues will be cured.

Redskins Front 7 vs Arain Foster:  Despite going up against a very bad rushing Defense in the Colts last week, the Redskins will still have to respect Arain Foster until they prove that they can stop him.  The Skins did do a great job last week of stopping Marion Barber and Felix Jones as they held the Dallas rushing attack to just 103 yards.  I'm going to go out and say that the Skins should not have to much problems stopping Foster, but if they can't it'll be one of those days in Landover on Sunday.

Keys for a Skins Victory:

1. Stop Arain Foster: I'm alot more confident in the Skins rushing defense than I am in their pass defense and this shouldn't be to big of a concern for the Skins, but they still have to stop Arain Foster if they are going to win on Sunday.  It's going to be up to Ma'ake Kemoeatu, London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh  to clog up the middle and Andre Cater and Brian Osackpo to shut down Foster on the outside.  If the Skins can do this then the D will have to only worry about one thing.



2. Stop Andre Johnson: This is the biggest threat I see to the Skins defense on Sunday.  Like I said earlier the Skins D didn't look to hot in the final minute last week and Reed Doughty didn't look to hot period last week.  This week Doughty is faced with helping cover one of the best, if not the best receiver in the league.  Just because the Texans abandoned the pass last week doesn't mean that they will do the same this week.  Houston mainly ran the ball because the Colts rush D is god awful and to keep Peyton Manning off the field.  Johnson could have a huge day against this somewhat weak secondary.  If the Skins can shut the run down then they will know that all the Texans will do is just pass the ball and that plays right into the hands of Carter and Osackpo.

3.  Continue Passing:  Donovan McNabb was able to find both Chris Cooley and Santana Moss alot last week and don't be surprised if McNabb goes back to them again this week and for the rest of the season.  The Texans had the 18th rated pass defense last year and gave up 400 plus yard last week to Peyton and  company.  If McNabb is able to get protection and find his recievers this should be a big day for him and should go a long ways in being part of a win for the Skins.

4. SCORE A MOTHER F$&*ING TD!!!!: Seriously this is starting to get really annoying, yes it's a new offense and it's going to take time for everyone to get everything down.  But look at they way the Skins were able to move the ball last week, they moved it well until they got to the red zone, inside the 20 its as if Jim Zorn never left.  Maybe this is starting to be mental with the offense since they have struggled in the past, but if this continues its going to be another long fall in DC.