After three seasons with Kirk Cousins calling the shots in Washington, there’ll be a new face under center for the Redskins when they kick off their season with a road contest against the Arizona Cardinals (even).
Former Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith is now the man in D.C. following the departure of Cousins to Minnesota. A Pro Bowler in each of the past two seasons, Smith has been in the top 10 for completion percentage in each of the last three years. The veteran is also coming off a career-best 4,042 passing yards, 67.5 completion percentage and 26 touchdown passes. His consistency and ability to minimize turnovers (20 interceptions total the past three seasons, compared to 36 by Cousins) will be key to improving on Washington’s 7-9 season last year.
The Redskins are starting with as tough an assignment as any new QB could face, with a Cardinals defense that has been among the league’s stingiest the past few years, making the UNDER on a total of 44.0 a very real possibility.
- The Redskins are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games against Arizona.
- Arizona was 5-1 SU last year when forcing two or more turnovers.
- The total has gone UNDER in five of Washington’s last six games.
Redskins vs Cardinals Game Center
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Cardinals defense has been one of the NFL’s best the past few seasons, but they’ve been even better at home. Arizona is 5-2 SU in its last seven home games, while the UNDER has hit in 14 of its last 20 home contests.
The Cardinals have only allowed four 300-yard passing games at home in the past three seasons. They let safety Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu go to Houston, but the defense is still anchored by pass-rushing threat Chandler Jones and seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson. The Cards went 3-1 in the preseason and the defense looked in sync in the all-important third preseason game, so they look ready to cause Alex Smith some problems as he tries to create more chemistry with his new receiving weapons.
CAN THE CARDS PUT UP POINTS?
Washington isn’t the only team with an offense that will look much different than last season. Arizona trotted out Carson Palmer (who was injured after seven games and subsequently retired at the end of the season), Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton at QB last year, and finished the season 8-8. This offseason they signed veteran Sam Bradford to serve as the bridge to 10th overall pick Josh Rosen.
Bradford’s career has been marred by injuries, but when he’s healthy he’s an effective quarterback. He threw for 3,877 yards with 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 2016 for the Vikings, but missed almost the entire 2017 season with a knee injury. Look for Bradford to improve an offense that was 25th in the league with 18.4 points per game.
Perhaps even more important than a new quarterback is the return of running back David Johnson to the Cardinals offense. Johnson took the league by storm in 2016, leading the NFL with 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns. He was injured in the season opener last season, suffering a dislocated wrist that cost him the remainder of the year. He is equally dangerous both in the running game and as a receiver, so a healthy Johnson gives Arizona a true game-changing weapon.
JORDAN REED TAKING A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Oh what the Redskins would do to get a full season out of Jordan Reed. The dynamic tight end is one of the most talented athletes in the NFL, but he simply cannot stay on the field. In five NFL seasons, he has yet to play more than 14 games and has never started as many as 10 games in one season.
While Washington has a good insurance policy at the position in veteran Vernon Davis, having a healthy Reed would make the Redskins even more dangerous. Recovering from a toe injury — along with a number of other lower-body ailments — last year, Reed is expected to play in the season opener.
Reed’s presence fits perfectly with new QB Alex Smith’s play style: Smith loves to utilize his tight end. Just ask Travis Kelce, who blossomed into one of the NFL’s elite tight ends the past two seasons with Smith throwing to him. Reed’s talent, plus the presence of Davis, gives Smith two capable tight ends, the perfect safety valve for a quarterback who’s still meshing with his team and going up against a dangerous defense. Reed’s presence should greatly affect Washington’s ability to put up points, and could be the only chance at the OVER coming to fruition.
