Redskins vs. Lions

The Skins are 3-1 over the last 4 games and head to Detroit to face the Lions before their bye week. I am actually more concerned about this game than the Pears game. The Lions are 1-5 but they are favored. This shouldn't come as a big surprise as the Lions have had to play tough teams and have just come up short in many of the games (Giants, Eagles, Packers, Pears) and they completely demolished the Rams.

Stafford is back and apparently he is looking very sharp so this certainly will not be an easy game. Here are the keys:

1. Get to Stafford. He has been out since week 1 and although he has been practicing the last couple of weeks, practice is different than games. The Skins need to get to him and get him unbalanced. We need to force him to make mistakes (fumbles and/or INTs). Osakpo needs to continue his onslaught and would love to see Haynesworth play the way he played against Philly and the Pears. Haynesworth does seem more committed but still seems unsure of fitting in the 3-4. He said this week he still wants to be the best ever but said that he is not good in the 3-4. He just needs to buy in and continue to play the way he has been and all will be good.

2. Ride the Love Torain. Torain has been running hard and the O line loves run blocking. Torain has had success the last couple of weeks and that needs to continue against Detroit.

3. McNabb refocused. McNabb has good spurts but he has yet to put together a full game together. Need to get those short to medium range passes going and then continue to take 2 or 3 shots deep down field. I like McNabb from a confidence and leadership perspective but we need for him to be more consistent.

4. Don't fumble Banks! I like Banks as he gives us some big play capability but my butt cheeks clench and I tense up every time he touches the ball as it always looks like a fumble is imminent. Would love to see him break one but would hate to see him fumble one away.

5. Gano. We'll be playing indoors and if it comes down to a FG, we really need to see Gano get more consistent. He started out the year very good but the last few weeks anything longer than 40 yards seems iffy. Weather will not be a factor in Detroit so I need to see him make everything 45 yards and in.

6. Stop Suh and VandenBosch. Those are two premier pass rushers and our line has held up pretty well over the last few weeks. We need to make sure that we keep these guys checked to allow for McNabb to have time to make plays.

7. Just win baby! I really don't know too much about the Lions. They have been terrible for the last decade but they are not the Lions of old. This is a good, young team that is on the rise and they are a few bounces away from having a good record. They cannot be treated like the Lions of yesteryear and we need to go in there and take care of business. Being 5-3 going into the bye is a whole lot better than being 4-4. We also need to take our revenge from last year's loss in Detroit so we should have incentive to go out and win this game. A win and going 5-3 heading into the bye and we might start to get a whiff of the playoffs.

I expect another good game. Again, this will be a tougher game than many people expect. We cannot just look at the teams records. In the end, the Skins will do enough to win this game 27-16.

HAIL SKINS!!!