Washington @ Jacksonville preview
TIAA Bank Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2015 ) Jacksonville 17, Washington 16
Despite coming off one of their most embarrassing performances in recent memory, the Washington Redskins still will be playing for their playoff lives when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Redskins have lost four straight contests, including a 40-16 drubbing by the New York Giants last week, but they still have an outside shot at a postseason berth.
It’s an unlikely quarterback matchup as Jacksonville’s Cody Kessler will make his third start since replacing Blake Bortles while Washington will give Josh Johnson his first NFL since 2011. Redskins coach Jay Gruden worked with Johnson in both Tampa Bay and Cincinnati, and the signal-caller sparked the offense in the second half last week in his first appearance since 2014. “Well, he’s played with or against everybody in the league, so for starters, he knows everybody on the Jacksonville defense,” Gruden told reporters. “He knows everybody we’re about to play and is familiar with terminology and systems and coverages and defenses and all that stuff, so that’s a good thing. As far as knowing what to do here, I think the big reason we wanted him is because of his familiarity with what we do.” The Jaguars have lost eight of their last nine games and scored in single digits in four of those contests.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Jaguars -7.5. O/U: 36
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (6-7): Washington’s offense already was among the league’s worst before Alex Smith was lost to injury and followed soon after by backup Colt McCoy. Mark Sanchez was a disaster in his only start, but Johnson brought some life to the offense in relief last week. The defense played well to start the season but has given up at least 400 total yards in five of the last six games and has especially struggled against the run of late.
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (4-9): Jacksonville snapped its seven-game losing streak in Kessler’s first start - but it was because of the defense, which pitched a shutout in a 6-0 win over Indianapolis. The secondary is outstanding, but the team has been susceptible to the run, although it allows an NFL-low 15 points per game at home. Kessler’s stats have been unimpressive, but he’s thrown only one interception — none in his two starts — and will have a healthy Leonard Fournette in the backfield with him.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Washington RB Adrian Peterson (13,148) needs 112 rushing yards to pass Eric Dickerson for eighth place on the all-time list.
2. Jacksonville K Josh Lambo, who is 27-for-27 on field-goal attempts at home since joining the team, is questionable with a groin injury.
3. Washington LB Ryan Kerrigan has recorded eight sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in his last eight games.
PREDICTION: Jaguars 16, Redskins 13