Game Preview, Week 6: Redskins at Dolphins
October 11, 2019
by Steve Thomas
This game is sure to be a real barnburner. We’re talking, major national game, big-time star power, one of the marquee matchups of the season. Okay, fine, it’s the opposite of that, but its still a Redskins game and we’re going to root for Washington to win this contest. I don’t want to hear nonsense about draft positioning 6 months from now or hoping Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen finally become embarrassed about this team. We want a win. Truly, though, this game is a race to the bottom. Abandon all hope ye who enter here. The loser of this game probably has the inside track for the #1 overall draft pick, so I suppose that actually is a benefit for some of you more-masochistically oriented. This is truly a contest that the Redskins could and should win, because the Miami Dolphins have been terrible in every way it’s possible to be terrible. Granted, Washington has had yet another week of chaos, starting with the firing of former head coach Jay Gruden and the installation of Bill Callahan as the interim head coach, but still . . . the Redskins will win this game if they have any shred of self-respect left. Our full game preview is below.
Game time & location: Sunday, October 13, 2019, 1:00 p.m. ET, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL; Gates open 11:00 a.m. ET; parking lots open 9:00 a.m.
Television: CBS
Television announcers: Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber
TV broadcast map: Click here
DC-area radio: The Team 980
Redskins radio network: Click here
Dolphins radio network: Click here
Satellite radio: XM: 230 (Dolphins broad.) Sirius: 121 (Redskins broad); internet: 831 (Redskins broad.)
Redskins roster: Click here
Redskins depth chart: Click here
Dolphins roster: Click here
Dolphins depth chart: Click here
All-time head-to-head record vs Dolphins: 4 – 8 (last 5: 2 – 3) (streak: 0 – 2)
Last meeting: L, September 13, 2015, 10 – 17
Early odds: Redskins, -3.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Overcome the coaching change and look like a real NFL team for a change
I’ve listed something similar to this every week of the season, and the sad truth is that the Redskins have yet to reach this most basic plateau of plateaus. The team has yet to look like a competent, normal, at least league average NFL football team. Until that happens, Washington isn’t going to beat anyone, even the pathetic Miami Dolphins. The team and the coaching staff really need to put the chaos of this week aside and simply focus on playing disciplined, hard-nosed football. If they do that, it’s likely that this game will be their first win. Because, again, the Dolphins are terrible.
Take full advantage of the Dolphins horrifically bad run and pass defense
Miami’s defense is a horror show. Pick your adjective: terrible, awful, atrocious. Whatever label you want to use will probably work. This unit has had absolutely no success whatsoever this season, albeit against much better teams than the Redskins. Regardless, this is the week that Washington needs to get it together and start moving the ball with consistency, a plan, and a sense of purpose. Once again, if they can manage that feat – which is normal for just about every other NFL team – this game will probably result in a victory.
Don’t let Miami get in any sort of offensive rhythm
Miami’s offense is every bit as bad as their defense. They don’t do anything well. That having been said, Josh Rosen, who actually does have talent but has been placed into the worst circumstances imaginable for a young quarterback, at some point might just break out and start to look like a legit quarterback if he’s ever given protection, a running game, and quality receivers. Please just don’t let it be this week. The Redskins need to be disruptive and be able to keep this offense off balance. If they can accomplish that much, a win is most likely in the cards.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
The Dolphins don’t have a big-time, scary offensive weapon, or anyone that’s a true #1 receiver, but Parker (who was a first round pick by Miami in 2015) is the closest they have. Josh Norman is supposed to the Redskins’ #1 corner. It’s time he starts acting like it and take Parker out of this game. The Dolphins aren’t talented enough to turn to very many other players if Parker is taken away. If Norman manages to get this done, the already terrible Dolphins offense will become even more limited than it already is.
Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat vs Jesse Davis and Julien Davenport
It’s time for Kerrigan and Sweat to start getting some real pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and the Dolphins’ tackles aren’t exactly All-Pros. Kerrigan has clearly started slowly this year, as has the rookie, Sweat. This is the perfect opportunity to get well and get their seasons back on track, and more importantly, keep Rosen off balance, on the run, and ineffective.
Bill Callahan vs himself
I don’t mean to cop out with the last key matchup, but this one is pretty necessary. Callahan has had a pretty overwhelming week, and he hasn’t been a head coach since he was at the University of Nebraska in 2007 and the Raiders before that, from 2002 – 2003. If Callahan can overcome the odds and put together a quality gameplan while getting his team back on the right track, the Redskins will probably win the game given that the opponent is the Dolphins. Quite a bit can go wrong, though, making this a key matchup in the game. Yes, I’m serious – Bill Callahan vs himself.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (as of Thursday (active roster only)) (starters in bold)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful NL – not listed
| Redskins | Dolphins |
| LB J. Harvey-Clemons, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | G/T J. Davis, elbow; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| G W. Martin, chest; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | WR J. Grantt, hamstring; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| T D. Penn, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; game: Q | LB T. Harris, foot; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| C R. Pierschbacher, illness; Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | CB X. Howard, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| TE J. Reed, concussion; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | S R. Jones. ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| TE V. Davis, concussion; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: O | CB C. Lammons, toe; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| T M. Moses, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP | S B. McCain, hamstring/shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| G B. Scherff, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP | RB M. Walton, illness; Wed: LP; Thurs: NL; Fri: NL |
| TE J. Cunningham, concussion; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | WR A. Wilson, calf/hip; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| CB Q. Dunbar, shoulder; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | CB J. Wiltz, groin; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| DT M. Ioannidis, foot; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | DE C. Harris, wrist; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP |
| QB C. Keenum, foot; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | C D. Kilgore, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP |
| CB J. Norman, hand; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | CB J. Bademosi, ankle; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| C C. Roullier, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | RB K. Ballege, foot; Wed: NL; Thurs: NL; Fri: LP; game: Q; game: Q |
| CB S. Thomas, wrist; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; | |
| S D. Everett, ankle; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; game: O | |
| DT D. Payne, knee; Wed: N:, Thurs: NL; Fri: LP |
TEAM STATISTICS
Redskins:
The Redskins offense is still pathetic, underachieving, and underperforming, but there was a very slight uptick in statistical output. Don’t get me wrong, Washington is still terrible – 30th in points, 28th in total yards, 27th in rushing yards, 30th in time of possession, and 31st in third down. What changed a bit for the better since last week were the rushing numbers, mostly thanks to Steven Sims Jr.’s 65 yard scamper. Make no mistake, though, it still isn’t good, but this week presents a perfect get-well game this week, so I anticipate an ever so small across the border uptick again in week 7.
Defensively, the Redskins are 30th in points, 29th in total yards, 25th in passing yards, and 29th in rushing yards. They’ve improved from 32nd to 31st in opponents’ third down conversions, so that’s something. The Dolphins are atrocious on offense, and essentially offer nothing in opposition, so it’s possible that Washington gets bump on defense, too.
Record: 0 – 5 (4th) (Away: 0 – 2; AFC: 0 – 1)
All-time franchise record: 600 – 595 – 28
Offense
| Offensive rankings | 30 (points) / 28 (total yards) / 28 (yards per game) / 29 (yards per play) / 25 (passing yards) / 24 (passing yards per att.) / 27 (rushing yards) / 24 (rushing yards per att.) |
| Points for | 73 |
| Yards per game | 281.0 |
| Passing
|
179 att (13th); 119 comp; 66.5% comp per. (14th); 6.7 Y/A; 1061 net yds; 7 TD; 8 Int |
| Passing leader | Keenum (135 att, 970 yds (24th), 68.1% comp perc (10th), 7 TDs / 4 Int, 93.8 QB rating (21st) |
| Receiving leader | Richardson (163 yds, 26 tgts, 20 rec (56th), 2 TD, 8.2 YPC); McLaurin (308 yds (37th), 31 tgts (55th), 19 rec, 3 TDs, 16.2 YPC (16th) |
| Rushing | 88 att (30th); 344 yds; 3.9 Y/A; 68.8 Y/G (27th); 2 TDs |
| Rushing leader | Peterson (40 att (36th), 108 yds (55th), 1 TD, 2.7 Y/A (41st), long 10) |
| Sacks surrendered / rank | 15 / 24 |
| Ave time of possession / rank | 26:30 / 30 |
| 3rd down conversion rate / rank | 24.53% / 31 |
| TD percentage in red zone / rank | 54.55% / 17 |
Defense
| Defensive rankings | 30 (points) / 29 (total yards) / 28 (yards per game surrendered) / 28 (yards per play) / 25 (passing yards) / 24 (passing yards per att.) / 29 (rushing yards) / 22 (rushing yards per att.) |
| Points against | 151 |
| Yards per game surrendered | 407.8 |
| Opponent’s passing | 174 att (19th); 130 comp; 74.7% comp perc. (32nd); 8.0 Y/A; 1319 net yds; 13 TDs; QB Rating 110.5 (29th) |
| Opponent’s rushing | 153 att (30th); 720 yds; 4.7 Y/A; 4 TD; 144.0 Y/G (28th) |
| Sacks / rank / Sack leader | 9 /27 / Ioannidis, Kerrigan (1.5) |
| Tackles leader | Collins (43) |
| Int / rank / Int leader | 5 / 10 / Dunbar, Nicholson (2) |
| Opponent 3rd down conv rate / rank | 56.52% / 31 |
| Opponent TD percentage in red zone / rank | 60.0% / 22 |
Special Teams
| Kick returns | 22.8 Y/R (11th), 9 returns, long 45 yards (8th), 0 TDs |
| Punt returns | 8.3 Y/R (12th), 6 returns, long 11 yards (29th), 0 TD |
| Kick return defense | 21.0 Y/R (10th), 3 returns, 0 TD |
| Punt return defense | 7.9 Y/R (23rd), 14 returns, 0 TD |
| Punting | 51.4 Y/P (1st) |
Turnovers (lost by O / recv’d by D / net / rank): 11 / 7 / -4 / 28
Penalties (total accepted # / rank): 45 / 30
Dolphins:
The Miami Dolphins offer exactly no redeeming qualities on the offensive side of the ball, at least statistically. This team is in the bottom two in literally every single major offensive category – points, yards, passing, rushing, time of possession, red zone efficiency, everything except # of passes thrown (they are 29th by that measure). They’ve been spectacularly ineffective at everything, mostly by their own doing. If the Dolphins offense is able to really run up the score against the Redskins, things are worse than we knew.
Amazingly, Miami is almost as bad defensively as they are on offensive. The Dolphins are 32nd in points surrendered. Basically their only redeeming quality is passing yardage (15th) but that’s really just a function of the relatively small number of pass attempts against them, during which the Dolphins have allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a combined quarterback rating of an astoundingly awful 137.6. The Dolphins might be the worst team on paper that I’ve ever seen in five years of doing game previews. They are terrible, and if Washington actually allows Miami’s defense to slow them down, all is truly lost.
Record: 0 – 4 (4th) (Home: 0 – 3; NFC: 0 – 1)
All-time franchise record: 452 – 364 – 4
Offense
| Offensive rankings
|
32 (points) / 31 (total yards) / 31 (yards per game) / 31 (yards per play) / 31 (passing yards) / 31 (passing yards per att.) / 32 (rushing yards) / 32 (rushing yards per att.) |
| Points for | 26 |
| Yards per game | 225.0 |
| Passing | 136 att (29th); 70 comp; 51.5% comp per. (32nd); 5.8 Y/A; 693 net yds; 2 TDs; 7 Int |
| Passing leader | Rosen (84 att, 482 yds (33rd), 51.2% comp per., 1 TD / 3 Int, 57.7 QB rating (34th)) |
| Reception leader | Williams (201 yds (71st), 30 targets (60th), 15 rec (85th), 1 TD, 13.4 Y/C); Parker (201 yds (71st), 24 targets, 10 rec, 1 TD, 20.4 Y/C) |
| Rushing | 69 att (32nd); 207 yds; 3.0 Y/A; 51.8 Y/G (32nd); 0 TDs |
| Rushing leader | Drake (31 att, 113 yds (53rd), 0 TDs, 3.6 Y/A (32nd), long 10 yds) |
| Sacks surrendered / rank | 18 / 28 |
| Ave time of possession / rank | 23:42 / 32 |
| 3rd down conversion rate / rank | 26.0% / 30 |
| TD percentage in red zone / rank | 16.67% / 32 |
Defense
| Defensive rankings | 32 (points) / 24 (total yards) / 32 (yards per game surrendered) / 32 (yards per play) / 15 (passing yards) / 32 (passing yards per att.) / 28 (rushing yards) / 25 (rushing yards per att.) |
| Points against | 163 |
| Yards per game surrendered | 472.0 |
| Opponent’s passing | 117 att (1st); 87 comp; 74.4% comp per. (31st); 10.3 Y/A; 1185 net yds; 12 TD; QB Rating 137.6 (32nd) |
| Opponent’s rushing | 148 att (28th); 703 yds; 4.8 Y/A; 7 TD |
| Sacks / rank / Sack leader | 5 / 32 / Charlton (2.0) |
| Tackles leader | Baker (29) |
| Int / rank / Int leader | 1 / 31 / McCain (1) |
| Opponent 3rd down conv rate / rank | 57.78% / 32 |
| Opponent TD percentage in red zone / rank | 75.0% / 32 |
Special Teams
| Kick returns | 23.6 Y/R (10th), 10 returns, long 39 yards, 0 TDs |
| Punt returns | 1.2 Y/R (31st), 5 returns, long 5 yards (31st), 0 TDs |
| Kick return defense | 10.5 Y/R (1st), 2 returns, 0 TDs |
| Punt return defense | 7.4 Y/R (19th), 7 returns, 0 TD |
| Punting | 47.1 Y/P (13th) |
Turnovers (lost by O / recv’d by D / net / rank): 9 / 2 / -7 / 32
Penalties (total accepted # / rank): 23 / 1
* Statistics courtesy of www.pro-football-reference.com, www.nflpenalties.com, www.nfl.com, www.teamrankings.com, www.espn.com, www.sportingcharts.com