Game Preview, Week 7: Green Bay at Washington
October 21, 2022
by Steve Thomas
Congratulations, Redskins fans Washington Football Team fans Commanders fans Washington fans! Washington finally won a game, and on the road on Thursday night, to boot. Granted, the win came in the worst, least-inspiring way possible, but beggars can’t be choosers. I think it’s safe to say that Washington would’ve lost that game to maybe 28 other opponents, but a win is a win. If doesn’t really matter how they get there. Unfortunately for Washington, the next opponent is the Green Bay Packers, who are no doubt in bad moods after being humiliated at home by the previously sad-sack New York Jets. Honestly, it’s tough to imagine a scenario in which Washington gets its act together enough to beat a motivated Packers team, but you never know. Leading the charge will be last year’s starter, Taylor Heinicke, thanks to Carson Wentz’s broken figure. Washington definitely has their work cut out for them this week. What’s going to happen? We’ll all find out on Sunday.
Game time & location: Sunday, October 23, 2022, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fed Ex Field, Raljon, Maryland; Gates open 11:00 a.m. ET; Red Zone parking lots open 8:00 a.m.; all other parking lots 9:00 a.m.
Television: FOX
Television announcers: Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Don Bell
TV broadcast map: click here
DC-area radio: Big-100 (WBIG-FM)
Washington radio network: click here
Packers radio network: click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 232 Sirius (Wash. broad.); internet: 831 (Wash. broad.)
Washington roster: click here
Washington depth chart: click here
Packers roster: click here
Packers depth chart: click here
Records: Washington: 2 – 4 (home: 1 – 2) ; Green Bay: 3 – 3 (away: 1 – 1)
All-time head-to-head record vs Packers: 15 – 20 – 1 (last 10: 3 – 7; streak: 0 – 2)
Last meeting: L, October 24, 2018, 10 – 24
Early odds: Packers, -5.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Taylor Heinicke needs to get back in the groove
Washington really needs Heinicke to jump right back into the swing of things. This isn’t a week for adjustments. Heinicke’s style lends itself to dealing with a porous offensive line perhaps a bit better than Carson Wentz. That having been said, Heinicke’s limitations will eventually come back to haunt him in the form of a poor deep ball game and the occasional off-target pass or misread. Regardless, if Washington is going to have a shot here, then they need Taylor to step right in and do his thing.
Get the running game going
Green Bay has a poor run defense. Their opponents have averaged 4.9 yards per carry this year. If there was ever a game in which Washington should try to get its run game on track and become a solid asset for four quarters, it’s this game. Keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field is always a good thing, and if Heinicke does end up needing some time to get back into the swing of things, it would sure help if the run game worked. I think it will improve this week as a natural function of Green Bay’s defense, but whether they can produce at a level that will allow Washington to run a principally a ground game remains to be seen.
Smart secondary schemes and play
It’s not news to point out that Washington has many times this season had massive, touchdown-surrendering blown coverages. Second year player Benjamin St-Juste has seemingly become the most reliable corner on the field, and they’re going to need him against one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Clearly, Washington needs to have an outstanding day from the defensive backfield in order to have a shot at a win.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Green Bay running back Aaron Jones has at times been a nightmare this season, including 132 yards against the Bears and 110 against the Patriots. He’s averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Washington’s porous run defense probably isn’t built to slow him down, so they’ll need to rely on their middle linebacker, Holcomb, to focus on limiting Jones’ effectiveness.
Benamin St-Juste vs. Allen Lazard
St-Juste is Washington’s best corner, incredibly enough. Lazard is the Packers’ leading receiver as measured by yardage, and at 6’5”, he’s huge by receiver standards. Therefore, it seems logical that the job of matching up with Lazard will mostly fall to Washington’s largest and best corner, St-Juste. This matchup will be a fun one to keep an eye on during the course of the game.
Rashan Gary already has 6 sacks, and Washington’s offensive line has been absolutely horrid in pass protection. Left tackle Charles Leno has his hands full this week. Keep an eye out on how well this is going early in the game. If Gary is able to consistently get through Leno into Heinicke early in the game, it could be a long day.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful NL – not listed
| Washington | Packers |
| TE J. Bates, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; game: Q | WR R. Cobb, ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| WR D. Brown, groin; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | C/G J. Hanson, biceps; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| CB T. Castro-Fields, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: to IR | TE M. Lewis, NIR (Rest); Wed: NL; Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP |
| CB W. Jackson III, back; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | WR C. Watson, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| TE L. Thomas, calf; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | T D. Bakhtiari, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP |
| QB C. Wentz, right finger; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | G/T E. Jenkins, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP |
| RB J. Williams, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | LB R. Gary, toe; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP |
| T S. Cosmi, finger; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q | QB A. Rodgers, right thumb; Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP |
| WR J. Dotson, hamstring; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; game: Q | |
| S P. Butler, quad; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP |
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