Lions at Redskins
FedEx Field, Raljon, Md.,
Saturday, Jan. 8
AT A GLANCE: The Lions are stumbling into the playoffs looking for
answers, while the Redskins have proven to be a dangerous team. Lions QB Charlie Batch
(thumb) and Redskins RB Stephen Davis (ankle) were questionable at presstime.
|
| OVERVIEW: Not much was expected out of the Lions after
Barry Sanders retired, but the team held together and fought the odds and the doubters to
forge a 6-2 start. Since then, however, the Lions (8-8) have come back down to earth,
showing many vulnerabilities along the way. They come to Washington in the midst of a
four-game losing streak. The explosiveness of the Redskins’ offense is
well-documented, but so are the weaknesses of the Redskins’ defense, which has let
them down on more than one occasion this season. The Redskins (10-6) appear to be coming
around as of late defensively, having held their last four opponents to an average of 14.3
points per game.
The Lions knocked off the Redskins 33-17 in Detroit in Week 13 but were outgained by 41
yards.
WHEN THE LIONS HAVE THE BALL:
As of presstime, it was uncertain who would be the starting quarterback for Detroit.
Charlie Batch finally returned in Week 15 after missing five games with an injured thumb,
but he reaggravated the injury when he hit his hand on the helmet of an offensive linemen
last week. He is questionable. If Batch can’t go, the job will belong to ex-Redskin
Gus Frerotte again. Frerotte has played well in relief but became less effective as the
weeks went by.
Batch is more mobile, is a better leader and is more familiar with offense. But if he
can’t go, the Lions hope Frerotte will be able to step in without a problem as he did
earlier this season.
The Lions got RB Ron Rivers back from a broken ankle last week, but the ground game
remained grounded. Detroit has failed to rush for 100 yards in five of its last six games
and mustered just 16 yards rushing in the season finale vs. the Vikings.
Losing OLT Ray Roberts to injury has forced the Lions to shift C Mike Compton outside
to replace him, with backup Eric Beverly starting at center. But clearly, things
haven’t worked as planned between the rushing woes and the 12 sacks the Lions have
given up in the past two games.
The Lions may want to try to establish that struggling running attack early in the
game, as the Redskins have had loads of trouble stopping the opposition on the ground.
Washington gave up 250 yards rushing to the 49ers in Week 16 and then surrendered 119 to
the Dolphins last week. |
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|
Profile |
| FedEx Field |
| Raljon, Md. |
| Date: Saturday, January 8, 2000 |
| 4:05 P.M. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Second |
| Previous Meeting: |
| |
Detroit |
33 |
| |
Washington |
( +3) 17 |
| Season Record: |
| |
Detroit |
8-8-0 |
| |
Washington |
10-6-0 |
| Season Record vs. Spread: |
| |
Detroit |
8-8-0 |
| |
Washington |
8-8-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Detroit (R) |
2-6-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
6-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record vs. Spread: |
| |
Detroit (R) |
3-5-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
4-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Detroit |
1-5-0 |
| |
Washington |
8-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf vs. Spread: |
| |
Detroit |
1-5-0 |
| |
Washington |
5-5-0 |
|
|
| If the Lions are to be successful, they will need maximum production from their WR
trio of Herman Moore, Germane Crowell and Johnnie Morton. They’ll face a solid CB duo
of veteran Darrell Green and rookie Champ Bailey. The Redskins’ defensive line is
loaded with big names but hasn’t been big on production. Washington’s young LB
corps improved a bit late in the season.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL:
Washington is hoping to have RB Stephen Davis back in the lineup for the playoffs.
Davis (1,405 yards and 17 TDs) was held out the past two weeks with a sprained ankle but
should return to action. His replacement, Skip Hicks, averaged just 2.4 yards per carry
vs. the Dolphins, while Davis averaged 4.8 yards over the course of the season.
Despite solid numbers from QB Brad Johnson, the offensive line has not been pass
blocking well when the Redskins have been forced to throw. Over the first eight games of
the season, Washington gave up only 10 sacks. Since midseason, it’s been a different
story, as oppponents have gotten to the passer 21 times over the last eight games.
Despite the breakdowns, Johnson has been the main reason the offense has thrived. He
has been able to get rid of the ball quickly and spreads it around to his receivers to
keep the defense honest.
Washington loves to throw to RBs Brian Mitchell and Larry Centers out of the backfield,
and if Davis’ ankle can hold up, look for him to get a healthy dose of carries
between the tackles.
The Lions’ secondary has struggled lately. CB Terry Fair has missed time with a
broken knuckle, and DB Dwayne Harper has had problems in single coverage. Bryant Westbrook
is finally healthy and confident again but still gets penalized too much.
The Lions’ strength on defense lies in their front seven. The defensive line, led
by DLE Robert Porcher, has been disruptive on a consistent basis. When the line does the
job, Detroit’s speedy LB corps, headed by Pro Bowl MLB Stephen Boyd, is able to go
sideline to sideline to make plays.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 2, 2000 |
|
Lions depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
87 MORTON, 83 Stablein, 18 Howard |
| OLT |
77 COMPTON, 75 Ramirez |
| OLG |
62 SEMPLE, 65 Blaise |
| C |
79 BEVERLY, 77 Compton |
| ORG |
64 HARTINGS, 69 Janus |
| ORT |
76 BROOKS, 74 Roque |
| TE |
86 SLOAN, 89 Rasby, 45 Smith |
| WR |
84 MOORE, 82 Crowell, 80 Uwaezuoke |
| QB |
10 BATCH, 12 Frerotte, 16 Sauter |
| RB |
34 RIVERS, 21 Hill, 33 Irvin* |
| FB |
30 SCHLESINGER, 36 Reece |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
91 PORCHER, 92 Pringley* |
| NT |
98 JONES, 93 Pritchett |
| UT |
94 ELLISS, 90 Owens |
| DRE |
97 SCROGGINS, 67 Kirschke, 95 DeVries* |
| SLB |
55 ALDRIDGE, 58 Kriewaldt*, 59 O'Neill |
| MLB |
57 BOYD |
| WLB |
50 CLAIBORNE*, 52 Kowalkowski |
| LCB |
32 WESTBROOK, 40 Harper, 38 Dixon* |
| RCB |
35 BAILEY, 39 Campbell, 31 J. Brown |
| FS |
27 CARRIER, 44 C. Brown |
| SS |
28 RICE, 25 Talton* |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
19 JETT |
| PK |
4 HANSON |
| H |
19 JETT |
| PR |
18 HOWARD, 80 Uwaezuoke, 33 Irvin* |
| KR |
18 HOWARD, 25 Talton*, 82 Crowell |
| KC |
77 COMPTON, 55 Aldridge, 86 Sloan |
* Rookie |
|
|
Redskins depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
82 WESTBROOK, 87 Thrash |
| OLT |
64 HECK, 79 Vickers |
| OLG |
63 SIMS, 74 Badger |
| C |
52 RAYMER, 60 Fischer, 66 Turk |
| ORG |
77 T. JOHNSON, 74 Badger, 69 Milstead |
| ORT |
76 JANSEN*, 73 J. Brown |
| TE |
80 ALEXANDER, 88 Jenkins |
| WR |
83 CONNELL, 86 Fryar, 84 Thompson |
| QB |
14 B. JOHNSON, 16 Peete, 11 Weldon |
| RB |
48 S. DAVIS, 20 Hicks, 30 B. Mitchell |
| FB |
37 CENTERS, 45 Sellers |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
75 COOK, 90 Lang, 72 Kalu |
| DLT |
95 WILKINSON, 93 Boute |
| DRT |
94 STUBBLEFIELD, 78 Brown, 71 Tanner |
| DRE |
99 COLEMAN, 75 Cook |
| LLB |
54 JONES, 51 Francis |
| MLB |
50 D. SMITH, 56 Gouveia |
| RLB |
59 BARBER, 53 Mason |
| LCB |
24 BAILEY*, 21 McMillian, 31 Pounds |
| RCB |
28 GREEN, 25 Denton |
| SS |
29 SHADE, 23 Stevens, 26 Buckley |
| FS |
23 STEVENS, 35 Evans |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
1 M. TURK |
| PK |
5 CONWAY |
| H |
1 M. TURK, 14 B. Johnson |
| PR |
30 MITCHELL, 87 Thrash |
| KR |
30 MITCHELL, 87 Thrash |
| KC |
66 D. TURK |
* Rookie |
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