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Redskins vs. Cardinals: Preview, score prediction and more for Week 1

By Bryan Manning

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 24: Running back Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins rushes past linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos in the first quarter during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 24: Running back Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins rushes past linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos in the first quarter during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Redskins take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2018 NFL season. Preview and prediction for Sunday’s matchup.

The Washington Redskins open the 2018 NFL season on Sunday with a trip out west to face the Arizona Cardinals. It’s the first game for new Arizona head coach Steve Wilks, who spent the past six seasons with the Carolina Panthers and was the defensive coordinator there in 2017. It’s also the first game for Alex Smith as quarterback of the Redskins and Sam Bradford at quarterback for Arizona.

Each team features a familiar face at running back. Washington signed Adrian Peterson late in the preseason after an injury to Derrius Guice and the future Hall of Famer looked outstanding in his one exhibition outing. Remember, Peterson played part of the 2017 season for Arizona before being released in the offseason.

He’s out to prove the Cardinals were wrong for cutting him loose. Meanwhile, Arizona features the return of David Johnson, who missed all but one game in 2017. Johnson is playing for a contract is out to prove he’s the best running back in the game.

These teams have faced one another in each of the last two years.  Arizona defeated Washington in 2016, while the Redskins won last season’s meeting. Blaine Gabbert was under center in last season’s game for Arizona and completed just 16 of 41 passes in of the ugliest quarterback outings of the 2017 season.

Redskins Keys to Victory

For the Redskins, they need two things to go well; a strong performance from Smith and the new-look defense to shut down Johnson and Arizona’s running game. Defensively, the Redskins must bottle up Johnson and make Bradford one-dimensional. Anytime you make Bradford one-dimensional, you can generally pressure him into mistakes. Bradford will not always throw a lot of interceptions, but he will take sacks. Washington’s defense needs negative plays.

What will the Redskins get out of Peterson? While they would love for him to rush for over 100 yards in his debut, they’re realistic and would settle for around 80 yards. He needs to give Smith just enough of a running game to make things easier in the passing game for Jordan Reed, Chris Thompson, Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson.

The Redskins need a big game from one of their top pass catchers on Sunday.

Cardinals Keys to Victory

Arizona must get Johnson going early and often. If Johnson can make some big plays in the running game the Cardinals will be tough to beat. That puts more pressure on Washington’s defense. If the Redskins key on Arizona’s running game that makes them commit an extra defender to stop Johnson, meaning there’s more pressure on Washington’s young secondary.

Can the Redskins defend Larry Fitzgerald? Arizona should find out. Fabian Moreau starts his first NFL game in the slot and has a big test in front of him not only replacing Kendall Fuller but facing one of the best receivers of all time.

The Cardinals should test Washington’s secondary, especially Moreau if he’s matched up with Fitzgerald.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Arizona -1
Moneyline: Washington +100, Arizona -120
Over/Under: 43.5

All odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

Prediction

The Redskins are 0-4 is season-openers under Jay Gruden. They can ill-afford another loss in the opener as the schedule toughens up significantly beginning in Week 3. The Redskins need this game.

Arizona has talent on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals are featuring a new defensive scheme that will look similar to the one Wilks ran in Carolina. It’s a scheme that has given the Redskins trouble in recent years. While the Cardinals don’t quite have Carolina’s defensive line talent outside of Chandler Jones, there are good players on every level, especially in the secondary with Patrick Peterson, Deone Bucannon and Budda Baker.

dark. Next. 20 Bold predictions for NFL Week 1

This game will be ugly and will ultimately come down to which quarterback takes better care of the football. On Sunday, that’s Alex Smith, leading to a Washington victory and Gruden wins his first season opener.

Final Score: Washington Redskins 20, Arizona Cardinals 17

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