Here is what you need to know on this Wednesday, November 15, four days before the Washington Redskins play the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes Benz Superdome.
Timeline
Today’s schedule: Practice 1 p.m.; Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins news conferences and open locker room after practice, approx. 3 p.m.
Days until:
—Redskins @ Saints (11/9) 4
—Giants @ Redskins Thanksgiving (11/23) 8
—Redskins @ Cowboys Thursday night (11/30) 15
Quick Redskins news hits
Roster moves
As expected, the Redskins made some roster moves, cutting defensive lineman Brandon Banks and putting LB Will Compton and RB Rob Kelley on injured reserve.
The Redskins signed RB Byron Marshall, who played in three games for the Eagles last year. With Kelley on IR, the Redskins need some depth behind Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson.
They also brought in DL Caraun Reid (we’ll have to check with him on the pronunciation of his first name), who has played in 34 games with 12 starts for the Lions and Chargers since Detroit made him a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft. After releasing Banks had five defensive linemen on the roster and with the status of Matt Ioannidis uncertain the brought in Reid for some experienced depth.
First look at Redskins vs Saints
Pick your poison: Drew Brees is on pace to pass for about 4,300 yards this season. That might seem like an off year for the king of the 5,000-yard passing season (he has five such seasons, all other quarterbacks who have played the game have a total of four). But he is completing 71.7 percent of his passes and he’s perfectly happy to pass less often because he can hand the ball off. Brees can give it to Mark Ingram, who is on pace to rush for 1,200 yards, or rookie Alvin Kamara, on pace for 750. Put eight in the box and Brees will kill you. Loosen up the defense and the running backs will pound you.
More questionable opposition: Last week there was a lot of talk that the Vikings had played a soft schedule. They beat the Redskins anyway. But for the record, the Saints’ slate hasn’t been too tough, either. They lost to the two best teams they have played, the Vikings and the Patriots. Their most impressive win was in Week 3 on the road against the Panthers. Since then they have won against the Dolphins in London, the Lions at home, the Packers at Lambeau playing their first game after Aaron Rodgers was injured, the downtrodden Bears and Bucs at home, and at Buffalo. That doesn’t mean that they’re not a very good team but they haven’t been tested like the Redskins have.
Potpourri: Brees’ 71.7 percent completion rate is on pace to break the NFL record . . . The Redskins have won four of their last five games against the Saints dating back to 2006 . . . The Redskins are 9-3 all-time in New Orleans. Of course, in some of those seasons, the fans of the home team were wearing paper bags over their heads . . . In his six career games against the Redskins, Brees has thrown eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has a 58.6 completion rate, his lowest against any NFL team.
Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page Facebook.com/TandlerNBCS and follow him on Twitter @TandlerNBCS.
Tandler on Twitter
https://twitter.com/nparrygk/status/930403607366615041They are behind four five-win teams for seventh seed. The six seed Seahawks have six wins. A lot would have to go their way to get them in with nine wins. https://t.co/odSnMlrHNb
— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) November 14, 2017
In case you missed it
- Redskins make roster moves
- Junkies: Saints look like 'most difficult task to date'
- Redskins can't get on a roll