Anatomy of an Upset: Leaving the Big Easy with a Big “W”

By Ray Smith
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Updated: September 9, 2012

Redskins fans this is what you have been waiting for. In just a few hours your Washington Redskins march on New Orleans to kick of the RG3 Era in DC.

Listen I could sit here and blow smoke about how the Redskins are never going to lose again now that they have Robert Griffin III but you have already heard that from every other media outlet/blog since March.

The last time we saw Drew Brees and this dynamic New Orleans Offense, they were carving up arguably the best secondary in the NFL as they closed out a record-setting year.

Let’s be clear, the 2011 New Orleans Saints were the best Offense in history…HISTORY.

Just in case you were wondering, the best offense of all time didn’t lose any pieces.

The Saints offense is undoubtedly spectacular while the Redskins defensive secondary is…well… not. This is terrible news for Redskins Nation as the weakest spot on the 2012 squad is the secondary and that was before they lost Tenard Jackson and Brandon Meriweather.

To say Sunday’s Battle in the Bayou will be a challenge for the new look Redskins would be an understatement, but hey it’s the NFL and “any given Sunday” right?

Good news Redskins faithful – these aren’t Jim Zorn’s Skins.

But just how in the heck are they going to be able leave the Big Easy with a Big “W”?

Control the clock:

While serious concerns with how the secondary matches up against Brees remain, the offense should be able to move the chains against a Saints defense who should be short a few pieces.

While everyone will be dreaming of Griffin putting up Maddenesque numbers tonight (if you can even sleep), but if the Redskins want to steal one tomorrow they are going to have to establish the run and control the clock.

All signs point to Royster getting the start (so I wouldn’t start him in Fantasy Football), but whoever is getting the carries needs to make a habit out of moving the chains allowing the offense to chew up the clock.

Weird to say, but the best defense for this scary good Saints offense is a clock eating offense that will keep Drew on the sidelines.

Win in the trenches:

While the clear weakness of the 2012 Redskins is the secondary, the strength is the defensive front seven. IF the this group can apply pressure on Brees they just may be able to keep him from carving the secondary up like a Thanksgiving Turkey.

Our Buddy Andrew over at The Saints Nation seems to believe if Washington can rack up 5 sacks that will lead to a win and I hope he is right.

If this front seven fails to dominate fans had better hope RG3 is as good as we have been told he is because he will have to put up 30+ to keep this game close.

Neutralize Who Dat Nation:

Saints fans are crazy, like ex girlfriend crazy. I can’t think of many more hostile environments for Griffin to get his first game experience as a Redskins and those Saints fans are going to do everything they can to be a factor in the game.

They say the best way to deal with a bully is to punch him in the mouth and that is exactly what the Redskins offense needs to do early on.

In a perfect world they could open the game with a big play like they against Indy only you know, pulling it off. Nothing would shut up arguably the most pissed off fan base in football like a big early score.

Maybe Shanahan should just threaten to make the team send another week in the bubble with Darrel Young’s Miley Cyrus CD if they can’t take the fans out of this one early?

Score more points:

I know, captain obvious here but I am actually being serious here.

It is no secret I am a little worried about Brees adding another career day on this spotty pass defense, but I do have to wonder if Mike and Kyle were able to add enough firepower to this offense to win a shootout.

Even if the Redskins were lights out against the air attack I still have to believe this would be a high scoring game. It has been a long time since this team has been able to score enough points to make a bad secondary irrelevant.

Can Sunday be the day?

While i know this one is a reach, I really hope for the sake of Mike Shanahan’s undefeated opening day streak that this scenario is the one that pans out.

Win lose or draw, this game is a big one for the franchise as well as the fans and we CAN’T WAIT. So if you happen to see random 4:30 am tweets from the SOW team know that we are not getting up extra early to take one of those jogging photography classes… we are just completely geeked out to finally see what 2012 holds for our beloved Burgundy and Gold.