Lions-Redskins Under 50
If Robert Griffin III and Reggie Bush were both healthy, I wouldn’t consider going under the total. But they aren’t.
Griffin is working his way back into shape after missing the entire offseason and preseason following knee surgery. He has yet to display the running skills he had before the injury. Bush isn’t likely to play greatly reducing the Lions’ offense. If he does play, he won’t be at 100 percent.
Both Griffin and the Lions offense are impacted by this game being played on grass. Griffin’s lifetime quarterback percentage is down 20 points when playing on grass as opposed to artificial turf. The Lions are a carpet team. They were held to 21 at Arizona last week. The Lions are averaging just 17 points during their past three grass
contests.
Neither team has good field goal kickers either. The Redskins are going with backup John Potter, who missed his only field goal try in the NFL last week. Lions kicker David Akers was horrible with San Francisco last year and he’s been bad, too, with the Lions. He just may be washed up.
The Redskins’ defense is better than perceived. The Redskins faced the Eagles in Week 1 and were caught flatfooted as other teams will be when they take on Philadelphia’s fast break offense. Then the Redskins had to play the Packers in Green Bay last week. The Packers may have the best offense in football.
Washington’s defense is healthier than what it was last year. The Lions are not intimidating away from home, especially when playing on grass and not having a healthy Bush.
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