Pittsburgh Steelers

Final Thoughts For Washington Redskins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Jul 28, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden walks onto the field prior to morning walkthrough on day one of training camp at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

It is almost game time for the Washington Redskins. Here are a few final notes before we go into the season.

The Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be playing tonight. The NFL season has officially arrived. The game, which will be the first of a Monday Night Football doubleheader, should be a great game and will continue the excitement of the first week of NFL games.

We have spent a lot of time this week talking about the two teams matchups, and what they will be able to do against each other. Now, it is time to have one last look at the game before it happens. Here are a few final thoughts on the Redskins home opener.

Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Robert Kelley (22) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills linebacker David Hawthorne (56) chases in the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

5. Robert Kelley Will Have To Have A Bigger Impact Than Matt Jones

I am not convinced that Matt Jones is going to be fully healthy for this game. He is supposedly recovered from his AC joint sprain, and he will almost certainly be active, but I doubt he will be that effective. He has missed too much time and may not be in the best shape for game one. Because of that, Robert Kelley will have to carry the load a bit more than usual.

For the game, I imagine that the Redskins will split carries pretty evenly between the two backs. If one of them gets the hot hand, then they may ride him out. However, the run game will likely struggle so I do not envision there being a real top back. I am interested to see who will fare better with even carries. My money would be on Kelley as of now, just because he is fully healthy and looked very good during the preseason. The Redskins should hope that he develops into a lead back.

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Josh Doctson (TCU) after being selected by the Washington Redskins as the number twenty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Inactives List: Keep An Eye On It

The Redskins are pretty much fully healthy heading into the 2016 season. They have a few minor injuries that players are dealing with, but nobody is really a threat to be out. If anything, the team may elect to keep some of their players out as a precaution. As of now, only five players are listed as questionable.

Of the five players listed, I would say that Kendall Reyes and Josh Doctson are most likely to be held out. Reyes has been battling a groin injury, and the team may elect to allow him to heal that before it become an issue. Besides, the team can operate with five down linemen and use Trent Murphy as a situational end.

Meanwhile, Doctson will almost certainly be out for the game. Though he is healthy now, the rookie will need time to learn the playbook and improve before making an impact. The team also will not want to risk him re-injuring his Achilles, so waiting a couple of weeks to get him healthier will be a smart move for the team.

Aug 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) stiff-arms New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams (25) in the first quarter of the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

3. Antonio Brown Over/Under 100 Yards

I have been talking about how important the Antonio Brown vs. Josh Norman matchup will be to the overall outcome of the game for what seems like weeks. Today, I have settled on a number that will likely tell us a good deal about the game. If Norman can hold Brown to under 100 yards, the Redskins will win. If Brown can record more than 100, then the Steelers will win.

Now, this is going to be a tall order for Norman. He is one of the best cornerbacks in the league, but Brown has been able to get open versus elite cornerbacks in the past. Still, Norman is better than the top corners that Brown has beat up in the past. Norman may be the toughest cornerback that he will face this season.

Because I think the Redskins have a chance in this contest, I think Norman could end up winning the battle. It will not be easy, but there is definitely a chance that Brown could have his worst game of the season against the upgraded Washington secondary.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin (98) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 29-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

2. Robert Griffin III Will Absolutely Not Be Missed

Last season, having Robert Griffin III around was a distraction for the Redskins. Though the team did not use him, he was constantly getting attention as the backup quarterback. The media was more focused on him than Kirk Cousins, and as a result that helped to keep the Redskins slightly under the radar.

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At the same time, having Griffin around was not good for the team’s chemistry. RG3 was the former franchise savior after all, but he disappointed so many times that the team just had to move on from him. It is safe to say that Griffin’s final days in Washington were rough, and sending him away definitely put less tension in the quarterback room.

Now, Griffin is on the Cleveland Browns, and the skies have not cleared up for him there. In his debut, he struggled mightily against the Philadelphia Eagles. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes, threw a pick, and did not look comfortable in the pocket. Griffin is washed up at this point, and it appears as though he will be considered a bust, barring a miraculous turn around.

With all of that said, the Redskins will be happy not to have Griffin around for the season opener. He simply was a negative presence on the team because of his attitude. The Redskins will be in better shape with Cousins as the established leader.

Jan 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) huddles his team during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Redskins Are The Underdogs Which Will Benefit Them

From everything I have read thus far, I have not heard of many who are picking the Redskins to win. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Steelers have a 56 percent chance of winning Monday night’s game. When we spoke to Still Curtain’s Kim Myers, she picked the Steelers to win in a blowout victory. Even the spread favors the Steelers as of right now. According to WalterFootball.com, the opening line favored the Steelers by 3 points.

With all of that said, this is going to give the Redskins a chance to surprise the Steelers. To be frank, the Steelers are missing a lot on offense and they do not have enough talent in the secondary to matchup with the elite Redskins receiving corps. This game really is a toss-up, and the Steelers should not be favored by so much.

Because of this, I think the Redskins have a good chance to come out and win. Nobody thought they would win the NFC East last year, and they proved everyone wrong. Getting a win over a perennial playoff team will only strengthen their quest to win the NFC East once again.

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