NFL Washington Redskins

Jordan Reed Will Be X-Factor for Washington Redskins in Week 8

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Jordan Reed Washington Redskins

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Uncertainty surrounds the quarterback position for the Washington Redskins as the team prepares for a Monday night showdown against the rival Cowboys.

The Kirk Cousins experiment has failed and Colt McCoy has been named the starting quarterback for the game. But Robert Griffin III has reportedly been taking snaps with the first team this week, possibly hinting that Griffin could return from a dislocated ankle for this prime time matchup. Whoever the quarterback is for the Redskins on Monday night, he needs to get the ball to Jordan Reed.

If Washington is to pull off a monumental upset in Dallas, then Reed will be the x-factor on offense. The Redskins’ tight end has played in only two games this season after injuring his hamstring in Week 1. Reed has compiled 13 receptions for 146 yards and leads the team with 17 targets since returning to the lineup. He faces a Dallas defense that’s had its issues containing athletic tight ends this season.

Reed is a potential matchup problem for defenses, as he is too quick for linebackers and too big for safeties to cover. He could exploit a Dallas secondary that has allowed the most completions (50) to opposing tight ends this season. The Cowboys have given up seven touchdowns to tight ends this year and four 100-yard receiving games. Though the Dallas defense is much improved and better than most expected, this is still an area that is a weakness.

Washington’s offense will be aided by Reed’s presence in many ways, most notably on third down. The Redskins are 31st in the NFL with a 31.7 percent conversion rate. In nine games last season, Reed caught 14 passes on third down, 13 of which moved the chains for a first down. The 6-foot-2 tight end can be a quarterback’s best friend in these situations, using his athletic gifts to get open and keep drives going. Having Reed occupying the middle should open things up for DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon to make plays on the outside.

With the way the Cowboys are playing right now, the Redskins will have to score plenty of points to compete on Monday night. The defense will likely have its hands full with DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant. Dallas has emerged as one of the NFC’s best teams at 6-1, while Washington has struggled to a 2-5 start. You can throw the records aside when these two rivals collide, but the Redskins will need a flawless performance in order to emerge victorious. It all starts with getting their play-making tight end involved in the offensive strategy.

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