When the Washington Redskins face off against the Atlanta Falcons, Robert Griffin III will not be under center. Head coach Mike Shanahan opted to bench the quarterback for the remainder of the season, noting health as the main reason. Backup Kirk Cousins will get the start in game that no longer has postseason implications.
Both Atlanta and Washington underachieved in 2013. Both teams entered with dreams of possibly earning a trip to the Super Bowl, but instead will be fighting more for draft order than anything else. The Falcons and Redskins were both division winners in 2012 only to fall to the worst records in the NFC in 2013.
The NFC matchup between Atlanta and Washington no longer has a play into the postseason, but instead could have major implications for the 2014 NFL Draft. Both teams are vying for an early draft pick. Both the Falcons and the Redskins did not expect to be at this level in 2013, but injuries and inconsistencies have made this hyped matchup slightly less marquee.
Cousins will get his seventh appearance in his young NFL career. The backup quarterback won his only start last December against Cleveland. He threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns.The start comes after the Redskins deemed Griffin not healthy enough to play despite the quarterback denying the notion. He has been sacked 24 times in five straight losses. The Redskins are not going anywhere, so Griffin is done.
Atlanta's season has been headlined by a heavy amount of injuries on defense. The unit now ranks 29th in points allowed and 26th in yards allowed. Their offense is not much better. The team was supposed to have one of the deadliest units in the league. However, they are only managing 18.4 points a game and quarterback Matt Ryan is spending more time on the ground.
The Falcons have won three straight games against the Redskins. This game could really go either way. The Falcons are struggling to stop anyone. The Redskins have a backup quarterback getting his second start. The loser of Sunday's game gets one spot closer to the top draft pick.
