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Redskins Game Preview: Redskins/Vikings, Week 8

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On the heels of Sunday's loss to the 49ers, the Redskins face a quick turnaround for their Week 8 matchup, as they travel to U.S. Bank Stadium for a Thursday night game with the Minnesota Vikings at 8:20 p.m.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of this NFC clash:

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Find out where, when and how to watch, HERE.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Find out more about Thursday's contest by visiting, HERE.

Check out photos of the Washington Redskins during their regular season Week 7 game against the San Fransisco 49ers.

ALL-TIME SERIES

  • The two are tied 13-13 in their overall head-to-head record, though the Redskins have a 3-2 advantage in postseason play.
  • The two teams last met in Week 10 of 2017, when the Vikings won a shootout at FedExField, 38-30, behind 304 passing yards and four touchdowns from current Redskins starting quarterback, Case Keenum.

COACHING STAFF

Redskins:

  • HC Bill Callahan
  • OC Kevin O'Connell
  • DC Greg Manusky
  • STC Nate Kaczor

Vikings:

  • HC Mike Zimmer
  • OC Kevin Stefanski
  • DC George Edwards
  • STC Marwan Maalouf

KEY NEW FACES

Redskins:

  • LB Jon Bostic / Montez Sweat / Cole Holcomb
  • S Landon Collins
  • OT Ereck Flowers / Donald Penn
  • QB Case Keenum / Dwayne Haskins
  • WR Terry McLaurin

Vikings:

  • C Garrett Bradbury
  • TE Irv Smith Jr.
  • RB Alexander Mattison
  • P Britton Colquitt
  • RG Josh Kline
  • DT Shamar Stephen

OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

Redskins:

  • Bill Callahan has watched the Redskins split their first two games since being named interim head coach Oct. 7. In total, the offense and defense have netted 465 and allowed 554 yards, respectively, since Callahan assumed his new position.
  • With Chris Thompson's toe injury sidelining him for Week 6 against San Francisco, running back Wendell Smallwood saw more touches in Sunday's game. Smallwood averaged a season-high 4.6 yards per carry on five rushes and caught one pass for 18 yards.
  • Troy Apke, a fourth round draft pick out of Penn State in 2018, also took advantage of more playing time Sunday after starting safety Montae Nicholson went down with a ankle injury. In addition to recording his first-ever interception in the NFL, Apke recorded the highest player grade (86.6 overall) of any Redskin who saw at least 25 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Vikings:

  • The Vikings' selection of NC State center Garrett Bradbury in the first round of April's NFL Draft prompted the coaching staff's decision to move Pat Elfein, the team's former center, to left guard.
  • Currently in the midst of his 14th season with the Vikings, Kevin Stefanski transitioned into the role of full-time offensive coordinator in early January. Stefanski, who held the position on an interim basis at the end of last year, previously coached running backs, tight ends and quarterbacks for the team.

STORYLINES/THINGS TO WATCH

  • Case Keenum's first game back in Minneapolis -- For the first time since leading the Vikings to a NFC Championship game appearance in 2017, Case Keenum will suit up under center in U.S. Bank Stadium on Thursday night. Keenum threw for 3,547 yards and a career-high 22 touchdowns in his lone season with Minnesota.
  • Adrian Peterson's return -- Like Keenum, veteran running back Adrian Peterson will square off against his former team Thursday night. Peterson, who faces the Vikings for just the second time since signing with the New Orleans Saints in April of 2017, gained 11,747 yards on the ground in his ten seasons there.
  • Redskins' running game -- From the first day he became interim head coach, Callahan has promised a commitment to the run game. Through two games, he's followed with that by running the ball on 59 plays and throwing it 37 times.
  • Interception streak -- Apke's interception against San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garrappolo marked the sixth-straight week the Redskins had at least one interception. Apke's takeaway also pushed the Redskins' overall interception total to eight, which is tied for third-best in the NFL.

INTRIGUING MATCHUPS

  • Redskins defense vs. QB Kirk Cousins -- On the other side of the ball, Kirk Cousins will also get the chance to line up against his former team. A member of the Redskins from 2012-2017, Cousins will look to stay hot Thursday after totaling 976 yards and 10 touchdowns over his past three games.
  • Redskins defensive line vs. RB Dalvin Cook -- Washington's defensive front will have tall task in front of them by having to try and contain Minnesota's starting running back Dalvin Cook. The third-year player currently leads the league in rushing with 725 yards.
  • CB Quinton Dunbar vs. WR Stefon Diggs -- This is one of the premier matchups fans might see a lot of Thursday night. Dunbar has been a star in the Redskins' secondary thus far, leading the team in interceptions (3), while Diggs has continued to prove that he is one of the league's best receivers in 2019. He's already recorded 562 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
  • Redskins offensive line vs. LB Eric Kendricks -- Eric Kendricks has at least tied for the team lead in tackles over the Vikings' last four games, including last week's 12-tackle (6 solo) performance in Minnesota's win against the Detroit Lions. Overall, Kendricks has recorded a team-high 61 total tackles (44 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defended and a forced fumble.

INJURY UPDATE

The injury report for Week 8 matchup between the Redskins and the Vikings can be found, HERE.

PROJECTED WEATHER

REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS

Redskins:

  • Passing — QB Case Keenum (1,213 yards)
  • Rushing — RB Adrian Peterson (307 yards)
  • Receiving — WR Terry McLaurin (419 yards)
  • Touchdowns — QB Case Keenum (9)
  • Tackles — S Landon Collins (59, 41 solo)
  • Sacks — DE Jonathan Allen (3)
  • Interceptions — CB Quinton Dunbar (3)

Vikings:

  • Passing — QB Kirk Cousins (1,711 yards)
  • Rushing — RB Dalvin Cook (725 yards)
  • Receiving — WR Stefon Diggs (562 yards)
  • Touchdowns — QB Kirk Cousins (13)
  • Tackles — LB Eric Kendricks (61, 44 solo)
  • Sacks — DE Danielle Hunter (7)
  • Interceptions — S Anthony Harris (2)

REGULAR SEASON TEAM STATS

Redskins:

  • Total offense — 29th (267.6 YPG)
  • Scoring offense — 30th (12.9 PPG)
  • Passing offense — 31st (182.9 YPG)
  • Sacks allowed — 22nd (18)
  • Running offense — 24th (84.7 YPG)
  • Third down offense — 31st (25%)
  • Total defense — 21st (370.4 YPG)
  • Scoring defense — T-20th (25.1 PPG)
  • Passing defense — 12th (236.0 YPG)
  • Sacks — T-19th (16)
  • Running defense — 27th (134.4 YPG)
  • Third down defense — T-30th (50%)
  • Time of possession — 32nd (26:39)
  • Turnover differential — T-21st (-2)

Vikings:

  • Total offense — 6th (391.0 YPG)
  • Scoring offense — 6th (27.4 PPG) 
  • Passing offense — 17th (231.0 YPG)
  • Sacks allowed — T-8th (12)
  • Running offense — 3rd (160.0 YPG)
  • Third down offense — T-13th (42%) 
  • Total defense — T-6th (327.9 YPG)
  • Scoring defense — 6th (17.6 PPG)
  • Passing defense — 15th (237.9 YPG)
  • Sacks — T-9th (19)
  • Running defense — T-7th (90.0 YPG)
  • Third down defense — 13th (37%)
  • Time of possession — 17th (29:49)
  • Turnover differential — T-11th (+2)

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