Two NFC clubs will look to keep their fading playoff hopes alive Sunday when the Washington Redskins visit the St. Louis Rams. Rookie Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his first career start at QB for the Rams. He came off the bench when Jamie Martin went down with a concussion and helped the Rams rally from a 24-3 deficit in a 33-27 overtime victory at Houston. The win improved the Rams record to 5-6 and kept their NFC wildcard hopes alive.
Fitzpatrick completed 19-of-30 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He threw a 43-yard TD pass to Isaac Bruce with 26 seconds remaining and, after the Rams recovered the onside kick, threw a 19-yard pass to Torry Holt to set up a game-tying 47-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins with four seconds left in regulation.
Of course, the Rams are used to surprising stories when it comes to the quarterback position. In 1999, Kurt Warner went from a grocery store clerk to winning his first of two Most Valuable Player awards as the Rams won the Super Bowl. Warner was replaced as the starter several years ago by Marc Bulger who this year was troubled by numerous injuries. Bulger was replaced by Martin who is now being replaced by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick will be tested against the Redskins, who rank 10th overall in total defense. But the Redskins have lost three in a row straight-up and ATS. After a 5-3 start that had them in contention in the NFC East the Redskins have fallen to 5-6 on the year both straight-up and ATS. They are 1-4 straight-up on the road and 2-3 ATS.
Their troubles began in Week 10 when they squandered a lead late at Tampa Bay and lost at the gun 36-35. They followed that up with home losses to Oakland (16-13) and San Diego (23-17).
The Redskins have gone under the total in four of their last five games. They scored 35 points in the one contest but totaled just 47 in the other four. For the season they are averaging 19.7 points/game while allowing 20.4.
The Rams are averaging 25.9 points/game while allowing 29.7. After a 2-4 start they have won three and covered three of their last five. They defeated New Orleans and Jacksonville at home during that stretch, lost at Seattle, dropped a home game to the Cardinals and then rallied last week to beat the Texans on the road.
The Rams are 3-2 this year at home (2-3 ATS). They have not played Washington since the 2002 season when they lost 20-17 as a 3.5-point road favorite.
After starting 3-0 in Hal of Fame coach Joe Gibbs' second season back on the sidelines, the Redskins have dropped six of their last eight games. They are tied with Philadelphia for last place in the NFC East, two games behind Dallas and the New York Giants.
Last week, the Redskins squandered a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 23-17 overtime loss against San Diego. Santana Moss continued his big season with six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. The speedster has 63 receptions for 1,053 yards and six TDs in his first season with the Redskins.
The Redskins opened and remain a field goal choice over the Rams at the Edward James Dome. The total has creeped up to 46 from the 45 opener. Before you get down on this contest, don’t miss out on the Experts
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