ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Linebacker Keenan Robinson has signed a contract with the Washington Redskins, who picked him in the fourth round of last month’s NFL draft.

The 6-foot-3, 242-pound Robinson played college football at Texas, including one season with Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo.

Robinson was a three-year starter for the Longhorns and was the 119th overall pick in the draft.

He is expected to provide depth at linebacker for the Redskins in their 3-4 defense, behind starters Orakpo, London Fletcher, Ryan Kerrigan and Perry Riley.

The team announced Robinson’s deal Thursday.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ask any Redskins fan how Brian Orakpo did last year and you’ll probably hear the same thing, “Once Kerrigan got there, Orakpo took a step back.” From an “eyeball test” standpoint, many fans and critics alike think that Orakpo had a down year in 2011. 

Maybe the league is starting to figure him out? Maybe he peaked in his rookie year?

Where does this school of thought come from?

Some will point out that his sack numbers have been down since his rookie year. Others may say it was the switch to the 3-4 that hurt him.

But in 2011, Brian Orakpo set a career high for combined tackles, assists, pass deflections and forced fumbles.

At his right outside linebacker spot, Orakpo is routinely going up against the best athlete on the opposition’s offensive line. With the emergence of Ryan Kerrigan, the backfield chips and double-teams may not necessarily go to Orakpo each time.

However, if Orakpo and Kerrigan have the ability to swap spots on any given down, it adds another dimension to the defense. When an offense picks out a particular weakness or strength in either players’ game, they are going to develop there game plan to either offset or take advantage of what the OLBs are presenting.

If an offense doesn’t know whether or not Orakpo is rushing from the strong side or weak side or if Kerrigan is dropping into coverage or delaying a blitz from either side, it will keep the offense on their toes. Opposing quarterbacks will have to consistently make more adjustments at the line to try and adapt on the fly.

Great defenses excel when they put their Pro Bowlers in the best positions to succeed. The Cowboys move DeMarcus Ware all around their defensive front throughout a game. Even though it’s not a direct correlation, the Steelers allow Troy Polamalu to line up in a number of different spots pre-snap.

With London Fletcher back and a healthy Jarvis Jenkins, Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan are going to be a force to reckon with. Add in the extra dimension of strong-side/weak-side interoperability and the Redskins front seven will be downright dangerous. 

The team returns 2011 first-round draft choice Ryan Kerrigan, who complements star outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, as well as nose tackle Barry Cofield and end Stephen Bowen–all of whom teamed with Carriker to give Washington a formidable line last season. The Redskins also re-signed veteran defensive end Kedric Golston, and get back 2011 second-round pick Jarvis Jenkins , who has recovered from the ACL tear he suffered last preseason.

“We think the front is about as good as it gets,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said earlier this offseason. “But we need to get some stability on the back end. … We’re not done rebuilding and we’re not done doing the things we want to do on defense.”

So despite more pressing needs on offense, the Redskins likely will look to make a draft selection or two to improve depth and add competition on defense. Safety represents one of the biggest needs.

This offseason, the team allowed dynamic – yet oft-injured – strong safety LaRon Landry to depart via free agency. A bad Achilles’ tendon had limited Landry to a combined 17 games in the last two seasons, and he elected not to have surgery during the offseason. The Redskins were leery of making a significant investment in a player who ended the last two seasons on injured reserve.

The team also parted with free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who battled various injuries and didn’t perform as well as the team had hoped. Washington released him in March.

Six-year veteran Reed Doughty and then-rookie DeJon Gomes saw significant playing time last season. The hope is that Gomes – one of the Redskins’ fifth-round picks last April – can develop into a starter in his second season. But Washington also signed veteran free agents Brandon Meriweather, Tanard Jackson and Madieu Williams during the offseason. None of those players was a full-time starter last season, however.

The team, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, has had contact with Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas, a projected mid-round player. Thomas last season recorded six interceptions, which ranked sixth in Division I football.

Other safeties expected to be available in the third through fifth rounds include Antonio Allen of South Carolina, Michigan State’s Trent Robinson, Aaron Henry of Wisconsin and Janzen Jackson of McNeese State.

At cornerback, DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson return as starters, but Washington lacked a consistent option at nickelback. Kevin Barnes, who split time at that spot with Byron Westbrook, remains under contract, but Westbrook is a free agent. Brandyn Thompson – one of Washington’s seventh-round picks in 2011 – remains on the roster after appearing in six games during his rookies season. The Redskins also added veterans Leigh Torence and Cedric Griffin in free agency.

Talented corners are likley to be available for the Redskins, who have a third-round pick, two fourth-rounders, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh. But the question for a team that also has needs at other positions is how long can they afford to wait before taking one.

“The cornerbacks are going to come flying off the board,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “… I roughly see 25 to 27 cornerbacks that could be in the top 150, 175. In this league, this pass happy league, you’ve got to have corners.”

One third- or fourth-round option could be Arizona State’s Omar Bolden, who established himself as one of college football’s top corners in 2010, earning All-Pacific-10 Conference First-Team honors that year. But he missed the 2011 season with a torn ACL.

Bolden, now fully recovered, clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at his school’s Pro Day last month and possesses the talent of a higher-round pick. But because of his injury history, he isn’t expected to hear his name called until the middle of the draft.

Oklahoma’s Jammell Fleming, Furman’s Ryan Steed, West Virginia’s Keith Tandy, Iowa State’s Leonard Johnson and Texas A&M’s Coryell Judie also lead a group of cornerbacks projected for selection in the draft’s middle rounds.

Though it is a less pressing need, the Redskins may want to look at inside linebackers. Fletcher and third-year pro Perry Riley are the starters, and Lorenzo Alexander and free agent addition Bryan Kehl are expected to serve as the backups.

Mid- to late-round prospects include Nevada’s James-Michael Johnson, Kyler Wilber of Wake Forest, Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict and Audie Cole of N.C. State.

For a long time this author has advocated the Redskins adding another pure pass-rusher to their defense. Outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan are charged with providing the main pressure threat in the base defense.

The duo are also required to do the same whenever the Redskins switch to a four-man line in nickel and dime packages. Drafting another rush threat would not only give Jim Haslett another lineman to attack blocking schemes with, it would also help ease the burden on Orakpo and Kerrigan.

Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lindsey would be an absolute steal in Round 5. He is effective rushing from the open side of the formation thanks to excellent first-step quickness and underrated closing speed.

At 6’2″ and 255 pounds, Lindsey has the frame and flexibility to rush from a two or three-point stance. Orakpo often moves over to the strong side in nickel fronts, so Lindsey could line up as a speed rushing end on the weak side for third downs and spell Kerrigan. Or he could even allow one of Orakpo or Kerrigan to act as a standup blitzer in a package featuring all three pass-rushers.

Lindsey is sometimes soft against the run, so a strict role as a nickel rusher would be the best way to utilise him. But he has a talent for the strip sack, and his presence could increase the versatility and turnover potential of the Redskins’ third-down schemes.

PHILADELPHIA – With the clock winding down in the first half, the Washington Redskins’ field-goal unit hurried onto the field only to watch time run out before attempting a short kick.

That about sums up the season for the Redskins.

Michael Vick threw three touchdown passes, including a 62-yarder to DeSean Jackson, and the Eagles beat Washington 34-10 Sunday for their fourth straight win.

While the Eagles (8-8) go home feeling positive about a strong finish, the Redskins (5-11) have fewer bright spots. They finished last in the NFC East for a franchise-worst fourth straight year. It was Mike Shanahan’s worst full season in 18 years as a coach.

“I think the last five, six games we’ve done some good things, run the football against some good teams, not as good as we need, though,” Shanahan said. “We talked about adding a few pieces on offense, we need a few pieces on defense, a good draft, but we made some strides. Our football team is a lot different than a year ago, and that’s a positive.”

The Redskins had one more win last year, but feel they made strides this season.

“Oh yeah, tremendously,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “Even though our record’s worse, I feel like our defense is tops in the league. Statistically, we kind of fell off toward the end, but I really feel like we got the core guys we can build off of and really look for a bright future for this team, especially with all the young guys you see this year.”

It’s the first time since 2007 that Philadelphia didn’t qualify for postseason play and just the fourth time in coach Andy Reid’s 13 seasons.

“We have to get better all the way around, starting with me,” Reid said. “This wasn’t good enough.”

One of four NFL games on the final day that had no playoff ramifications, this had the feel of a preseason game. There were thousands of empty seats at the always sold-out Linc, and there was far more interest in the Mummer’s Parade on Broad Street.

The Winter Classic alumni game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers across the street at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday generated more excitement.

Playing without NFC leading rusher LeSean McCoy, the Eagles relied mainly on their passing attack. Vick threw for 335 yards, becoming the second player to have consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing.

Rex Grossman had 256 yards passing, one TD and one interception, and Evan Royster had 113 yards rushing for Washington.

“I’m not sure what my opportunities are going to be,” said Grossman, who will be a free agent. “I hope this is the best opportunity. It’s a very good team. I’m proud of every single teammate that I played with. Everybody worked hard, nobody gave up. We have great character in that locker room. Even though we finished where we finished, I was proud to be a part of this team.”

The Redskins were 3-1 and leading the NFC East when the teams met on Oct. 16. A 20-13 loss to Philadelphia started their six-game losing streak and knocked them out of the playoff picture.

“I think it was encouraging to see how we played in the first half of games this season, but was disappointed that we did not finish some games,” linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. “We did not always play up to par this season.”

Vick’s 7-yard TD pass to Chad Hall in the second quarter gave Philadelphia a 10-0 lead after Derek Landri blocked Graham Gano’s 36-yard field-goal attempt.

Vick connected with Jackson to make it 20-10 in the fourth quarter. It could’ve been Jackson’s last game with the Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver played the final year of his rookie contract and never got the extension he wanted after holding out in training camp.

A 4-yard TD toss from Vick to Brent Celek made it 27-10.

Roy Helu turned a screen pass into a 47-yard TD to get Washington to 10-7 on the opening drive of the second half.

The Redskins turned the ball over on downs at the Eagles 35 in the final minute of the second quarter. They got the ball back when Brian Orakpo sacked Vick and forced a fumble. Perry Riley recovered at the 17, but the Redskins wasted the field position.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on Santana Moss for taking off his helmet and arguing a non-call for pass interference pushed the ball back, and the clock expired before Gano could attempt a field goal after Jabar Gaffney was tackled at the Eagles 7. Long snapper Nick Sundberg wasn’t on the field as players scurried to the line of scrimmage.

“A little mix-up there relative to communication, coupled with not getting the play,” Shanahan said, explaining that the headsets weren’t working at the time.

NOTES: Grossman finished with 20 interceptions despite not starting three games. … Shanahan’s previous worst season was 6-10 last year and with Denver in 1999. … Orakpo left with a left shoulder injury. He’ll have an MRI on Monday.

The 5-10 Washington Redskins did not have a single player named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster that was announced Tuesday night.

Inside linebacker London Fletcher
leads the NFL in tackles, and outside linebacker Brian Orakpo ranked among the top five in fan votes at his position. But neither made the cut as the league unveiled the rosters for the team. Fan votes counted for one third of the vote, as did the players’ votes and the coaches’ votes.

San Francisco’s Patrick Willis was named starting middle linebacker for the NFC, and Chicago’s Brian Urlacher is his backup. At outside linebacker, Dallas’s DeMarcus Ware and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews were named starters, and Chicago’s Lance Briggs the backup.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan had lobbied last week for linebacker Lorenzo Alexander to make the team as a special teams player. But Alexander, who leads the NFC’s top kickoff coverage unit, didn’t make the cut either. Chicago defensive back Corey Graham is the NFC’s special teams pick.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers, whom the Redskins elected not to re-sign this past offseason, was named one of the NFC’s starting cornerbacks. Meanwhile, defensive end Andre Carter, whom the Redskins released last spring, was named to the AFC team. However, Carter suffered a season-ending injury earlier this month.

Here’s a rundown of the full list of Pro Bowl selections.

Related:
Twitter reaction from Fletcher, Adam Carriker, Brandon Banks, Jason Reid and more.

By Daniel Shiferaw

– Redskins Editor

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Dec 26, 2011 – LANDOVER, Md. – Early in the third quarter of Saturday’s game, Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Joe Webb showed the Washington Redskins defense that he possessed the one asset that’s proven to be their kryptonite all season long.

Much like Michael Vick and Cam Newton before him, Webb was able to navigate his way around Redskins defenders using his legs, breaking tackles and using his shiftiness to make others miss in the open field on his way to a nine-yard touchdown run.

It was a score that set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, as Webb accounted for scores on three straight drives in the second half, helping to lift the Vikings to a 33-26 victory over Washington.

The athletic backup for the Vikings once again highlighted one of Washington’s biggest weaknesses on defense: stopping mobile quarterbacks. Signal callers that can hurt you both with their arms and legs are supposed to pose a challenge to any defense. But for whatever reason, the Redskins have had an even tougher time solving them this season.

This season, three of the top five yardage totals allowed have come against the Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers, all of whom have mobile quarterbacks on their rosters. Minnesota and Carolina each put up 33 points against Washington, accounting for two of the four times this season they’ve yielded 30 points or more.

“It’s tough,” said nose tackle Barry Cofield. “It provides a different dynamic with the quarterback carrying the ball. In those situations, you may give up a play or two, but you can’t give up the big play. You got to make tackles when you get the opportunity.”

The problem for the Redskins is that when given the opportunity to make those plays, they’ve floundered. Much like Panthers did in Week 7 with Newton, the Vikings ran the option with Webb in the game, keeping the Redskins defense on its heels.

“I thought [Joe] Webb came in and did some things well with the football,” Mike Shanahan said of Minnesota’s altered attack. “[They ran] the counter options and keeping the ball alive, which wasn’t what they had been doing [with Ponder in the game]. He made some big time plays, made some big time throws and kept us off balance.”

“[The option]‘s something we didn’t prepare for during the week,” linebacker Brian Orakpo added. “Usually when we know what we’re going to face during the week, we prepare for it. [Webb] came in and started optioning the ball, running stuff with the quarterback naked [bootleg].”

Webb’s appearance came after the Redskins knocked out Vikings starter Christian Ponder, as he left with concussion like symptoms. With star running back Adrian Peterson already out of the game due to a knee injury, Ponder’s absence looked to be a boon to the Redskins defense.

But that was far from the case. It was clear the moment Webb came into the game that the Redskins defense was was not ready. Every time they thought he’d throw, he would take off for a big run. Each time they thought they had him contained in the pocket, he’d unload a pass downfield to an open receiver.

“It was kinda overwhelming,” Orakpo admitted, “and we just couldn’t adjust that quickly.”

“He’s a mobile quarterback, definitely,” said rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. “We just didn’t play well. We didn’t execute. We had guys out of our gaps, and that’s why they hit the big plays.”

It’s pretty clear if the Redskins defense is to take that next step, they must be able to have an answer for the league’s dual-threat quarterbacks. Their wins this season have come against the likes of Eli Manning (twice), Kevin Kolb and Sam Bradford. Those aren’t exactly guys that scare you with their legs.

“If you’re gonna have an athlete back there in certain schemes, they’re going to make some plays,” Cofield explained. “So when you have an opportunity to make a play, you can’t falter, and that’s what we did.”

Cofield and the rest of the defense will get their chance to atone for Saturday’s poor performance, as they’ll go against an Eagles team that totaled 422 yards against them in Week 6.

And it’ll be Vick — perhaps the king of all mobile NFL quarterbacks — that they’ll have to do it against.

For more Redskins coverage, please visit Hogs Haven, SB Nation’s Redskins blog. For the perspective from the other side, please check out SB Nation Minnesota and Daily Norseman, SB Nation’s Vikings blog.

Read More: Michael Vick (QB – PHI), Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), Barry Cofield (NT – WAS), Eli Manning (QB – NYG), Brian Orakpo (LB – WAS), Sam Bradford (QB – STL), Joe Webb (QB – MIN), Christian Ponder (QB – MIN), Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pulling off the improbable, the Washington Redskins went up to MetLife Stadium and overcame an ugly start against the NFC East-leading New York Giants to come away with a 23-10 victory Sunday afternoon.

It was the Redskins’ fifth win and, in beating the Giants for a second time this season, Washington registered the first sweep of its division rival since 1999.

“The Giants, they’ve really been our nemesis around here the last five years,” said Redskins linebacker London Fletcher, whose team had fallen to New York nine of the last 10 games entering this season. “To sweep them, it means a lot, because they’re a well-coached football team.”

With quarterback Rex Grossman
turning in a shaky performance, the Redskins relied heavily on their defense. Washington intercepted Giants quarterback Eli Manning three times, winning the turnover battle for the first time all season.

And when Manning went to work in the final quarter — aiming for his seventh fourth-quarter comeback victory of the season — the Redskins twice denied the Giants in the shadow of their own end zone.

Manning finished the game 23 for 40 for 257 yards and no touchdowns. Ahmad Bradshaw led New York in rushing with 10 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Grossman connected on 15 of 24 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions. Roy Helu’s streak of three 100-yard rushing games came to an end as the rookie picked up 53 yards on 23 carries while Evan Royster added 36 yards on 10 carries. Jabar Gaffney led Washington with six catches for 85 yards.

“You feel good about the way they played,” Coach Mike Shanahan said of his team, which had lost two straight and last week fell short in a last-second bid to upset the New England Patriots. “I was really disappointed that we couldn’t close the door last week. . . . So to finish the way we did today was nice.”

Washington’s first defining goal-line stand came three minutes into the fourth quarter. After the Redskins extended their lead to 23-3 with 14 minutes 57 seconds left, the Giants finally started showing signs of life. Manning completed four straight passes to march his team to the Redskins 13-yard line.

But on his fifth pass attempt, Manning’s fortunes changed. Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson made a leaping catch in the end zone for an interception and touchback. It was Wilson’s second interception of the season, and his second straight game with a pick.

The Redskins’ defense answered the bell again later in the fourth quarter. Wilson made a strong tackle to deny Giants running back D.J. Ware as he caught a pass and tried to cross the goal line. Initially, the officials ruled the play a touchdown. But a review showed that Ware had bobbled the ball at the line and didn’t secure possession until Wilson wrestled him back the 2.

With the Giants facing fourth and goal from there, Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo rushed from the edge and drew a holding call from tackle David Diehl, backing the Giants up to the 12-yard line. New York tried for a touchdown on the next play, but rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked Manning to deny the Giants and register Washington’s first sack of the game.

The Washington Redskins face the New York Giants Sunday for the second time this season, hoping to complete the season sweep of their NFC East rivals for the first time since 1999.

The Giants enter the game with a 7-6 record and lead the division. Washington owns a 4-9 mark and are last in the NFC East.

The Giants have won nine of the last 11 meetings with the Redskins, and three straight over Washington when playing in East Rutherford.

Here are some of the key matchups for this week’s game:

WSH LT Willie Smith vs. NY DE Jason Pierre-Paul

Playing in only his second NFL game, Smith will need a strong performance as he goes against Pierre-Paul, who leads New York with 12.5 sacks this season. At 6-foot-5, 278 pounds, Pierre-Paul has great size, speed and athleticism. Smith (6-foot-6, 290 pounds) has good size and athleticism as well, but is raw and inexperienced. Smith struggled early last week against the Patriots, but made improvements as the game went on, and the Redskins are hoping he can continue his progress this week. If he struggles, veteran Sean Locklear likely will relieve him.

WSH LBs London Fletcher, Perry Riley vs. NY RB Brandon Jacobs

Jacobs and fellow back Ahmad Bradshaw have been limited by injuries this season, and because of that, the Giants rank 32nd in rushing, averaging just 85.8 yards per game. But Jacobs appears to be rounding back into form. Last week, he rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries against the Cowboys. The Redskins will need a strong tackling performance. London Fletcher leads the NFL with 134 tackles, and Riley continues to improve while averaging 10.2 tackles a game in five straight starts. The two inside linebackers and their teammates can’t afford to let Jacobs get going as he has so many times in their past meetings.

WSH CB Kevin Barnes vs. NY WR Victor Cruz

Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett calls Cruz one of the better slot receivers in the NFL. The second-year pro leads the Giants with 68 catches for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. It could be a busy day for Redskins nickelback Kevin Barnes, who generally covers those slot receivers and has two interceptions on the year. Barnes must be solid in coverage and keep Eli Manning’s favorite target from running free in the secondary.

WSH WRs Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney vs. NY CBs Corey Webster, Aaron Ross

The Redskins will again need strong performances from receivers Moss and Gaffney as they try to attack a Giants defense that ranks 29th in the league against the pass, surrendering 264 yards a game through the air. Moss last week had three catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, but he was targeted nine times and should’ve had a larger impact. Gaffney has been reliable all season, with 52 catches for 757 yards and four touchdowns. To make up for the absence of Fred Davis, the Redskins went with more three and four receiver sets, so look for Donte Stallworth and Anthony Armstrong to receive opportunities this week as well.

WSH OLBs Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan vs. NY Ts David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie

The Redskins hope to harass Manning keep him from getting comfortable. Manning is making better decisions this season, getting rid of the ball more quickly and putting up career numbers. Orakpo and Kerrigan have to win their one-on-one matchups with Diehl and McKenzie so they can pressure Manning. The Redskins didn’t have a sack two weeks ago against the Jets, and only one against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady last week. They need to get to Manning multiple times.

More on the Redskins:

Landry put on injured reserve

Redskins building via the draft

Arrington: Redskins must stay motivated

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington’s London Fletcher says it’s not difficult to name the best quarterback he’s ever faced: Tom Brady.

The Redskins linebacker is speaking from experience. He has never missed a game in 14 NFL seasons, has started two Super Bowls and played in two Pro Bowls. He has dueled top quarterbacks from Dan Marino to Aaron Rodgers.

“Tom Brady is better than all those guys,” Fletcher said of the New England Patriots’ three-time Super Bowl winner and two-time NFL MVP who visits FedEx Field for just the second time on Sunday. “Look at what he has done: three rings, all those wins. It doesn’t matter who his weapons are, he just keeps rolling.”

Redskins receiver Donte Stallworth was one of those weapons during New England’s perfect 16-0 regular season in 2007.

“It was always easy with him controlling everything,” Stallworth said. “He’s always the first one there early in the morning and he’s usually one of the last guys to leave. He’s very smart back there, very calm in the pocket. He makes a lot of plays.”

Fletcher and Stallworth weren’t the only Redskins with high praise for Brady.

Redskins nose tackle Barry Cofield started on the only team to beat Brady and the Patriots in a Super Bowl, the 2007 New York Giants, but he, too, raved about the man.

“You gotta hit him, you gotta harass him, you gotta bat balls, hopefully get an interception or two, maybe strip the ball,” Cofield said. “He’s a very tough guy. I’ve seen him take a lot of shots and he would pick himself up the next play and make a great throw on the very next play. The only way you can hurt Tom Brady is win.”

Fletcher has only beaten Brady twice in 13 meetings. Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and defensive end Stephen Bowen have yet to do so.

“The key is not letting him sit in the pocket,” said Bowen, part of a pass rush that’s tied for third in the league in sacks per attempt. “If he’s able to do that, he’s going to be able to tear us apart.”

Brady did that when he last faced the Redskins in 2007, directing a 52-7 dismantling of a defense that wound up ranked eighth and that led Washington to the playoffs.

“If he’s not the greatest, he’s gotta be in the top three,” Haslett said. “He’s poised, big, got an unbelievable arm, makes all the throws, can move enough to stay alive in the pocket, (his) leadership, understanding of the offense is outstanding. And he does it day-in and day-out.”

Redskins defensive end Adam Carriker said he’s looking forward to the challenge of facing one of the game’s best quarterbacks for the first time.

Outside linebacker Brian Orakpo is taking a more cautious approach to facing Brady.

“He’s a very smart quarterback,” Orakpo said. “All of a sudden, he’s calling out audibles. He’s great in preparation, great at attacking defenses. We have to be good with our pressure. We have to be tight in our coverages. Regardless if someone’s on a receiver, he’s throwing as if (the defender’s) not even there.”

Notes: Bowen is the Redskins’ winner of the Ed Block Courage Award. Bowen’s son Skyler died in July, 10 days after he and twin brother Stephen III were born four months premature. Last Sunday, less than nine hours before kickoff against the New York Jets, Bowen’s mother-in-law, Muriel Johnson, died at 59 of muscular dystrophy. Bowen, who had torn his left PCL the previous Sunday at Seattle, started as always, although he didn’t add to his career-high 4.5 sacks. . Strong safety LaRon Landry remained sidelined Thursday with the groin he injured at Seattle and is unlikely to play against New England. Newly signed defensive lineman Chris Baker also missed a second straight day with an injured quadriceps.

The 9-3 New England Patriots will travel to FedEx Field to battle the 4-8 Washington Redskins on Sunday. The Patriots seem to have hit their stride as they try to lock in a first-round bye in the playoffs, and possibly home-field advantage throughout.

The Redskins are 4-8, and they have lost seven of their last eight games. Even though their defense has been solid this season, especially against the pass, the Skins have struggled.

They have the 31st-ranked rushing attack, and inconsistent QB play from John Beck and Rex Grossman hasn’t helped.

When: Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Where: FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

Watch: CBS

Spread: New England (-9)

The fact that the Patriots are nine-point favorites on the road tells you how well they’re playing and how bad Washington has looked recently. The Redskins’ anemic offense will have trouble sustaining drives. That will wear down their defense, and the pass rush will slow down, even with their two excellent young rushers, Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo.

Wes Welker has been a bit banged up, but the emergence of tight end Rob Gronkowski and the presence of veteran Deion Branch is more than enough firepower.

Over/Under: 48

The big number is tricky, as the Skins have a good defense, but poor offense. The game could easily turn out 24-10, or 28-10. This number seems a little too high in my opinion. The Patriots have scored more than 30 points four games in a row. The Skins have looked better with Grossman, but the number still scares me.

Patriots Key Injuries

Brandon Spikes—doubtful. knee

Julian Edelman—questionable, back

Patrick Chung—questionable, foot

Devin McCourty—questionable, shoulder

Wes Welker—questionable, knee

Danny Woodhead—questionable, abdomen

Redskins Key Injuries

LaRon Landry—doubtful, groin

Sav Rocca—doubtful, left ankle

Terrence Austin—questionable, hamstring

Stephen Bowen—questionable, knee

Jammal Brown—questionable, hip

London Fletcher—questionable, ankle

DeAngelo Hall—questionable, back

Fantasy Big Plays

QB Tom Brady (NE)—Despite the Redskins quality pass rush, the Pats offense is in one of those grooves. When they are clicking as they are now, they are going to score points, and that means big fantasy numbers for Brady. He hasn’t thrown an INT in a month, and when you combine that with 10 TDs, Brady is a big play.

WR Deion Branch (NE)—Branch could be a primary beneficiary of Brady’s day, with Welker less than 100 percent and the Skins keying on Gronkowski, that open things up for Branch. He has more receptions over 20 yards than any other Patriot.

Keys to Patriots Win

Turnovers are big for both teams. The Pats have to stay away from allowing the Skins to put points on the board with short drives. The Redskins offense will struggle to sustain drives, so it makes things easier if they give up short fields. Likewise, special teams will be big. They must play disciplined and smart in the coverage and punting games/

Keys to Redskins Win

The Skins must run it effectively. That means a lot of Roy Helu. Establishing him and the rushing attack will open up the play-action pass. That is when Grossman is at his best. If they do that, the Redskins will allow their defense a break, and they can apply pressure throughout the game.

Prediction

Patriots 28, Redskins 10

In Week 13 of the 2011-12 NFL season, the Washington Redskins are coming off a comeback victory against the Seattle Seahawks. That win moved the Redskins to 4-7, but more importantly, it snapped a six-game losing streak for the Skins.

The Redskins are playing not for their playoff hopes, but for respect and pride. They are a young team that is coming together and trying to prove that they should be part of the foundation that Coach Mike Shanahan is building in D.C.

The Redskins want to prove that moving forward to 2012, they will be a better team. They need to show their fans that they will be more competitive. The Detroit Lions finished their season strong last year with a four-game winning streak, and that confidence helped them to put together a solid season this year.

While Redskins fans want to look forward to the draft and play for the highest draft pick, these players will not give up this season. A characteristic of Redskin teams has been their fight. The Redskins are playing to win against the New York Jets, and will not be satisfied with a loss.

As the game reaches halftime, both teams are still very much in the game. In such a close game, every mistake becomes magnified. It is key for each team to limit mistakes and attempt to force the other team into them.

Here are the five adjustments the Washington Redskins must make to win the game.

1. Give the Ball to Roy Helu

The Redskins have had great success running the ball with Roy Helu. He has been gashing the Jets defense for over 50 yards and a TD.

Keep on giving him the ball! Helu is the most explosive player on offense. It is foolish not to give him as many touches as possible.

2. No Turnovers Rex!

Against the stellar cornerbacks of the New York Jets, it is important to take what they give you. Rex Grossman cannot give the Jets extra possessions by turning the ball over.

Grossman already got one interception wiped away thanks to an illegal contact penalty, but he cannot count on being bailed out every time.

Grossman has been terrible with ball protection in the second half this season.  Since reclaiming the starting job, Grossman has thrown three interceptions in the six-second half quarters.

It’s no coincidence that Grossman didn’t throw an interception in the fourth quarter  late in the game versus the Seahawks, and the Redskins won.

3. Pressure Mark Sanchez

The Redskins defense must get more pressure on Mark Sanchez. He has had all day to throw in the pocket, and is slinging lasers across the football field.

Unleash Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo! They need to be blitzing more in order to rattle Sanchez and force him into incompletions and mistakes.

If the Redskins do not get more pressure, Mark Sanchez will continue his great accuracy and pick apart the defense.

4. Get the Defense off the Field

The defense has been unable to get off the field. The Jets have been having sustained drives which tire the defense out.

The Jets have been running the Redskins ragged. The Redskins need to force the Jets to give up the ball and not allow them to get first down after first down.

5. Keep Controlling the Ball

The Redskins need to continue their “ground and pound” game. That can’t happen unless they run the ball with Helu, and the Redskins defense steps up and gets off the field.

Ball control is a key component of the Redskins philosophy. They need to chew up clock with the ground game and limit the Jets’ opportunities to score.

The Washington Redskins will play host the New York Jets, looking to put together a two-game win streak for the first time since the second week of the season.

Washington enters the game with an 8-1 advantage over the Jets in the nine times the two franchises have met.

Some fast facts for today’s game:

Wide receiver Santana Moss needs one touchdown catch to record his 35th as a member of the Redskins, which would tie him with Ricky Sanders for seventh on the franchise’s all-time list.

Moss needs 20 receiving yards to tie Bobby Mitchell for fourth on the all-time list with 6,492.

Moss has 622 receptions, which ranks 10th among active players. He is tied for ninth among active players with 54 touchdown receptions during his 11-year career.

Roy Helu has a chance to become the first Redskins rookie running back to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Reggie Brooks did it in Weeks 10 and 11 in 1993.

Helu enters this game with 38 receptions, which leads all NFL rookie running backs this season.

With a 300-yard passing game today, Rex Grossman has a chance to post back-to-back games of at least 300 yards for the first time in his career.

Linebacker Brian Orakpo, who enters the game with six sacks, has a chance to record a sack in back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 6 and 7 of the 2010 season.

Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan enters the game ranked second in the NFL with four forced fumbles. The four forced fumbles already are a Redskins’ rookie record. With a fifth forced fumble, Kerrigan would tie Ken Harvey (1995) and Bruce Smith (2000) for second-most in a single season in team history.

Tight end Fred Davis enters the game boasting a career-high single-season receiving yards total (697), which ranks fourth among NFL tight ends this season.

Punter Sav Rocca has 21 punts inside the 20 yard line, third most in the NFL.

Receiver Anthony Armstrong, who last week had a 50-yard touchdown catch, needs 32 receiving yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for his career.

Jets (6-5) at Washington Redskins (4-7)
Week 13
Today, 1 p.m.
FedEx Field, Landover, Md.
TV: Channel 2
Radio: ESPN 1050-AM

THIS WEEK’S GAME REVOLVES AROUND …
Quarterback Mark Sanchez

Respect for the young Sanchez has been hard to find lately outside of the Jets facility. Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall called him “middle-of-the-pack.” ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck suggested Sanchez doesn’t put in the time he should. Jets fans boo him during pre-game introductions (and throughout the game as well). It has been well documented that Sanchez’s teammates have come to his defense, making sure there’s nothing wrong. Still, he has appeared visibly shaken. Heck, even Sanchez’s parents checked in. But there is one thing that can make this go away: a no-doubt shredding of the Redskins this afternoon.

So many of Sanchez’s performances come with a caveat — whether it’s a pick-six or a simple misread, the quarterback has never been thought of as a complete, confident passer in the pocket. However, this is the benefit of playing in a league where opinions change substantially from week to week. Whether or not all the interceptions and incompletions are his fault can be a moot point if he goes out today and completes 65 percent of his passes, throws a pair of touchdowns and keeps the ball out of the other team’s hands.

THE SAVVY FAN IS WATCHING …
LaDainian Tomlinson’s playing time

Now that we know Shonn Greene’s rib injury likely will linger the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how many more carries Tomlinson gets today. The veteran running back said he has never felt this fresh down the stretch before.

PAST MEETINGS

1. Nov. 4, 2007 Redskins 23, Jets 20
2. Sept. 4, 2003 at Washington. Redskins 16, Jets 13
3. Sept. 26, 1999 Redskins 27, Jets 20
4. Sept. 29, 1996 at Washington. Redskins 31, Jets 16
5. Dec. 11, 1993 at Washington. Jets 3, Redskins 0
6. Oct. 25, 1987 at Washington. Redskins 17, Jets 16
7. Sept. 24, 1978 at Washington. Redskins 23, Jets 3
8. Dec. 5, 1976 Redskins 37, Jets 16
9. Nov. 5, 1972 Redskins 35, Jets 17

Remember when …
The Jets secured their only franchise victory over the Redskins, back in 1993? The Redskins’ QB corps was in a bit of shambles as Rich Gannon took a majority of the snaps and Mark Rypien also had eight attempts. The Jets were paced by a workmanlike performance by running back Johnny Johnson, who went for 155 yards on 32 carries. The game was decided by first-quarter field goal by Cary Blanchard.

WHAT THE REDSKINS DON’T WANT THE JETS TO KNOW

1. They’re coming after Mark Sanchez
Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan anchor a nasty Redskins defense that is tied for third in the NFL in sacks (33). Aside from the Houston Texans, they are the only team in the NFL that has four players with at least 4 1/2 sacks, a stat that illustrates the damage a Jim Haslett defense can cause. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the Jets will be challenged to vary their fronts in order to keep the Redskins off base, though the problems caused by Washington’s 3-4 front still loom. “They’re outside, they can get as wide as they want and do things like that,” he said.

2. They finally have a running back who gives them confidence
Roy Helu posted a career-high 108 yards and a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks last week and is looking to be the first Redskins rookie running back to post back-to-back 100-yard games since Reggie Brooks in 1993. Head coach Mike Shanahan said he was waiting for Helu to catch up with his pass protections before he gave him more opportunities. Now that he understands the offense better, the speedy back out of Nebraska will get a chance to test the Jets’ flimsy perimeter run defense. “I think he can handle a bigger load now, just like he did against the Seahawks. Hopefully, he takes advantage of the opportunity,” Shanahan said. “He has a big upside. He has great speed. Any time you deal with a back with a 4.4 (40-yard dash time), you know he has the speed to make the big plays.”

3. Like the Jets, they are trying to establish an identity
Heading into the week, Mike Shanahan was experiencing some of the same problems Rex Ryan faced this season. Sometimes Washington is a passing team, sometimes it is paced by the run. But a true identity has been hard to pin down for the Redskins, who have flipped quarterbacks, shuffled through a few different running backs and watched as the wheels fell off amid a six-game losing streak that ended last Sunday. “It’s hard for me to figure out (the Jets) when I can’t figure out myself,” Shanahan said. “We’re doing a little bit of that week-by-week. Sometimes the running game is a little bit better than other weeks and sometimes the passing game is a little bit better. You want to get both going.”

POSITION BREAKDOWNS

Quarterback
Mark Sanchez coming off a career-high four touchdowns is hard to argue with, especially this late in the season.
Edge: Jets

Running back
Despite the emergence of Roy Helu, Shonn Greene is quietly on a strong stretch.
Edge: Jets

Wide receiver
Even with Santana Moss back in the Redskins fold, you have to favor the way Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes are producing.
Edge: Jets

Offensive line
The Redskins surrender more sacks and produce less on the ground.
Edge: Jets

Defensive line
Adam Carriker and Barry Cofield have proved very solid pass-rushing linemen.
Edge: Redskins

Linebackers
Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan may be the most exciting tandem age 25 or under in the NFL.
Edge: Redskins

Secondary
Will the Jets leave Darrelle Revis all alone in cover-zero? It probably doesn’t matter.
Edge: Jets

Special teams
Despite the fumbles, the Jets still have the most explosive kick-return unit in the NFL.
Edge: Jets

FOUR DOWNS WITH …
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine

1. Mike Shanahan said he’s worried Darrelle Revis might be extra motivated because the Bills picked on him so much last week. You think that’s about right?
That’s usually what happens in practice. If you catch a ball on him in practice, I wouldn’t want to be the receiver that lines up across from him next. But he’s a competitor, and he’s a classic guy that I think is just so mentally tough that he’ll put this past week behind him. And again, we’re talking about it like it was somehow a bad week. By his ridiculously high standards I guess you could make the argument that it was, but Darrelle Revis is the least of our worries this week.

2. Do you think closing games down is a problem for this defense?
It’s something that we address in the room, and we talked about it a week ago when I stood here about the Denver game, where every once in a while you’re going to have a bad drive. You can’t make it your business to get in that awful habit of it being the last one. We need to take the field ready to go, and saying we’ve gotten multiple three-and-outs in this game, there’s no reason why this drive can’t be one of those. The Buffalo thing was a little bit different. We did keep them out of the end zone. I didn’t want to be too aggressive in that last series. They did get some shots at the end zone. I don’t really put that in the same category as the Denver one. And the first Buffalo one, we were up a ton there. I wouldn’t add that. To me, the Denver one is the one that would stick out.

3. You said that there’s sometimes a good Antonio Cromartie and sometimes a bad one. What do you make of his ups and downs?
Again, it’s hard to play opposite Darrelle, because he’s going to get a lot of work. But to me, I think that’s the thing that we’re constantly on, not just with Cro, but with all of our guys, is consistency. Now, it’s harder for him, because he’s put in a position where his mistakes are maybe more glaring than if Sione (Pouha) makes a mistake or David Harris or Bart (Scott) or even Kyle Wilson inside at times. So I think when he makes a mistake, everybody knows it, and that’s the hard part of playing corner in this league.

4. We’ve seen a lot of Aaron Maybin, is there more to come?
He’s learning more of (the defense). (Defensive assistant) Mike Smith, as I’ve mentioned before, works very closely with him, with the outside linebackers. He’s been able to take on more and more of the package. So we’re looking to increase his rep count. But we just didn’t want to go from 0 to 60 too fast with him and then all of a sudden you get to the point where he is out there too much. What he brings is just such energy, passion, a great motor.

ONE MORE THING ……

Redskins linebacker London Fletcher will start his 175th consecutive game today, further extending his league-leading streak among active linebackers. Jarrett Johnson of the Baltimore Ravens, one of Rex Ryan’s favorites, is second with 75 to date.

Conor Orr: corr@starledger.com