The ‘Skinny: Week 11 v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Welcome back to the second season of "The 'Skinny," a weekly preview of the local professional football team's upcoming game and opponent.

Week 11 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8)

Game information: Sun., Nov. 16 -- 1:00 p.m. -- FedEx Field -- FOX

Last Week: The Redskins didn't play, but that didn't stop them from commandeering headlines! Meanwhile, the Buccaneers lost, because that's what they do. Their most recent defeat, their fifth straight, was a 27-17 loss to the Falcons.

What's The Skinny? 

This is probably the last game that the Redskins have on their schedule that they will be favored in: a home game agains one of the few teams in the NFL that's actually worse than they are. The Buccaneers give up the second-most points per game (30.2) and their offense averages 311.6 yards per game, 29th in the league. They've won one game. In theory, this should be the closest thing to a sure thing for the Redskins. Yet in theory, communism works too, so...

Very little has gone right for Washington, and a loss to hapless Tampa Bay will justify a descent into the dregs of the NFL with the likes of Jacksonville and Oakland. Rock bottom, dude. 

Statistic(s) of the Week: Running back Alfred Morris has gone 16 straight games without rushing for 100 yards; he's rushed for 1,055 yards during this stretch. By comparison, in his first 25 games, he rushed for 2,438 yards, hitting triple digits 10 times. 

Also, the Redskins have lost five of their past six games coming off the bye week.

What They're Saying

“I know it’s been pushed and pushed and pushed, and everyone thinks [the rumors of division are] from the inside out. But we’re strong in that locker room. We feel like we can’t let any of these reports or anything divide us. Right now, we have to be responsible for what we do. Right now, we’re 3-6, and I think everybody in this room knows it. We have a hunger to win.”

- Robert Griffin III addressing recent reported locker-room strife 


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