KANSAS CITY—Here is what you need to know on this Monday, October 2, 13 days before the Washington Redskins play the 49ers at FedEx Field.

Timeline

Today’s schedule: Redskins Kickoff 7:30 CSN; Redskins vs Chiefs 8:30 ESPN

Days until:



—Monday night Redskins @ Eagles (10/23) 22

—Cowboys @ Redskins (10/29) 28

—Redskins @ Seahawks (11/5) 34

Final thoughts on Redskins vs. Chiefs

—The term “statement game” gets overused but I think that it fits tonight. Certainly, there are many who remain skeptical about the Redskins following their rout of the Raiders. And given the team’s inconsistent past, a healthy degree of skepticism is warranted. But should they pull off the upset tonight they would have to be considered as one of the teams to be reckoned with in the NFL.

—Chris Thompson may need to be an equalizer tonight. Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has touchdown runs of longer than 50 yards in each of his first three games. While the hope is that the Washington defense will be able to contain Hunt, the next best way to handle a long touchdown scored by the other team is to get one of your own. Thompson has a 61-yard touchdown run and a 74-yard gain on a screen pass on his ledger this year. He may be needed to provide a reply.

—The Redskins’ injury problems are well known but the Chiefs will have a couple of starters out, one on each side of the ball. Center Mitch Morse and outside linebacker Dee Ford will not play tonight. Left tackle Eric Fisher is questionable as he deals with a back problem. The Kansas City offensive line was shaky in pass protection to begin with as Alex Smith has been sacked 12 times this season. The Redskins will look to exploit their protection issues.

—Related to that, this game may come down to whether or not the Redskins defense can make Smith realize that he is Alex Smith. The career 62 percent passer is completing 77 percent of his passes. He has averaged 10 interceptions per 16 games in his 12-year career and he has yet to throw one in 2017. Smith’s career passer rating is a mediocre 86.2. This year it’s an unreal 132.7. By stopping the run and getting pressure on him, the Redskins defense hopes to bring out more of the 2005-2016 Smith and less of what we’ve seen this year.

—On the #RedskinsTalk podcast this week I predicted a Redskins loss. That was taped on Thursday and I’m beginning to swing the other way. The Washington defense will be the difference. They won’t shut the Chiefs down like they did the Raiders last week but they will control them enough to let the Washington offense get some work done against a questionable KC defense. Get ready to be up late and, in contrast to the usual Monday night scenario, celebrate.

Redskins 28, Chiefs 24

Predictons record: 1-2

Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page Facebook.com/TandlerNBCS and follow him on Twitter @TandlerNBCS.

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