Rich Tandler's look-ahead series focuses on the upcoming Redskins matchup, looking back at the series history and forward to the notable storylines of the week.

The Redskins make their 2018 regular-season debut on Sunday, Sept. 9 on the road in Arizona against the Cardinals.

Week 1, Sunday, in State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ

2017 Cardinals: 8-8, third in NFC West, 0-1 vs. Redskins

2017 Cardinals Statistical Leaders:

Rushing yards: Adrian Peterson, 446 yards

Passing yards: Carson Palmer, 1,978 yards

Receiving yards: Larry Fitzgerald, 1,196 yards

Deciding Factors:

Quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Alex Smith both are new to their respective teams. Both players played fewer than 35 snaps in the preseason. Which one will catch on faster?



The Cardinals were first in rushing defense DVOA last year and they returned most of the same players, but they have a different scheme under new head coach Steve Wilks. The Redskins would like to run the ball with Adrian Peterson behind their solid offensive line. Which side will prevail?



Cardinals quarterbacks were sacked 52 times last year. They didn’t improve the offensive line very much over the offseason. Bradford has a history of taking a lot of sacks. Can the Redskins keep pressure on Bradford?



Key Matchup: All-Pro edge rusher Chandler Jones (17 sacks last year) vs. Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams

Series History:

Redskins lead the all-time series 76-46-2

Last Matchup: Redskins 20, Cardinals 15 (12/17/2017)

Last 10 meetings: Redskins lead 8-2



Series Notables:

The First Time: September 24, 1937, Griffith Stadium — Sammy Baugh brought the Redskins back twice, but the defense couldn’t hold the Chicago Cardinals out of the end zone in the fourth quarter as the visitors won 21-14.

The Last Time: December 17, 2017, FedEx Field — The Redskins built a 14-3 lead in the second quarter on Kirk Cousins’ TD passes to Jamison Crowder and Kapri Bibbs. The defense kept the Cardinals out of the end zone, but the offense couldn’t put them away. The Redskins had to hold off one last drive that reached their own 21 to escape with a 20-15 win.

The Best Time: December 16, 1984, RFK Stadium — In the regular season finale, the Redskins needed a win to take the NFC East title and Art Monk needed seven catches to break the record for receptions in a season. Monk got the record with a key catch that set up a field goal. With 2:40 left to play, with the Redskins down by a point, he caught a pass on third-and-19 to keep alive a drive that set up Mark Mosley’s 37-yard field to put the Redskins up 29-27. They survived a late field goal attempt that was short and wide and got the win and the division title.

The Worst Time: November 16, 1975, Busch Stadium — All of the older generation Redskins fans only need a name to remember this game—Mel Gray. The Redskins were up 17-10 late in the game when Jim Hart fired a fourth-down pass to Gray in the end zone. The receiver had the ball for a fraction of a second before Pat Fisher knocked it out. At first, the pass was (properly) called incomplete but after an endless huddle of the officials—there was no replay review then—it was called a touchdown. The Redskins lost in 20-17 overtime and missed out on the playoffs by the margin of the one lost (stolen?) game.

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