Throughout training camp and the preseason, Jay Gruden owned his struggles in the season opener as Redskins head coach.

Gruden has yet to win an opener, piling up a 0-4 record and has explained on multiple occasions this offseason, his team needs to start fast in 2018.

"We're 0-4 so we should do something different. We haven't won one yet," Gruden said in late August. "We got to have a better sense of urgency coming out of the first game. We got to start fast and eliminate the turnovers."

For Redskins fans searching for a reason to be optimistic going into Sunday's game in Arizona, consider this: Alex Smith has been on the wrong side of a season-opener just twice since 2010.

Last year, Smith took the Chiefs into New England for the NFL opener. The Patriots were defending Super Bowl champions and the atmosphere in Gilette Stadium - the banner going up and the crowd going crazy - was electric.

How did Smith handle it? He completed 28 of 35 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns. It was an impressive performance on a massive stage.

In his career dating all the way back to his time with the 49ers, Smith is 7-4 in season openers. With the Chiefs, he went 4-1.

Can Smith's Week 1 success translate for the Redskins?

It just might.

Speaking this week, Gruden explained that turnovers in the season opener can be particularly defeating. Week 1 of 2017, the Redskins turned the ball over four times, including an interception and two fumbles from Kirk Cousins. In two other season openers in 2015 and 2016, Cousins threw another four interceptions.

"Obviously you have to protect the football at all times. You know, the easiest way to start slow is have a couple turnovers early," the coach said.

In his last five season openers with the Chiefs, Smith has thrown 12 TDs compared to just four interceptions, and that includes two 300-yard passing performances. Not all the results were pretty, as Smith's lone Week 1 loss in Kansas City was an ugly game. In 2014, he completed 19 of 35 passes with only one TD against three INTs.

Besides that game, the recent results look fantastic.

What does that mean for the Redskins in Arizona this Sunday?

Smith does not turn the ball over much. That's been part of his QB profile for over a decade. If turnovers sink teams on the road, Smith should be a big help.

Gruden knows his team needs a fast start, and personally, the coach doesn't want to hear about his 0-4 record in Week 1 anymore.

Smith could be the guy to help break that streak.

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