Gameday Graphic for Game on 9/21/2008
The Redskins host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 21 at FedExField. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET.
FedExField is a natural grass surface. The stadium seats 91,704.
The game will be televised on FOX. Kenny Albert handles the play by play with color commentary by Daryl Johnston. Tony Siragusa serves as sideline reporter.
On radio, the game will be broadcast locally on ESPN 980. Larry Michael handles the play-by-play with color commentary by Hall of Famers Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff. Rick "Doc" Walker serves as sideline reporter.
The Redskins are 1-0 at FedExField this season. They are coming off a 29-24 come-from-behind win over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday at FedExField.
Jason Campbell threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss late in the fourth quarter and Clinton Portis rushed for two touchdowns as the Redskins rallied to beat the Saints.
Defensively, Chris Horton logged two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the win.
The Cardinals are in first place in the NFC West with a 2-0 record. It is the first time they have started 2-0 since 1991, when current Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel was at the helm as head coach.
They are coming off a 31-10 win against the Miami Dolphins at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Arizona rolled up 445 yards of total offense, with quarterback Kurt Warner passing for 361 yards and three TDs, all to wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
The Cardinals have scored 20 points for an NFL-best 10 consecutive games.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
| OFFENSE | ||
| Pos. | Redskins | Cardinals |
| WR | 89 Santana Moss | 11 Larry Fitzgerald |
| LT | 60 Chris Samuels | 69 Mike Gandy |
| LG | 66 Pete Kendall | 74 Reggie Wells |
| C | 61 Casey Rabach | 63 Lyle Sendlein |
| RG | 77 Randy Thomas | 76 Deuce Lutui |
| RT | 74 Stephon Heyer | 75 Levi Brown |
| TE | 47 Chris Cooley | 82 Leonard Pope |
| WR | 82 Antwaan Randle El | 81 Anquan Boldin |
| QB | 17 Jason Campbell | 13 Kurt Warner |
| FB | 45 Mike Sellers | 45 Terrelle Smith |
| RB | 26 Clinton Portis | 32 Edgerrin James |
| DEFENSE | ||
| Pos. | Redskins | Cardinals |
| DE | 99 Andre Carter | 94 Antonio Smith |
| DT | 96 Cornelius Griffin | 97 Bryan Robinson |
| DT | 64 Kedric Golston | 90 Darnell Dockett |
| DE | 55 Jason Taylor | 55 Travis LaBoy |
| SLB | 53 Marcus Washington | 56 Chike Okeafor |
| MLB | 59 London Fletcher | 54 Gerald Hayes |
| WLB | 52 Rocky McIntosh | 58 Karlos Dansby |
| LCB | 24 Shawn Springs | 26 Rod Hood |
| RCB | 22 Carlos Rogers | 25 Eric Green |
| SS | 37 Reed Doughty | 24 Adrian Wilson |
| FS | 30 LaRon Landry | 21 Antrel Rolle |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ||
| Pos. | Redskins | Cardinals |
| P | 14 Durant Brooks | 9 Dirk Johnson |
| K | 6 Shaun Suisham | 1 Neil Rackers |
| H | 14 Durant Brooks | 9 Dirk Johnson |
| LS | 67 Ethan Albright | 48 Nathan Hodel |
| KOR | 31 Rock Cartwright | 15 Steve Breaston |
| PR | 82 Antwaan Randle El | 15 Steve Breaston |
SERIES HISTORY
Since Arizona was a divisional rival in the NFC East prior to NFL realignment in 2002, Washington has played the Cardinals franchise 112 times in regular season play.
The Redskins hold the series lead 69-42-1. The record includes games against the Cardinals franchise when it was located in Chicago, St. Louis and Arizona.
Washington also holds a 44-18 advantage at home and a 6-1 record in games played at FedExField.
The Redskins are currently on a six-game winning streak against Arizona. Prior to that, the Cardinals had won three of five contests.
The last five games between the two clubs have been decided by 10 points or less.
The last time the two clubs played was on Oct. 21, 2007, at FedExField.
London Fletcher picked off quarterback Kurt Warner and followed a caravan of Redskins into the end zone for a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Redskins built a 21-6 lead in the second half.
Arizona rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns, but a game-tying 2-point conversion attempt failed.
The Cardinals had one last chance as kicker Neil Rackers attempted a game-winning field goal with seven seconds left. The kick sailed wide left.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| REDSKINS 2008 RANKINGS | ||
| Offense | Rank | Yards/Game |
| Total Offense | 11 | 332.0 |
| Rushing Offense | 15 | 116.5 |
| Passing Offense | 13 | 215.5 |
| Defense | Rank | Yards/Game |
| Total Defense | 14 | 302.0 |
| Rushing Defense | 17 | 104.5 |
| Passing Defense | 19 | 197.5 |
| CARDINALS 2008 RANKINGS | ||
| Offense | Rank | Yards/Game |
| Total Offense | 7 | 365.0 |
| Rushing Offense | 19 | 95.0 |
| Passing Offense | 5 | 270.0 |
| Defense | Rank | Yards/Game |
| Total Defense | 7 | 263.5 |
| Rushing Defense | 10 | 90.0 |
| Passing Defense | 12 | 173.5 |
FAMILIAR FACES ON THE CARDINALS
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt played for the Redskins as a tight end and H-back from 1989-90. Whisenhunt played nine NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Redskins and New York Jets. In 74 career games, he caught 62 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns.
Assistant head coach-offensive line Russ Grimm played for the Redskins from 1981-91. He also served as tight ends coach for the Redskins from 1992-96 and offensive line coach from 1997-2000. Grimm started 11 seasons at guard for the Redskins and helped lead the team to four Super Bowl appearances and three victories.
Quarterbacks coach Jeff Rutledge played quarterback for the Redskins from 1990-92.
Cornerback Ralph Brown was with the Redskins in the 2004 offseason, but he was released by the club prior to training camp.
REDSKINS-CARDINALS NEWS & NOTES
-- First-Year Head Coaches
With a 1-1 start, head coach Jim Zorn aims to lead the Redskins to their third winning season in the last four years.
He is also looking to become the seventh Redskins head coach to record a winning record in his first year at the helm.
The list of first-year head coaches with winning records includes Ray Flaherty (7-5 in 1936), Dutch Bergman (6-3-1 in 1943), Dudley DeGroot (6-3-1 in 1944), Dick Todd (5-4 in 1951), Vince Lombardi (7-5-2 in 1969) and George Allen (9-4-1 in 1971).
Seven first-year head coaches finished their rookie campaign with a .500 mark, while 12 finished with a losing record.
-- More On Grimm
Russ Grimm, the Cardinals' assistant head coach-offensive line, is regarded as one of the greatest Redskins in team history.
Grimm started 11 seasons at guard for the Redskins from 1981-91 and helped lead the team to four Super Bowl appearances and three victories.
He was voted to four consecutive Pro Bowls, was a first-team selection to the 1980s all-decade team, and an original member of the Redskins' renowned "Hogs" offensive line.
As a Redskins assistant coach, Grimm was credited with the development of tackles Jon Jansen and four-time Pro Bowler Chris Samuels.
-- Fletcher and Warner
A pair of long-time NFL veterans, London Fletcher and Kurt Warner, re-unite on the football field. Fletcher and Warner were both members of the St. Louis Rams in 1999 when they won Super Bowl XXXIV.
Fletcher anchored the Rams' defense from his middle linebacker spot, while Warner directed the Rams' high-powered offense.
Last year in the Redskins' 21-19 win over the Cardinals at FedExField, Fletcher had 10 tackles and returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown. Warner was 27-of-41 for 282 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Fletcher has opened 121 consecutive games, a figure which ranks eighth among active players.
-- Moss On the Rise
Santana Moss's 67-yard touchdown catch from Jason Campbell in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints marked the fifth straight game in which he has caught a touchdown.
The mark includes the Redskins' Wild Card playoff game at Seattle last season.
It's the second-longest streak of Moss's career, trailing the seven straight games he caught a touchdown pass in Weeks 5-11 of 2003.
Moss becomes the first Redskin since Charlie Brown in the first five weeks of 1982 to record a TD grab in five straight games.
-- Cooley's Emergence
Chris Cooley has caught a pass in 58 straight regular season contests, dating back to Week 9 of the 2004 season.
Cooley needs eight catches to pass Redskins great Don Warren for second place on the Redskins' career receptions list by a tight end. (Jerry Smith is first.)
With two more receptions, Cooley would tie Larry Brown for 10th all-time in Redskins history with 238.
-- On the Stump
Assistant head coach-running backs Stump Mitchell played for the Cardinals franchise from 1981-89. He was a ninth-round draft choice in 1981 by the Cardinals.
Mitchell remains the Cardinals all-time leader in combined yardage with 11,988 yards and ranks second with 4,649 rushing yards on 986 attempts. He has 32 career touchdowns.
His 177 kickoff returns for 4,007 yards are both franchise records.
-- More Former Cardinals
Offensive line coach Joe Bugel was the head coach of the Cardinals from 1990-93. He posted a 13-35 record in three seasons.
Offensive quality control coach Bill Khayat served in a similar capacity with the Cardinals from 2004-06.
Left guard Pete Kendall played for the Cardinals from 2001-03.
-- Quick Hits
Jason Campbell ranks second in the NFC in fourth quarter passing, trailing only New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Campbell has completed 18-of-26 passes (69.2 percent) for 258 yards and one touchdown for a passer rating of 113.9.
Jason Taylor started his 132nd consecutive game. That streak is currently the seventh longest in the NFL. Taylor needs 3.5 sacks to tie Clyde Simmons for 13th on the NFL's all-time list.
With one more rushing touchdown, Clinton Portis ties Terry Allen (1995-98) for third most in Redskins franchise history with 38.
Justin Hamilton celebrates his 26th birthday on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
-- Warner, Horton: Players of the Week
The reigning NFC Players of the Week will face off against each other on Sunday at FedExField.
Rookie safety Chris Horton won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor for his performance against the New Orleans Saints. He intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in the Redskins' 29-24 win.
Quarterback Kurt Warner won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for his performance against the Miami Dolphins. He completed 19-of-24 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns.
-- Cards Headed On a Two-Week Road Trip
The Cardinals will pack a little more gear than they normally would for a road trip this week as they head east for back-to-back games against the Redskins and New York Jets. The road trip is basically a 10-day road trip.
The Cardinals will fly to Washington on Friday. Following their game against the Redskins at FedExField, the team will stay in Tysons Corner, Va., for the week of practice leading up to the Jets game.
The club will hold practices at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., which counts Cardinals team president Michael Bidwill as an alum.
-- Redskins Captains
The Redskins have elected six players as captains for the 2008 season. They wear a black "C" on their jersey during games.
On offense, Jason Campbell amd Chris Samuels are the captains.
On defense, Cornelius Griffin and London Fletcher are the captains.
On special teams, Rock Cartwright and Khary Campbell are the captains.
-- QB Connection
Colt Brennan once backed up Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif.
Brennan is the Redskins' third-string quarterback, while Leinart is the backup to Kurt Warner.
-- FedExField Attendance
FedExField is the largest stadium in the NFL with 91,704 seats. It is more than 11,000 seats ahead of the second biggest stadium, Giants Stadium.
The Redskins set a single-game attendance record--90,910--in the Dec. 30, 2007 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
-- What's Next?
Dallas Week arrives! The Redskins return to NFC East play as they travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys at Texas Stadium.
It's the first of two games against the Cowboys this year and it's the last Redskins-Cowboys game ever at Texas Stadium. (The Cowboys move into a new stadium in 2009.)
The Redskins split with the Cowboys last year, losing 28-23 at Texas Stadium and winning 27-6 at FedExField.
