Pregame Primer: Can the Redskins compete with six starters inactive?

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Washington Redskins are back at MetLife Stadium to face the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Redskins have never lost to the Jets on the road, winning all four games, though the last two have both been decided by one score.

The matchup was already going to be tough with a healthy lineup against the Jets’ top-ranked defense. The Redskins will be without six starters against New York, as well as a key contributor in running back Matt Jones.

Left tackle Trent Williams, center Kory Lichtensteiger, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, tight end Jordan Reed and cornerbacks Chris Culliver and DeAngelo Hall are all out.

The Redskins will be forced to face the Jets’ aggressive defensive front with left tackle Ty Nsekhe, who is making his first start. Josh LeRibeus, who started one game last season at left guard, is also making his first start at center.

The offense will need all the help it can get from the defense. After giving up 153 yards to Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, the Redskins’ front seven expects to be better against Chris Ivory and the Jets’ power running game.

The Jets are fresh off the bye week following a 27-14 win against the Miami Dolphins in London.

Here’s a look at Sunday’s game.

Logistics

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Records: Redskins 2-3, Jets 3-1

Television: FOX (Kenny Albert, play-by-play; Daryl Johnson, color; Holly Sonders, sidelines)

Radio: ESPN 980 (Larry Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Chris Cooley, Doc Walker)

Weather: 44 and sunny, 13 mph wind.

Lines: Jets -7, over/under 40 per Bovada

Projected Starters:

Redskins offense: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Alfred Morris, FB Darrel Young, WR Pierre Garcon, WR Ryan Grant, TE Derek Carrier, LT Ty Nsekhe, LG Spencer Long, C Josh LeRibeus, RG Brandon Scherff, RT Morgan Moses.

Redskins defense: DE Chris Baker, NT Terrance Knighton, DE Jason Hatcher, OLB Trent Murphy, ILB Keenan Robinson, ILB Perry Riley, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, CB Bashaud Breeland, CB Will Blackmon, SS Trenton Robinson, FS Dashon Goldson.

Jets offense: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, FB Tommy Bohanon, RB Chris Ivory, WR Brandon Marshall, WR Eric Decker, TE Jeff Cumberland, LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LG James Carpenter, C Nick Mangold, RG Willie Colon, RT Breno Giacomini.

Jets defense: DE Muhammad Wilkerson, NT Damon Harrison, DE Leonard Williams, OLB Quinton Coples, ILB Demario Davis, ILB David Harris, CB Darrelle Revis, CB Antonio Cromartie, SS Calvin Pryor, FS Marcus Gilchrist.

Injury report:

Redskins: Out — CB DeAngelo Hall (toe), WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), TE Jordan Reed (concussion), CB Chris Culliver (left knee), LT Trent Williams (concussion), C Kory Lichtensteiger (thumb/shoulder), RB Matt Jones (toe); Questionable — DE Stephen Paea (back), WR Andre Roberts (quad); Probable — WR Pierre Garcon (knee), C Josh LeRibeus (calf), RB Chris Thompson (shoulder), LB Perry Riley (calf), LG Spencer Long (ankle), DE Kedric Golston (hand).

Jets: Doubtful — DB Jaiquawn Jarrett (knee), WR Chris Owusu (knee), DB Marcus Williams (hamstring); Questionable — OL Willie Colon (knee), LB David Harris (quad), RB Bilal Powell (groin); Probable — DB Antonio Cromartie (groin), TE Jeff Cumberland (concussion), DB Dion Bailey (elbow), LB Quinton Coples (elbow), WR Eric Decker (knee), RB Chris Ivory (quad), DB Calvin Pryor (knee), DL Muhammad Wilkerson (ribs), DB Darrin Walls (hamstring), DL Leonard Williams (ankle).

Three things to watch:

** Running back Alfred Morris will get a heavier workload with Jones inactive. In the last three games, Morris has carried the ball 31 times. In the first two games, he rushed 43 times for 180 yards. The Redskins’ success is linked to the run game and they haven’t done well in that area since the first two weeks of the season. It gets tougher on Sunday with two starting offensive linemen out, but the Redskins need to stick to their strength.

** Ty Nsekhe, Josh LeRibeus and the rest of the Redskins’ offensive line face a tough test against New York’s defensive font. Defensive ends Muhammad Wilkerson and rookie Leonard Williams are difficult matchups on the edges, especially with Williams out. Keeping Kirk Cousins upright is always priority No. 1, but the pressure is on the offensive line this week with the injuries. Even if they can keep Cousins safe, can the offense beat the Jets’ pass defense, which ranks second? New York has held opponents to 185.5 passing yards per game.

** With the exception of the game against Atlanta, the Redskins’ defense has been strong against the run. Behind Chris Ivory, the Jets have the seventh-best rushing attack. Will they stick with it or try to beat the Redskins in the air? Though the Redskins will be without cornerbacks Chris Culliver and DeAngelo Hall, Bashaud Breeland and Will Blackmon were solid against the Falcons. It all starts up front and the Redskins need to pressure Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Stats:

All-time record: The Redskins are 8-2 against the Jets.

Last regular-season meeting: Dec. 4, 2011: 34-19 loss at FedEx Field.