Pregame Primer: Redskins look to snap two-game losing streak vs. Tampa Bay

LANDOVER — After back-to-back losses on the road, the Washington Redskins return to FedEx Field to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the bye week.

It’s not often a coach declares a game a must-win this early in the season, but that is exactly what coach Jay Gruden did when he called the contest against the Buccaneers a “code red” situation following a 34-20 loss to the New York Jets.

The loss was the Redskins’ worst of the season. Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions for the fourth time this year. The offense rushed for 34 yards on 17 carries. The defense allowed 221 rushing yards on 41 carries.

With a road game against the New England Patriots (5-0) looming after the bye week, a loss to the Buccaneers could send the Redskins spiraling to a 2-6 record.

Every game is important, but a win on Sunday would keep the Redskins competitive in the muddled NFC East. Philadelphia and the New York Giants are both 3-3. Dallas is 2-3.

“I really stress the home games,” Gruden said on Friday. “I stress them all but home games are very important — take advantage of our home crowd and play well at home especially when you’re 2-4 and last place in your division. You know, the clock is ticking. We have to turn the season around. We can’t get too far behind the guys in front of us otherwise it will be darn-near impossible to catch them. We still have high aspirations and big goals for this season in order to accomplish those things we have to get a victory at home against Tampa Bay.”

Code red indeed.

With that, here’s a look at the details for Sunday’s matchup and three things to watch.

Logistics

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Records: Redskins 2-4, Buccaneers 2-3

Television: Fox (Kenny Albert, play-by-play; Daryl Johnston, color; Laura Okmin, sidelines)

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

Weather: 65 and cloudy 

Lines: Redskins -3.5, over/under 43 per Bovada

Projected Starters:

Redskins offense: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garcon, WR Ryan Grant, TE Jordan Reed, TE Derek Carrier, LT Trent Williams, 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.

Buccaneers offense: QB Jameis Winston, FB Jorvorskie Lane, RB Doug Martin, WR Vincent Jackson, WR Mike Evans, TE Brandon Myers, LT Donovan Smith, LG Logan Mankins, C Evan Smith, RG Ali Marpet, RT Gosder Cherilus.

Buccaneers defense: DE William Gholston, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Clinton McDonald, DE Jacquies Smith, SLB Danny Lansanah, MLB Kwon Alexander, WLB Lavonte David,, CB Tim Jennings, CB Johnathan Banks, SS Major Wright, FS Bradley McDougald.

Injury report:

Redskins: Out — CB DeAngelo Hall (toe), WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), CB Chris Culliver (left knee), C Kory Lichtensteiger (neck); Doubtful — RB Chris Thompson (back); Questionable — DE Stephen Paea (back), DE Jason Hatcher (knee), LT Trent Williams (concussion), TE Jordan Reed (concussion), ILB Keenan Robinson (heel); Probable — CB Bashaud Breeland (knee), LT Ty Nsekhe (foot), SS Trenton Robinson (ankle), WR Andre Roberts (thumb), RB Matt Jones (toe).

Buccaneers: Out — TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder), T Reid Fragel (concussion), DT Tony McDaniel (groin); Questionable — LG Logan Mankins (groin), linebacker Bruce Carter (thigh), WR Russell Shepard (hamstring), C Evan Smith (ankle); Probable — DT Gerald McCoy (shoulder), CB Johnathan Banks (knee), S Chris Conte (ankle), DE George Johnson (ribs), TE Luke Stocker (hip).

Stats:

All-time record: The Redskins are 10-11 against the Buccaneers.

Last regular-season meeting: Nov. 16, 2014: 27-7 loss at FedEx Field.

Three things to watch:

** It’s been a rough two weeks for Kirk Cousins. He’s thrown two interceptions in each of the Redskins’ four losses. After throwing a pick six in overtime in a 25-19 loss to Atlanta in Week 5, Cousins tossed two interceptions in the team’s loss to the Jets. One was an egregious error — the type of turnover that raised questions about Cousins’ improvement. Is he capable of not committing the head-scratching turnovers that troubled him last season? Gruden has made it clear he is sticking with Cousins, so he’ll continue to get a chance to fix his mistakes, starting Sunday against the Buccaneers. As always, all eyes will be on Cousins and how he responds after a tumultuous two weeks.

** Defensive coordinator Joe Barry and some of the Redskins’ run stoppers all referred to the same point this week: the run defense is not as bad as the numbers indicate. Well, now is their chance to prove it. In the last two games, the Redskins have allowed 397 yards on the ground. That’s 85 more than they’ve given up to opponents in the first four games of the season combined. So, why are guys like inside linebacker Keenan Robinson saying the run defense isn’t so bad? It was only a few big plays that troubled them against New York. They gave up 221 yards to the Jets — 156 of which came on seven plays. They hope to clean that up against the Buccaneers and running back Doug Martin, who has rushed for 229 yards in his last two games.

** Unfortunately for the Redskins, they can’t just skip the third quarter, though they’d probably like to. Opponents have outscored the Redskins 46-3 in the third quarter this season. The Redskins have led five of their six games at halftime, yet they inexplicably fall flat after the break. Sometimes it’s turnovers. Sometimes it’s bad penalties. Mostly, it’s been just bad execution and the Redskins need to find a way to be better in the second half.