Cardinals at Redskins
THE STORY: The Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals each debuted new starting quarterbacks to encouraging results last weekend. Washington’s Rex Grossman and Arizona’s Kevin Kolb both threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns while amassing passer ratings above 110. Washington’s new No. 1 running back, Tim Hightower, spent the previous three seasons splitting carries in Arizona, where Beanie Wells has stepped up into a featured role. Grossman will be taking aim at the Cardinals' suspect secondary on Sunday afternoon in Washington.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Redskins -3.5 O/U 45
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (1-0): Grossman managed to complete nearly 62 percent of his passes without throwing an interception in a Week 1 win over the rival New York Giants. That should quiet for at least one more week any speculation of John Beck grabbing the starting job. Hightower started off strong against the Giants but finished slow as the offensive line - which allowed four sacks - began to wear down. Washington could once again be without safety LaRon Landry, who missed the final seven games of 2010 with an injured Achilles tendon and sat out Week 1 with a right hamstring strain.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-0): Arizona got the win in Week 1 but needs to figure out a way to tighten up a secondary that allowed top overall pick Cam Newton to rack up a record 422 passing yards in his first NFL game. Fifth overall pick Patrick Peterson returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown but struggled a bit in coverage. Former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson, who missed most of training camp with an injury, was noticeably rusty. Kolb has passed for 300 or more yards in half of his eight career NFL starts and had two scoring passes go for over 40 yards in last Sunday’s 28-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Washington wide receiver Santana Moss’ first catch on Sunday will be the 600th of his career. Moss had six catches for 76 yards in Week 1.
2. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald needs two touchdown catches to pass Roy Green (66) for first place on Arizona’s franchise list.
3. Washington leads the all-time series 73-44-2. The Cardinals have not beaten the Redskins since 2000, when both teams were in the NFC East.