Scouting report: Vikings at Redskins

Sunday: Noon at FedEx Field (Ch. 9, 100.3-FM, 1130-AM)

• The Redskins (4-3-1) are coming off a bye week following a 27-27 tie against the Bengals in London, where Washington's offense racked up 546 yards, the fourth-most in franchise history.

• QB Kirk Cousins is in a contract year and has played well recently. He set career highs in completions (38), attempts (56) and passing yards (458) against the Bengals.

• Trent Williams, the Redskins' Pro Bowl LT, will be sitting out the first game of a four-game suspension. Journeyman Ty Nsekhe is expected to make his third career NFL start in Williams' place.

• Second-year WR Jamison Crowder has emerged as the Redskins' leading receiver with consecutive 100-yard games.

• Washington is tied with the Cowboys and Raiders for the fewest sacks allowed (11) this season.

• Cousins, in his fifth NFL season, is trying to earn a long-term contract after Washington retained him with the franchise tag this offseason.

• He's leading an offense that ranks fourth in yards per game (410.2) and 14th in points (23.2).

• On how he's fared this season: "It's not going to matter how I did after eight games when the season's over. It's going to matter how I did after the whole season."

• On Nsekhe starting at left tackle in place of Williams: "Trent's a phenomenal player, and we certainly will miss him, but Ty is our answer and he's going to be ready to go."

• On Crowder:  "Jamison, along with our other guys, Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Chris Thompson, the list goes on and on in the passing game of guys who can help us."

• Gruden is in his third NFL season as head coach with a 17-22-1 record overall.

• The former Bengals offensive coordinator has helped guide a Redskins offense that is sixth in third-down conversions (45 percent).

• Recalling his time in Cincinnati with Mike Zimmer: "He was dying to get his [head coaching] opportunity, and he deserved one. The success we had in Cincinnati had a lot to do with him and the style he played on defense and their ability to shut people down."

• On how the team responded to K Dustin Hopkins' 34-yard overtime miss against the Bengals: "He's had such a great year. I know he's sick about it, but we're going to rally around Hop and we'll need him to win games for us down the stretch."

ANDREW KRAMMER