Denver Broncos [6-2] at Washington Redskins [2-6]

Byline: Ryan O'Halloran, THE WASHINGTON TIMES KEY MATCHUP Broncos WR Brandon Marshall vs. Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall When he last saw the Broncos, DeAngelo Hall was making his regular-season debut for Oakland. It didn't go well. Marshall didn't play, but rookie Eddie Royal caught nine passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. Marshall will be on the field Sunday, likely matched up against Hall. The receiver, who sparred with coach Josh McDaniels during training camp, has been targeted a team-high 66 times and has 44 catches for 468 yards and four of the Broncos' nine touchdown catches. Hall has three of the Redskins' four interceptions this year. Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray compares Marshall to Terrell Owens. Big guy who's fast, strong and he can do a lot of stuff against his body and come up with a tough catch, Gray said. In the Dallas game,he jumped over [cornerback Terence] Newman's head to make a catch. The Redskins allow a league-low 159.9 passing yards a game. THREE KEYS 1. Show a first-half pulse The Redskins' first-half debacle last week in Atlanta featured personal fouls by LaRon Landry and Lorenzo Alexander, two offside penalties by Albert Haynesworth, a sideline brouhaha and a 24-3 deficit they couldn't overcome. The Redskins have been outscored 103-36 in the first half. 2. Keep Campbell upright Jason Campbell has been sacked 11 times in the past two games and had to leave the Atlanta loss twice because of injury. Another new offensive line combination - in are left tackle Levi Jones and right guard Chad Rinehart, out are right tackle Mike Williams and right guardWill Montgomery - has to keep track of Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil. 3. A big return The Redskins rank 16th on kickoff returns and 30th on punt returns. Their biggest play was a 42-yard kickoff return by Rock Cartwright.Denver's coverage teams are 27th (kickoffs) and 29th (punts); a big play by Cartwright or DeAngelo Hall on a punt return could provide a short field. THE EDGE WHEN THE Redskins HAVE THE BALL The 20-point barrier - heck, the 18-point barrier - remains elusive for a Washington offense that will be without four starters from the season opener. The line has been revamped again, Jason Campbell is not completely healthy and Ladell Betts is nursing an ankle problem. Betts is the key. He showed a burst in the second half last week and allowed the Redskins to use their play-action game to string togetherconsecutive 13-play touchdown drives. The Broncos present a challenge, though. Elvis Dumervil's 10.5 sacks are tied for the league lead, and safety Brian Dawkins doesn't appear to have lost a step since hisprime years in Philadelphia. Edge: Broncos WHEN THE Broncos HAVE THE BALL Denver is middle of the road in all of the major offensive categories, including rushing (18th), passing (16th) and points (22nd). Third down is where the Redskins will take advantage. Denver is 8-for-27 on third down in its past two games, losses to Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The running game has stalled, but receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal have combined for 69 catches and 700 yards. The Redskins'key is wrapping up Denver's running backs; Michael Turner's big runsfor the Falcons were aided by missed tackles. It will be interestingto see whether the Redskins start moving free safety LaRon Landry closer to the line of scrimmage, leaving Reed Doughty as the deep safety. Edge: Redskins SPECIAL TEAMS Neither team's numbers are very good except for the Redskins' coverage teams (second on kickoffs, sixth on punts). Denver's Eddie Royalaverages 11.6 yards a return on punts and 23.7 on kickoffs. Redskinspunter Hunter Smith passed the test by kicking Friday and feeling well enough Saturday that the team released fill-in Sam Paulescu. Smithhas missed three games this year. Denver is on its second punter - Mitch Berger is averaging 34.9 yards since being signed two games ago.The Broncos get the edge because Royal has proved he can score on punt and kickoff returns. Edge: Broncos Broncos STARTERS Offense WRxxxx19xxxxEddie Royal WRxxxx15xxxxBrandon Marshall WRxxxx10xxxxJabar Gaffney LTxxxx78xxxxRyan Clady LGxxxx71xxxxRuss Hochstein Cxxxx62xxxxCasey Wiegmann RGxxxx73xxxxChris Kuper RTxxxx77xxxxBrandon Gorin TExxxx89xxxxDaniel Graham RBxxxx28xxxxCorrell Buckhalter QBxxxx8xxxxKyle Orton Defense DExxxx98xxxxRyan McBean NTxxxx91xxxxRonald Fields DExxxx90xxxxKenny Peterson OLBxxxx57xxxxMario Haggan ILBxxxx54xxxxAndra Davis ILBxxxx55xxxxD.J. Williams OLBxxxx92xxxxElvis Dumervil CBxxxx24xxxxChamp Bailey CBxxxx21xxxxAndre Goodman FSxxxx23xxxxRenaldo Hill SSxxxx20xxxxBrian Dawkins Specialists Kxxxx5xxxxMatt Prater Pxxxx17xxxxMitch Berger PRxxxx19xxxxEddie Royal KRxxxx19xxxxEddie Royal Injuries Out: RT Ryan Harris (toe). Doubtful: S Josh Barrett (hamstring). Questionable: DT Ryan McBean (knee). Probable: WR Brandon Marshall (back) Redskins STARTERS Offense WRxxxx89xxxxSantana Moss WRxxxx11xxxxDevin Thomas LTxxxx76xxxxLevi Jones LGxxxx66xxxxDerrick Dockery Cxxxx61xxxxCasey Rabach RGxxxx75xxxxChad Rinehart RTxxxx74xxxxStephon Heyer TExxxx86xxxxFred Davis RBxxxx46xxxxLadell Betts FBxxxx45xxxxMike Sellers QBxxxx17xxxxJason Campbell Defense DExxxx99xxxxAndre Carter DTxxxx96xxxxCornelius Griffin DTxxxx92xxxxAlbert Haynesworth DExxxx93xxxxPhillip Daniels OLBxxxx52xxxxRocky McIntosh MLBxxxx59xxxxLondon Fletcher OLBxxxx98xxxxBrian Orakpo CBxxxx23xxxxDeAngelo Hall CBxxxx22xxxxCarlos Rogers FSxxxx30xxxxLaRon Landry SSxxxx37xxxxReed Doughty Specialists Kxxxx6xxxxShaun Suisham Pxxxx3xxxxHunter Smith PRxxxx82xxxxAntwaan Randle El KRxxxx31xxxxRock Cartwright KRxxxx46xxxxLadell Betts Injuries Out: TE Chris Cooley (ankle), RB Clinton Portis (concussion), RT Mike Williams (ankle). Questionable: RB Ladell Betts (ankle), CB ByronWestbrook (knee), RT Stephon Heyer (knee). Probable: QB Jason Campbell (ankle).