Which poison do they choose?

Use LaRon Landry and Sean Taylor to double team Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth … and leave the middle of the field vacated for Wes Welker.

Have Landry help cover Welker … and allow the speedy Stallworth to work in man coverage.

Blitz a safety or linebacker … and watch Tom Brady take advantage.

Never has the defensive to-do list been longer since Gregg Williams joined the Washington Redskins in 2004.

The statistics are eye-popping. In their 7-0 start, the Patriots are averaging 39.9 points and 432.9 yards, have punted 16 times, gone three-and-out 10 times, scored 41 touchdowns and outscored opponents by 159 points.

“Pretty much, from what I’ve seen, they do whatever they want,” Redskins defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery said. “If they want to pass it, they pass it; if they want to run it, they run it.”

Not since the 1999 St. Louis Rams, who averaged 34 points and 392.9 yards in their first seven games has the NFL seen such an unstoppable offense. Current Redskins associate head coach-offense Al Saunders was the Rams’ receivers coach during that Super Bowl season.

“Our guys had so much confidence in what we were doing and how we were doing it — we felt we could score every time we had the football,” Saunders said.

The Rams’ first loss was 24-21 to a Tennessee defense run by Williams.

The Patriots and Redskins both face their stiffest tests this week. New England has played one top-10 defense and five of the bottom six; the Redskins have faced two top-10 offenses.

As Redskins cornerbacks coach Jerry Gray admitted, “We haven’t faced anybody like these guys yet.”

As Brady admitted, “It’s really a different type of scheme than we’ve played against and we have some very unique challenges.”

To slow down the Patriots, the Redskins face three issues:

Problem No. 1: Who covers Randy Moss and how do you cover him?

Carlos Rogers (knee) and Fred Smoot (hamstring) are nursing injuries so it’s likely Williams will employ the “Cover 2” with Landry and Taylor.

Story Continues →