Brad Johnson has thrown nine touchdown passes and no interceptions in 1999.

This season, the Redskins have found a chemistry that works. They now have winning experience and veteran leadership with the addition of Larry Centers, Marco Coleman, Andy Heck and Irving Fryar, players who understand what a good locker room should feel like. So much of football is more than just X's and O's. It's feeling good about the people you work with, which makes a difference in terms of wins and losses, success or failure.

The biggest change for the Redskins, though, has been the addition of quarterback Brad Johnson. They have a proven quarterback with experience who is not at the end of his career like Jeff Hostetler was. They have been through young quarterbacks trying to find themselves like Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte. Coach Norv Turner wasn't in a position to help a quarterback find himself this year or he would find himself without a job.

Johnson is playing quarterback as well as anyone in football. This offense is like the ones Turner directed as a coordinator with the Rams and the Cowboys. The Redskins are getting the efficiency from the quarterback that they should have had three or four years ago.

It has been a different story on Washington's defense, which is ranked last in the NFL. The Redskins have tried to address their defensive problems by signing veteran linebacker Kurt Gouveia and hiring Bill Arnsparger as a defensive consultant. With the quality defensive personnel Washington has, you sometimes think it's more than just the players. By adding Arnsparger, Turner has put all his personal feelings aside and made a decision to help his team.

A defensive coach can always rationalize that the offense is turning the ball over and putting them in bad positions. But Johnson hasn't thrown an interception all season. So there's nothing from the offense that is contributing to the negative defensive stats. As bad as the Redskins are ranked, they have earned every ranking. With the addition of Gouveia, to help against the run, and Arnsparger, the Redskins are stronger contenders for a playoff spot.

Against the Cardinals, the Redskins have a chance to make a statement. Not just due to the erratic nature of Jake Plummer, but the overall problems Arizona has on offense. Receiver Rob Moore held out and now is injured. David Boston is a young, developing receiver. Adrian Murrell has yet to get untracked. Arizona lost two offensive linemen to injury in a car accident. The Cardinals are less than 100 percent physically.

The Redskins, coming off a bye week, should be better than 100 percent. This is a game where the Redskins defense should have no excuse but to play well.

Here are the keys to Sunday night's game for each team:

Washington Redskins
1. If it ain't broke ... The Redskins need to continue doing what they are doing offensively -- remaining balanced between the Stephen Davis-led running attack and Johnson's passing. Nothing should be changed. The line needs to keep protecting Johnson as it has been. I like the way Turner calls a football game because he takes shots down the field. Westbrook has stepped up and played the way everyone expected him to play when he was drafted, and Albert Connell has been unbelievable.

2. Stop something: The defense needs to do a better job of shutting down at least one part of an offense, whether it be run or pass. I think they should start with the Cardinals' running game. If Murrell has any kind of success against the Redskins, they will show they have made no improvements over the bye week.

3. Don't lean on the offense: Overall, the defense must step up. The Redskins offense has proven it can move the ball and put up points. The Redskins were down 21 points to Carolina, and won. They were also down to the Jets and won. On the other hand, they led the Cowboys by 21 points in the fourth quarter in Week 1 and lost the game. That all goes back to their defensive problems. The defense can't count on the offense to score 35 points each week to win.

Arizona Cardinals
1. Don't cough it up: Plummer has committed 14 turnovers -- 12 interceptions and two fumbles -- in only five games, an average of almost three turnovers a game. Last week, he didn't turn the ball over for the first time this year, and the Cardinals won. He must protect the football, especially in the red zone. If the Cardinals are within 20 yards of the end zone, Plummer must make plays that ensure points, whether it's field goals or touchdowns.

2. Look downfield: Marc Trestman is a quality offensive coordinator, and Plummer appeared to have found himself against the Giants last week. With Moore out, the Cardinals are beginning to incorporate Boston more into their offense. Last week, he caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Two of the receptions went for 20 yards or more. Look for the Cardinals to challenge downfield more with Boston and Frank Sanders.

3. Put up a defensive challenge: The Cardinals have more experience on their defense, and that's where Arizona's burden of victory should fall. They will have to challenge the Redskins offense. The defensive front four has Eric Swann back and needs to pressure Johnson, taking him out of the rhythm passing game. The key, however, will be in the secondary, where Aeneas Williams will match up against Westbrook.

Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann works as a game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football. He breaks down the Sunday night matchup every week for ESPN.com.