We have now reached what I like to call the sports "dead zone". It's that time period after the NBA Finals and NHL Finals wrap up and there's nothing on the docket for the next two months but baseball. Although there is the World Cup this year (which I'll watch over endless games of baseball any day) there isn't much hope for football fans until training camp starts and you begin to hear a few reports here and there about how your team is doing and what position competitions are heating up. So, in honor of the sports "dead zone" I thought I'd go through the first half of next year's regular season schedule for the Redskins and give my amateur analysis.
September 12: Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football) - This has got to be a loss. I realize that there is no better way for the 'Skins to kick off the season than to play the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football at home in primetime, but the odds are against them. The Redskins are terrible in primetime. Since 2000 they are 6-6 in Sunday Night Football, 2-2 on Thursday Night NFL Network games, and an atrocious 3-10 in their Monday Night contests. Plus it will be the debut of the new regime under Coach Shanahan, I just think that too many things for this team are too new and they aren't ready to face a Cowboys team that many believe are Super Bowl Bound. (L)
September 19: Houston Texans -This is a tough one to call. While at times the Texans last year looked like they were heading for their first playoff berth, at other times they seemed very suspect. Although they had the number one passing offense in the league last year, they ranked near the very bottom in rushing. Their defense, while boasting young stars like Mario Williams and newly caught juice-head Brian Cushing, was just average to say the most. I think that their offense takes a hit from Kyle Shanahan leaving, but they have enough talent to overcome it. There isn't a player on the roster that is going to be able to cover Andre Johnson and their running game should be much more balanced with the addition of Ben Tate through the draft. I'm giving this one to the Texans, although I do think it'll be close. (L)
September 26th: @ St. Louis Rams - So the Redskins have played the Rams twice the last two seasons. The first game, back in 2008, the Redskins had just come off of 4 straight wins and were looking hot. The Rams were lurking at the bottom of the barrel along with the Lions and were being interim coached by new Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. The Redskins lost this contest in one of the most frustrating games I have ever watched. Last year, the 'Skins played them again but this time won, albeit only scoring 3 field goals in an atrocious offensive showing. This year I'm putting my money on Washington, but as history has shown those Rams can be a tricky bunch (please note sarcasm). (W)
October 3rd: @ Philadelphia Eagles - Donovan McNabb's homecoming. This game is going to be huge. I can already picture the Sportscenter promos and Sal Palantonios riveting on site reporting. Donovan McNabb is going to want to gut-check the fans who never really wanted him to begin with. The same fans who booed him when he was drafted instead of Ricky Williams. The same fans who no matter how many times he won, no matter how many NFC Championship games he carried them to, they always wanted more. I personally think that this game is going to be too close to call, the Eagles are essentially rebuilding their secondary and they have a new starting QB in Kevin Kolb who is largely unproven. Kolb will be a good NFL quarterback, but I don't think that he lives up to McNabb. I'll give this one to the Skins just because I'm rooting for number 5. (W)
October 10th: Green Bay Packers - The Packers are a team that are on the rise. There's a good chance that they can make a deep playoff run next year and at the very least, they're one of the top teams in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. Charles Woodson looked like he was 22 last season. Their defense has improved, Ryan Grant is a very capable running back, in April they drafted a huge Left Tackle in Brian Bulaga, and did I mention they have Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback? Barring some sort of miracle, I don't think that there's any way that the Redskins get out of this one with a win. (L)
October 17th: Indianapolis Colts (Sunday Night Football) - Peyton Manning. Primetime. Enough said. (L)
October 24th: @ Chicago Bears - The Bears are a strange team. They are a team in search of an identity and you can't really give them a label. It's hard to tell if they're good or bad, but going by last year's standards I'd say they're just average. One day they're being completely embarassed by the Packers and Jay Cutler throws 6 ints, but later on the season Cutler out duels Brett Favre and the Vikings on Monday Night Football. They really didn't have many draft picks to use in this years draft becuase they basically sold the farm to get Cutler in the '09 offseason. They did sign Julius Peppers to a massive free agent deal, but we all saw how that worked out with the Redskins and Haynesworth and from what most people say, Peppers is cut from the same mold as Big Al. He works when it comes to the contract year, but that's about it. The Bears don't have any receivers, and their rushing game is average at best. Shanahan coached drafted and coached Cutler, so I'm hoping he can tip the defense off and they can rattle him into throwing multiple picks. The jury is still out on their defense, but I'm going to have to take the Redskins. (W)
October 31st: @ Detroit Lions - The Lions embarassed the Redskins last year by ending their 19 game losing streak by beating the Redskins at home. The Redskins instantly became a national joke. They did what no other team could do, they lost to the Detriot Lions. The Lions have added quite a bit of talent to their roster this year, though. They added WR Nate Burleson, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, and TE Tony Scheffler through free agency and they had arguably one of the best drafts in the NFL by drafting Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best in the first round. They already have young talent QB Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew. The Lions are obviously a team on the rise, but I think that the Redskins have the revenge factor. They know they got embarassed last year, and they don't want to see it happen again. (W)
Record going into the Bye week: 4-4
Second Half preditions coming soon.
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