Here is my amateur analysis of the second half of the Washington Redskins 2010 schedule:
November 15th: Philadelphia Eagles (Monday Night Football) - My first half prediction included a Redskins win over Philadelphia in Philly with Donovan McNabb riding the emotions of playing against the team that drafted him and the city that never really appreciated him. I don't know if the Redskins can do it twice in one season. Aside from last year, Washington has played fairly well against the Eagles the past few seasons but I think this year that they're going to split games. If anything, my rationale will have to resort back to the primetime argument. The Redskins are horrible on Sunday and Monday Night Football. (L)
November 21st: @ Tennessee Titans - The Tennessee Titans are coming off of a year in which they went 0-6 their first 6 games and then finished up the season winning 8 of their last 10. Chris Johnson is the most dynamic running back in the NFL and Vince Young is starting to show signs of improvement and maturity (on the field). That being said, it does not make up for the fact that their defense was the fifth worst in the league in giving up points and yards in 2009. I also think that Chris Johnson will come back next year and still be an extremely effective back, but I doubt that he will be able to come close to his production level of 2009. I'm going to give the Redskins the nod on this one (W)
November 28th: Minnesota Vikings - This is an easy one. If Brett Favre is back and playing (which all signs indicate he will be) then the Vikings win. If not, the Redskins have a much better chance. The Vikings gave Brett Favre the keys to the Bentley last year when they signed him. With a top 10 defense, (arguably) the best back in the league, a young wide receiver waiting to break out in Sidney Rice, and a dynamic playmaker in Percy Harvin, the Vikings were only missing that one piece to make them a true contender and that piece was Brett Favre. He stepped into the locker room with only a few weeks until the regular season began and took the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game which they almost won. All of this evidence being laid out in front of us, I think we have to give this one to the Vikings. (L)
December 5th: @ New York Giants - The Giants are coming off of a lackluster season, much like the Redskins. The only difference is, the Giants still swept the Redskins last year. The Giants have been a torn in the Redskins side for the past several seasons. Whereas the Redskins have had fairly good luck against the Eagles, they've had almost the exact opposite against the Giants. The Giants have some big question marks in their secondary, run game, and they also have to find a suitable replacement for middle linebacker Antonio Pierce. I believe that their passing game will be very effective and Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks are going to both have breakout seasons very similar to what Steve Smith did last year. I'm going to give this one to the Giants, although I do think that it will be close. (L)
December 12th: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay has become one of the most unstable teams in the NFL the past two seasons. Last year they had a season that came close to the pathetic one turned in by the Redskins. Their QB Josh Freeman is young and inexperienced, but does have a lot of upside. I see him being a Jason Campbell type of quarterback that flies under the radar and puts up solid statistics but never really wows you. I believe that by this point in the season the Redskins will have stabilized under Mike Shanahan and will be able to put teams like Tampa Bay away much more easily than they have in past seasons, especially if they are trying to make a playoff push. (W)
December 19th: @ Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys look to be the cream of the NFC crop next year. Along with teams like the Saints, Packers and Vikings they should have already solidified a playoff position by this point in the season due to lackluster competition from the Redskins, Giants and Eagles who all seem to be in the rebuilding phase, whether they would like to admit it or not. Even if their playoff ticket has been stamped, they will still be playing for that number one seed and the Redskins are a divisional opponent so I doubt they will pull any punches. I'm sure that most people remember the 24-0 thrashing that the Cowboys laid on the Eagles in week 17 of last season. I don't know that it will be a beat down of that magnitude, but I think it will definitely be a loss. (L)
December 26th: @ Jacksonville Jaguars - This is a very easily winable game. The Jaguars are the worst team in a weak division (aside from the always strong Colts). Their defense was awful last year as they attempted the 3-4 and turned in only 14 sacks (14!!!! This should be a red flag all of you 3-4 diehards out there). They do have a great running back in Maurice Jones-Drew, but David Gerrard has been inconsistent and downright bad at times. This one is going to the Redskins. (W)
January 2nd: New York Giants - The last game of the season, both of these teams will possibly be fighting for a playoff spot in a very talented NFC. I think that the Redskins will be able to pull this one out at home. I know that they have had bad luck against the Giants in the past, but I think that Shanahan will get these guys motivated to win this game and get a shot at making the playoffs or at least ending the season on positive note. (W)
Final Record: 8-8
Will they make the playoffs? This is a tough question to answer. I believe that the division winners this year will be the Cowboys, Saints, Packers, and 49ers. That leaves behind plenty of talented competition for the 2 remaining wild card spots with teams like the Vikings, Eagles, Giants, Falcons, and Cardinals still lurking around. With a record like 8-8 though (which they would be lucky to have after last season) I really just don't believe that it will be enough to make it to the post-season. The NFC is so deep this year that it's probably going to be tough getting into the playoffs with 9 wins on your schedule. That being said, I think the Redskins improve on a horrible season in 2009 and gain some hope for the future. Now lets get training camp started up.
