Are the Redskins Pretenders?

This is the time of year when the NFL's contenders start separating themselves from the pretenders. Just because you came out of the first half of the season with a nice record doesn't mean you can expect anything in the second half.

Note the Washington Redskins. With their all-burgundy look two weeks ago, this old fan barely recognized them. Even with their normal uniforms on this week ... I still can't.

Ever since beginning the season 4-1 and beating New Orleans, Arizona, Dallas and Philadelphia in consecutive weeks, the Skins have looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL. They were beaten at home by the then-winless Rams. They needed a missed field goal to beat the downtrodden Cleveland Browns. They barely took care of the still-winless Lions. Pittsburgh then came into Washington and punched them in the face. Now Dallas has come in to FedEx Field and done the same.

So is this Redskins team truly a playoff contender? Or were they just blowing smoke?

Oh, Washington is still very much alive in the NFC playoff picture. While there is virtually no chance to catch the Giants, Washington still sits in second place in the NFC East and holding onto the final playoff spot. However, they are tied with Dallas and Atlanta (Washington currently has the tiebreaker over both with a better conference record) for that last wildcard berth.

Directly behind them is Philadelphia, New Orleans and the non-NFC North winners between Chicago, Green Bay and Minnesota. All are 5-5 (the Eagles are 5-4-1) and can sniff the playoffs, too. All are sitting behind the 7-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the wildcard lead.

The Redskins have a very interesting schedule. Over the last six weeks, they only place twice at home. That may be good since they have just a 3-3 record at FedEx Field. Those two home games are against the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Judging by what they've done of late, there is no way they can beat the G-men. That would make the Eagles game all the more important.

Their four road games are all very winnable. They head to Seattle, Baltimore, Cincinnati and San Francisco (they are a combined 12-27-1 this season). While they all could be wins, they also all have their traps.

Seattle is bad, but Qwest Field is one of the toughest venues to get a win in. Not to mention it will be a homecoming for head coach Jim Zorn and running back Shaun Alexander (let's pray that Zorn doesn't get nostalgic and give the former MVP extra snaps). Baltimore plays that same tough, physical play that the Giants, Rams, Steelers and Cowboys have won with. Cincinnati and San Francisco are both bad, but they've shown signs of life of late.

One advantage is the remaining schedules of the other contenders are a bit harder. Atlanta has Carolina, Tampa and St. Louis at home and must travel to San Diego, New Orleans and Minnesota. Dallas has two easy games over the next ten days when they host the Niners and Seahawks before finishing off at Pittsburgh, vs New York Giants and Baltimore, then at Philly. The Eagles host Arizona, Cleveland and Dallas and travel to Baltimore, New York and Washington. The three NFC North teams will all have to beat up on each other with the best coming out as division champs.

Needless to say, Washington has the easiest road ahead of them.

But does it matter when the team is playing this bad? Quarterback Jason Campbell has throw three interceptions in his last 58 pass attempts after going his first 249 attempts without one. Teams are figuring out the best way to stop Campbell is to get in his face. Clinton Portis is banged up as well as several defensive players. Injuries are part of the game, but the Redskins cannot survive without a healthy Janky Spanky. All of this has slowed down the effectiveness of Santana Moss.

Zorn must figure out how to get this team back on track. The postseason is still very much on the horizon if they can straighten themselves out.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-17-2008 @ 2:19AM

skinsTillDeath said...

HAIL TO THE MUDA F'N REDSKINS!!!

11-17-2008 @ 3:49AM

ODG28 said...

IM A SKINS FAN 4 LIFE BUT I SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL 3 PRIME TIME GAMES 3 LOSSES DEFENSE KEPT US IN ALL 3 BUT THE OFFENSE CANT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TURNOVERS THE D GETS THEM THEM THE O-LINE HAS PLAYED HORRIBLE IN ALL THREE GIVING JASON NO TIME TO THROW AND NOT MEETING THE PHYSICALITY OF THE DEFENSIVE LINES THEY FACE I HATE TO SAY IT PRETENDERS

11-17-2008 @ 7:21AM

Furdawg said...

I have to agree Sportz Assassin and ODG28. I am life time fan of the Skins but last night was hard to watch. The Hogs looked like piglets letting anyone through at Cambell. They had Romo right where they wanted him and yet could not get any points from the turn overs. To make things worse the team kept going for it on fourth down with no success. I think Zorn is a good coach even with the lack of experience but I can't see him leading us to the playoffs. I we do make it, I think it will be a first or second round exit for us.

11-17-2008 @ 7:22AM

mojo77 said...

We were beat up in the trenches once again on both sides of the ball. JC got knocked around all night and Romo was untouched all night. That second rounder for Taylor is looking like a bust. We need a big receiver. Kelly or Thomas need to overtake Thrash once and for all. If we continue this collapse will Cowher Get the call ? It's not crazy!

11-17-2008 @ 8:12AM

jerrod lowther said...

After watching 2 losts in a row and even coming off a bye week, the Redskins look a lot less confindent then early on. Coach Zorn must find a way to give Jason C. an opportunity to make big plays. Everyone knows Santanna M. will draw cover 2 zone defenses, so you know have to make your living in the flat. The redskins don't seem to have a big speedy receiver that will catch slants and turn them into big plays, no one goes across the middle, only Sellers and Cooley catches passes in the flat. This is disturbing knowing they have to play the Eagles, Ravens, Giants, coming up!

11-17-2008 @ 4:54PM

jb griffin said...

If the Redskins dont get Preasure on the QB ... they will not make the playoffs . Our secondary is weak and Jason Taylor is a AFC pass rusher ... BUST !
If we lose to Seattle ... Its OVER .

11-18-2008 @ 7:05PM

sal rojas said...

they need to get more agrresive,put more pressure to every @#@!$% quaterback,hey cambell!!,the record its over, dont be afraid to throw deep passes,,if he is scarred why not to give brennan a chance to play ?

11-17-2008 @ 9:28PM

frank said...

campbell is the same as year we need a qb to make the playoffs and refs. are crooked

11-17-2008 @ 10:53PM

Tim said...

I'm a diehard Redskins fan, but I believe their offensive passing game is suspect. It's not working, maybe two passes a game that are thrown deep. I like campbell but he needs more time. Doesn't look comfortable in the pocket yet.....Zorn you need to revise your playbook!!

11-18-2008 @ 5:10PM

George Johnson, Sr. said...

Just for Coach Zorn --- after the Skins/cowboys game --- dumb, the dumb, dumb, dumb!

11-18-2008 @ 9:52PM

CHRIS G said...

I refuse to believe the Redskins are pretenders after losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. When healthy, the Cowboys were early season Super Bowl favorites. A 4 point loss with a chance to win at the end of the game isn't the worst of losses.

I hope the Redskins will rebound this week at Seattle. While these last 2 games have knocked us back down to earth, I still believe the Skins are a playoff team. They will beat the teams they should, and lose when they face the NFL's premier pass rushing defenses. The Steelers, Cowboys, and Giants all fit the bill. I would also put the Eagles and Ravens in that group, but offensively they're not in the same league. At the end of the day in all 3 losses to the Giants, Steelers, and Cowboys our offensive line failed to protect JC and we were unable to generate any kind of offense because of it (running or passing).

If we find a way to offset opposing defenses pressure, such as the screens, draws, roll outs, and play-action deep passes that were effective in our four game winning streak, we will win more than we lose and make the playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 years.

However, in order to take the step to the next level we need to upgrade on the offensive and defensive line this offseason. Our OL is aging and our DL doesn't generate enough pressure to disrupt QB's. The OL is definitely more important, afterall we are the 4th ranked defense in the NFL. Our defense will keep us in any game we play, but unless Samuels, Kendall, Rabach, Thomas, and Jansen (all over 30) make vast improvements starting this week at Seattle, we will remain JUST A PLAYOFF TEAM.

11-18-2008 @ 10:19PM

another wasted season,thas what it is,the REDSKINS are not moving the ball, i dont know about portis,since the portis-zorn incident,the hole team looks different,i think somenthing its goin on inside thelooker room,something we still dont know,portis,moss,cooley,laundry? are all of them QUITTTEEERRSS,? whats goin on then?

11-30-2008 @ 8:32PM

GO,REDSKINS!!!!!,but please move the ball.

11-19-2008 @ 10:22PM

angel mejias said...

is it time yet ??? hey zorn let it rip let jc off the leash and bomb the ball thomas, malcom, moss lets go they fear our run game is time for our passing 2 be fear that is the only way we make the playoff times a tick come on redskins,come on redskins with that hail 2 the redskins

11-22-2008 @ 9:02PM

salrojas28 said...

its time to sit CLINTON HURTIS ,for the rest of the season,and to bench our scarry QB too! the team lost the arm,the legs,and the team lost the head, if...if they can rescue the season ZORN and MR.SNYDER need to go shopping , buy newwww legs,(portis ,alexander,betts,and the rock ,are done) ther,s a lot of young-talented runners lookin for a team. give the other QB,S a chance to play,we need new blood,we are hungry for a victory,we wanned to see the REDSKINS name on the superbowl,,and make that superbowl OUR SUPERBOWL!!!!!

11-23-2008 @ 6:45PM

dallas_rules said...

Yes...the skins are Pretenders...like their owner...little danny...he has dollars but no sense...look at his head coaches, free agents and draft picks....LOSER!

11-24-2008 @ 6:41PM

david said...

the redskins make me so nervous. i feel so topsy-turvy whenever they play. the defense flashes signs of brilliance, while the offense is gimmicky. the game we have this sunday against the giants is so important in determining the extent to which they will succeed this year, they can ill afford to lose it. the race for the wildcard position is so tight, and the other teams vying for the same position are seemingly far more consistent than our beloved redskins. in retrospect, we never should've thrown that cowboys game away. we needed that game so bad. the giants don't look like they will lose anytime soon this season, and that doesn't bode well for us because if we drop this game, we definitely won't make the playoffs. the other teams have games against opponents that appear beatable. after the giants' game this sunday, we have to play the ravens, and we all know how the skins struggle against 3-4 defensive fronts. personally, the TEAM NEEDS NEW LINEMEN; defensive and offensive, as well as some new linebacking upgrades. then we can be considered contenders, but until they play consistently, which means the current group we have must accept the duty to be consistent, we will be, at season's end, the same pretenders with so much talent we feared we were