Courtesy- Sports World Report
Last season didn’t work out so well for the Washington Redskins. The team fell short of all their goals and sat at the very bottom of the NFC East. Fortunately, Washington has a chance for a fresh start this upcoming season. The Redskins are now led by new head coach Jay Gruden and their starting quarterback Robert Griffin III will be playing without a knee brace. Washington didn’t have a first-round draft pick during this year’s draft but the team was able to add depth and potential to both the offensive and defensive sides of the football through free agency. Washington has a tough schedule in front of them but I believe that they have all the pieces to create a successful season and win the NFC East. This article will predict the outcome of every game for Washington’s upcoming season.
Week 1- Washington Redskins at Houston Texans
Win: 24-17
The main factor for this game will be how well RG3 can compete against Houston’s defense, especially their pass rushers J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. Griffin will need to have a good day passing and he must stay mobile to capture the win. The Texans offense shouldn’t be too much of a problem for Washington’s secondary. The Redskins just need to shutdown Andre Johnson and Washington should be able to sneak by with a road win for Week 1.
Week 2- Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Redskins
Win: 34-20
This game should be an easy win for Washington. Last season, Jacksonville struggled all year long and finished 4-12. Fortunately for the Redskins, the Jaguars haven’t made much of a turn around from last season. My biggest concern is that Washington might take the Jaguars too lightly. Now with Jay Gruden in charge, he needs to make sure that the Redskins stay focused and don’t let the Jaguars sneak away with a win. With that being said, if the Redskins stay focused, they should be 2-0 heading into Week 3.
Week 3- Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Loss: 24-21
This game will be all about DeSean Jackson as he tries to seek revenge against his former team. This game will also be extremely difficult for the Redskins to win. Chip Kelly’s offense was too quick and just too much for the Redskins last season and even though Washington has made improvements, the Eagles are still going to be hard to stop, especially running back LeSean McCoy.
Week 4- New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Win: 27-24
This is going to be a great game. It is going to be very interesting watching Washington’s fast wide receivers matchup against New York’s deep secondary. Turnovers will most likely be the deciding factor in this game and I’m expecting a couple interceptions from Eli Manning. Washington will get the win with the help of home field advantage as well.
Week 5- Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins
Loss: 24-17
Jay Gruden will need to have his team ready for this Monday Night Football game. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if Washington’s offense will be ready to go up against Seattle’s defense on prime time. I’m also not sure if Washington’s defense will be able to hold down Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch for all four quarters. Seattle will also be coming off of a bye week, making this game even more difficult for the Redskins to win.
Week 6- Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals
Loss: 35-21
It’ll be a short week for Washington as they head out west to take on the Cardinals but hopefully they can get ready in time. Last season, the Cardinals were 6-2 at home and Washington struggled on the road. This will be a tough matchup because the Cardinals are a team with a lot of playoff potential. Washington’s secondary needs to stay focused because I’m expecting a big game from Larry Fitzgerald.
Week 7- Tennessee Titans at Washington Redskins
Win: 24-10
Jake Locker is not the answer for the Tennessee Titans, who are very inconsistent, especially on the road. Washington’s home field advantage will play a big role in this win. The Redskins also have much more firepower than Tennessee and it will give them a strong advantage for this game. I’m expecting Washington to get points up very early in this one.
Week 8- Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Win: 35-24
If anything, the Cowboys’ defense has gotten worse and the Redskins have more weapons to exploit it with this upcoming season than they did last year. This will be a big Monday night game, so with all the pressure I’ll also put money on Tony Romo throwing at least one interception this game.
Week 9- Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings
Win: 24-21
The Vikings were just as bad as Washington last season, but the team hasn’t made the improvements that Washington has. The Vikings don’t have a quarterback and their defense lost Jared Allen and I’m really not sure what their game plan is. The biggest key to this game will be stopping Adrian Peterson. Even if Peterson has a big game, it won’t be enough for the win.
Week 10- Bye Week
Week 11- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins
Win: 21-14
Just like Washington, the Buccaneers only had a single road win all season last year. For this season, Tampa Bay has a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and an overall new look but I’m not expecting that big of a turn around in just one season. It will be extremely difficult for Tampa Bay’s defense to matchup with the speed of Washington’s wide receivers in this one. I’m expecting a big game from RG3 passing wise. This is Washington’s game to win.
Week 12- Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers
Loss: 24-20
Last season, the 49ers manhandled the Redskins on Monday Night Football. Though Washington has gotten better, the 49ers are still a great football team that will be extremely hard to stop. Washington’s secondary will need to stay in check for this game to keep it close.
Week 13- Washington Redskins at Indianapolis Colts
Loss: 28-24
This is going to be another exciting matchup to watch. Griffin may of beat out Luck for the Heisman Trophy but so far in the NFL, Luck played better than Griffin. Both teams have a solid core of receivers so I’m expecting this game to be a big one passing wise from both quarterbacks. Washington’s defense will have a hard time slowing down Luck. The Colts will win this game with the help of home field advantage.
Week 14- St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins
Win: 21-10
The St. Louis Rams lost Sam Bradford so Washington’s defense should have an easy time controlling the tempo and making stops. In the past two years, the Rams have only won five games on the road, which gives the Redskins a serious advantage. The biggest factor for this game is how well Washington’s offensive line can stop the pass rush. If all goes well, Washington will get by St. Louis.
Week 15- Washington Redskins at New York Giants
Win: 14-10
This is going to be a close game in cold weather. This game is also going to carry a lot of weight, as the Redskins will be trying to capture a division title at the end of the year. By the end of the season, I’m expecting DeSean Jackson and RG3 to have built up a lot of chemistry and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jackson receive 150 plus yards at MetLife Stadium. The Redskins have the talent to sweep the series against the Giants this year.
Week 16- Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
Loss: 14-10
This will be a big game that Washington should be able to win, but I’m expecting them to drop the ball at home against Chip Kelly’s Eagles and leave fans scratching their heads looking for an explanation. DeSean Jackson will still be looking for revenge but right now I don’t see Washington’s defense prepared enough to take down the Eagles at home. The Eagles swept the Redskins last year and it could very well happen again, as much as that hurts to admit.
Week 17- Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
Win: 35-24
In 2012, the Redskins out played the Cowboys in their season finale and I’m expecting it to happen once again. The Redskins will have home field advantage and be in tip top shape by the end of the season. I don’t see the Cowboys’ defense being able to slow down Washington’s quick offense. The Redskins will be able to sweep the Cowboys this year and hopefully be right at the top to take the division
Final Record: 10-6
