Redskins News: After two games NFC East wide open
Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden loks on from the sidelines against the St. Louis Rams in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Redskins in the mix in NFC East
Well, well, well look what we have here. Two weeks ago many NFL pundits had the Washington Redskins DOA dead on arrival. Picked at the bottom of the power rankings and predictions of having the worst record in the league by the end of the season.
The Redskins were given little chance at winning games let alone the NFC East and yet after what’s transpired in the first two weeks of the season the Redskins are playing a lot better than most had anticipated and are in the mix to compete for the division.
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While it’s still too early to proclaim the Redskins are future division champs, the odds of it happening now are a lot better than they were before the season started. It’s still a long way to go, as anything can happen in fourteen games.
But here we are. The reigning division champs the Dallas Cowboys have lost their two best players in Tony Romo and Dez Bryant to significant injuries that required surgery and will keep each out of the lineup for an extended period of time.
Another preseason division favorite, the Philadelphia Eagles have started the season 0-2 and their offense isn’t any where near what it was expected to be. Sam Bradford hasn’t played well and high profile free agent signing DeMarco Murray has only 11 yards rushing so far in two games.
The New York Giants have been competitive in the first two games but have collapsed in the fourth quarter of each which has resulted in an 0-2 record for them as well and the Redskins pay them a visit on Thursday night in week 3.
Where as the Redskins probably should be 2-0 right now and the drama off the field that many suspected would hamper the team hasn’t seemed to affect it so far on it. The scheme adjustments that head coach Jay Gruden have made are working.
The power running game installed by O-line coach Bill Callahan has dominated two of the best defensive lines in football. The new attacking 3-4 defense initiated by defensive coordinator Joe Barry has the Redskins defense among the best in the league.
The draft led by general manager Scot McCloughan has seen four rookies in guard Brandon Scherff, linebacker Preston Smith, running back Matt Jones and receiver Jamison Crowder all play key roles so far in the Redskins success.
The Redskins are definitely trending up but they can’t get ahead of themselves. Things have gone well so far but the Redskins need to stay grounded and not make the mistake the Rams made by reading their own press clippings and believing the hype.
However, it’s like I said there’s still a long way to go and there’s still time for the others to turn things around. But for now with all that’s happened this early into the season, the Washington Redskins have as good a chance as any to compete in the NFC East.