If the Redskins can maintain consistency, the sky is the limit

The Redskins dominated one of the nation’s better teams on Sunday night. No catches. No fine print. The Redskins played a good team, and made them look like amateurs for four quarters.

It feels odd to say such a thing, but it’s true. This isn’t one of our bold predictions. Those come later this week. But while the team must quickly prepare for an even tougher test in the Kansas City Chiefs, us fans and writers aren’t yet ready to move on from the most one-sided Redskins’ win in decades. The good thing is this: If Washington can do it again, we won’t have to.

We knew, coming into 2017, what the potential of this young, growing team was. We also knew how they might see their downfall. In Week 3, the Redskins graced us with a trace of brilliance. They showed us what they can be, holding the Raiders offense, one of the best and most well-equipped units in the league, to 128 total yards and 0-11 on third downs.

Their domination was on par with Washington teams of earlier times. With a 344 yard differential between the Redskins and Raiders offenses, not even the Joe Gibbs teams pulverized their opponents in such fashion. It was truly a thrilling ride, but now that it’s over, we have a simple question to answer in the next seven days. Can the Redskins pick up where they left off?

All the pieces are there. We knew this offense had immense upside before the season. And while some players have shined more than others, the Redskins offense is quickly taking the Raiders’ mantle as one of the NFL’s premier squads. Chris Thompson is absolutely electric. Kirk Cousins has hit his stride, as was expected. Vernon Davis is ageless. And there are dozens of players I haven’t mentioned that can go toe-to-toe with the best.

And how about the defense? The line is reinvigorated with youth. Matt Ioannidis has undergone otherworldly growth in only a year, and Jonathan Allen is the top five talent the Redskins drafted him to be. Zach Brown is a monster in the middle, and the edge rush is loaded with weapons, from the ever-spectacular Ryan Kerrigan to Preston Smith, who is on his way to having a career year.

In the secondary, Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland are locking down receivers left and right, with D.J. Swearinger doing the same at free safety. And where in the world did Montae Nicholson come from?? The fourth-round rookie filled in for Su’a Cravens at strong safety, and in his short time starting, he has run away with the job, notching an interception and only one target on 34 snaps against the Raiders. He was drafted because of his upside, but no one expected him to break out this quickly.

Simply speaking, Washington has what it takes. And they showed that in action on Sunday night. This isn’t a paper airplane battle. We’re not writing X’s and O’s on the lineups. This is football. Pads against helmets. And on Sunday night, suited up in pads, not practice jerseys, the Redskins were clearly the better team.

But if anyone prefers taking it week by week, it’s the Redskins. Kirk Cousins even said after the game that he’s noncommittal as to whether the Redskins can take the league by storm. The NFL is so unpredictable. The Redskins are smart to take no gained ground for granted. Instead, they’ll come into their Monday night matchup next week fully prepared to show that they can play this well on a weekly basis.

Next: Josh Norman calls out Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree

Time will tell if the burgundy and gold are for real. They were on Sunday night. But if the NFL is anything, it’s volatile. The key is consistency. If they can rinse and repeat, and play like they did against the Raiders for weeks on end, then yes, they are for real. If the Redskins are who they claim to be after Sunday night, then the sky is the limit. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to say that.