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Redskins rank No. 14 in initial strength of schedule rankings for 2018

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 24: Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden calls a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 24: Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden calls a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Redskins faced a brutal schedule to open the 2017 season. In 2018, their schedule is looking a bit less difficult on paper, but it could get harder as the offseason goes on.

The only things that NFL teams really can’t control regarding their team are injuries and the schedule. Each year, a team faces a particularly brutal schedule that can have a major negative impact on them. Last season, the Redskins were victims of this, as they played three playoff teams in the first month of the season and proceeded to face three of the four best teams in the NFC. In 2018, things are looking a bit easier for them, at least at the moment.

Per John Breech of CBS Sports, the Redskins rank No. 14 overall in strength of schedule heading into 2018. Their opponents for the upcoming season finished with a combined record of 129-127, which is about as middling a mark as one can get. Conversely, the Green Bay Packers, who have the toughest projected schedule, see that their opponents combined for a 138-118 record in 2017.

Truly, this doesn’t mean much for the Redskins. As it stands, free agency and the draft haven’t even begun yet, so the teams on their schedule are going to look a lot different in a mere matter of months. In fact, it looking at their opponents, it could end up being far more difficult than is initially being anticipated. Here’s a look at who they will be squaring off against in 2018, per the team’s official website and Stephen Czarda.

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  • Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3 (twice)
  • Carolina Panthers: 11-5
  • New Orleans Saints: 11-5
  • Atlanta Falcons: 10-6
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: 10-6
  • Dallas Cowboys: 9-7 (twice)
  • Tennessee Titans: 9-7
  • Arizona Cardinals: 8-8
  • Green Bay Packers: 7-9
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11
  • Houston Texans: 4-12
  • Indianapolis Colts: 4-12
  • New York Giants: 3-13 (twice)

Facing the reigning Super Bowl Champions twice will be no cakewalk, and getting to take on the high-powered NFC South isn’t ideal either. These teams will almost certainly give the Redskins trouble if they are at full strength. Meanwhile, the Jaguars defense will also be challenging, but given that the Redskins beat the Seahawks in a defensive struggle in 2017, they will have a chance to knock off the Jaguars as well.

In terms of the sub-.500 opponents that the Redskins are taking on, there are still some potentially tough games. The Packers are a perennial Super Bowl contender with Aaron Rodgers healthy. The Colts won’t be an easy opponent if Andrew Luck’s shoulder is healthy. So, those two opponents could end up making this schedule more difficult. Right now, it’s too early to know.

When healthy, the Redskins are going to be able to compete with a majority of teams on their schedule. At the same time, the No. 14 ranking in strength of schedule at this juncture is a bit misleading. They are already playing seven games against 2017 playoff teams and they have a few more against teams that were in the hunt as well.

Next: Why a first round DL isn't efficient for Redskins

No game in the NFL is easy, but at least half of the Redskins games look to be really tough matchups. Here’s hoping that Jay Gruden and Greg Manusky can figure out a way to beat these teams when the time comes.

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