Washington Redskins reside in an incredibly strong NFC
By Ian Cummings
After picking up veteran quarterback Alex Smith and bolstering their ranks through the 2018 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins are going all in to compete this season.
Before injuries struck last year, in a relentless cascade, wave after wave, the Washington Redskins seemed to be strong enough to mount a playoff run. Their offense was operating well under Jay Gruden‘s oversight, and the defense, too often the Achilles heel of the team, was not only holding it own, but smothering teams, such as the Oakland Raiders in Week 3.
That success wasn’t to last, however. The Washington Redskins’ depth failed them as the season went on, and they lost the ability to contend in tight contests. They ended the season at 7-9, heading into an offseason ripe with uncertainty.
Looking back at that uncertainty, it’s almost a miracle how much excitement the Washington Redskins’ offseason, in hindsight, is generating. The Washington Redskins are once again a team that can compete, with a revamped defensive line, a veteran quarterback, and a respected offensive mind at head coach. In 2018, there’s perhaps only one thing standing in their way: The rest of the NFC.
Granted, that’s the way it is every year. But this year, the NFC is different. It’s stronger. Much stronger. The list of teams that can be counted out, at this point in time, can be counted on one hand, and there is truly a case for every team to compete. Some cases are stronger than others, and in today’s NFL, the littlest weaknesses make the largest differences, but that fact alone does not stymie the growing unpredictability, heading into 2018.
In the NFC East, the Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys all pose a credible threat, and all have been to the playoffs in the last two years. The entire NFC North is dangerous, with the Vikings, Packers, and Bears gaining from strong offseason performances, while the Lions retain playoff talent.
The same can be said for the NFC South; teams such as the Panthers, Saints, and Falcons all return as post-season players, and the Buccaneers have the talent to jump into that pool, if everything goes right.
Even the NFC West, which was once the Seahawks’ division to lose, is now ascending; The Rams and 49ers have accentuated the division’s overturning, and after busy offseasons, they should both contend for the division crown, while Russell Wilson keeps the Seahawks out of irrelevance.
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Until the regular season starts, it’s always too early to accurately rank NFL teams, and the year, that statement rings true, particularly for the Washington Redskins’ conference, the NFC. The Washington Redskins play twelve teams in the NFC, and as it stands, it will be challenging to predict the outcomes of those games. Parity reigns in the present day. And the Washington Redskins are just one team of many that could find success in 2018.