The Washington Redskins have a tough schedule coming up for the 2018 NFL season. Here’s a look at all their games ranked from the least to most difficult.
The Redskins schedule for 2018 projects to be one of the more difficult ones in the NFL. As it stands, the team is going to be squaring off against tough foes from the perennially strong NFC East, and they also get an unlucky draw by having to take on the NFC South, which saw three teams make the postseason last year.
Because of this, some are skeptical of whether or not Washington is going to be able to make the postseason. In the NFC, 10 or 11 wins is probably the number to get there, and it isn’t easy to find double-digit wins on this schedule. That said, things change rapidly in the NFL and, as the Redskins learned last year, injuries can have a major impact on what a team is able to do.
For now, teams are all as good as they look on paper, and that won’t change until the preseason starts. So, here’s a look at all the Redskins opponents ranked from least intimidating to most intimidating, and how the strengths and weaknesses of each squad will affect their matchup with the Redskins.
16. Week 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Right now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a bit of a mess. Their team just doesn’t seem likely to be very competitive, and they have problems on both sides of the ball and in key leadership roles.
Notably, Dirk Koetter is one of the worst current head coaches in the NFL. When the Buccaneers fired Lovie Smith to promote Koetter from his offensive coordinator position, there was hope that he would turn around the team’s offense. However, instead, the Buccaneers haven’t progressed much and Jameis Winston hasn’t grown into the franchise quarterback that many expected.
Speaking of Winston, he is entering a critical season as well. In his fourth year, he really needs to step up and make more big plays if he’s ever going to turn into a true franchise quarterback. Also, he needs to be able to stay out of trouble, which is something that has eluded him during his time in the NFL.
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To start the 2018 season, Winston will be suspended for three games following a 2016 incident when he groped an Uber driver. That will be a major distraction for Winston and the team, and he will continue to receive well-deserved backlash for his actions.
It’s fair to wonder if Winston will be focused on football during the offseason as he deals with the suspension. He hasn’t yet shown an ability to fully commit at the NFL level, and that is a major red flag.
These two major issues could hinder the Buccaneers offense. Additionally, Ronald Jones is merely a rookie, so the run game could start the year slowly.
Even though the Redskins don’t play the Bucs until Week 10, they should still have a major advantage over the Bucs. The Redskins defense should matchup well with the offensive weaponry on the Bucs, and they should be able to consistently pressure Winston, especially given how poorly left tackle Donovan Smith has played during his NFL career.
On paper, the Bucs are the weakest team that the Redskins will face. This should definitely be a win for Washington barring a drastic change in the fortunes of either of these teams.
15. Week 1 at Arizona Cardinals
Starting the season strong is going to be very important for the Redskins. Part of that is related to the fact that the first couple of games on their schedule project to be significantly easier than most of the other matchups on their schedule.
The Cardinals are the first opponent for the Redskins in 2018, and needless to say, this is a team that Washington should beat. They were able to emerge victorious against the Cardinals in 2017, and that was with a squad that was far less than 100 percent. To be fair, the Cardinals were also beat up, but the injuries for both sides won’t matter much heading into the 2018 campaign.
To start the season, both the Redskins and the Cardinals should be healthy. But when comparing the rosters of the two teams, it seems that Washington has the advantage. On the offensive side of the ball, the Cardinals are going to have a new starting quarterback, whether that’s the injury-prone Sam Bradford or rookie first-round pick Josh Rosen. Bradford will likely be the more difficult player to face, if healthy, as Rosen may take some time to adjust to the NFL, though he is arguably the most talented quarterback from the last draft class.
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The Redskins should be able to get an advantage via their pass rush regardless of who the starter is. The Cardinals have a woeful offensive line and though they signed Justin Pugh to fix one of their issues at guard, they have minimal talent at the tackle position. That should allow Greg Manusky to run an aggressive defensive scheme that will have the team feast on the Cardinals quarterback.
The only true weapon that Washington should be concerned with on offense is David Johnson. The dynamic three-down back will be returning from an injury that kept him out for most of the season in 2017 and he will have a chance to cut up the Redskins defense. It will be a nice early season test for Daron Payne and the team’s revamped front seven.
Defensively, the Cardinals have some quality players, but there are also some holes. Notably, they lack a true No. 2 corner and they are shifting to a 4-3 defense under new head coach Steve Wilks. It may take them time to adjust to their new base set, so that should open some doors for Washington’s offense. Also, it will be Wilks’ first game as an NFL head coach, so that cannot be ignored.
All these factors make this a likely victory for the Redskins. It’s a road game, but they have the experience to take down the Cardinals, and recent history suggests that they do have the superior squad.
14. Week 2 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Another week, another matchup with a first-year head coach. The Redskins are lucky that they are going to get a chance to take on two first time coaches in their first two games, as it will give them a great chance to start the season 2-0.
That said, the meeting with the Colts could end up being tough. Right now, the success of Indianapolis hinges on the health of Andrew Luck. He missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, and it remains to be seen when and if he will be healthy. When Luck is active, the Colts have a chance to beat anyone in the league. When he’s not, it’s more of a toss up.
Right now, the Colts lack proven offensive weaponry. T.Y. Hilton is a great receiver, but aside from him, Ryan Grant is the favorite to be the No. 2 guy. The offensive line should be in better shape this season, but the Colts may not have the run offense needed to take advantage of that. It’s possible that could change later in the season, but at least early on they will be relying heavily on young talent.
Defensively, the Colts are still a work in progress. They are shifting to a 4-3 scheme and while that may benefit them long term, it hurts them short term. Johnathan Hankins was released because he doesn’t fit the scheme, and that eliminated the team’s top defensive lineman from their squad. There are MAJOR questions about the front seven and the secondary doesn’t look very strong. Gruden and company should be able to develop a solid offensive gameplan to target the Colts’ defense.
Beyond the personnel deficiencies that the Colts have, Frank Reich will only be in his second game in charge of the Colts. The head coach may still be learning the inner workings of his team in Week 2 and being on the road may complicate things a bit for him. Reich has the makings of a solid head coach, but beating the Redskins two weeks into the season may be a tough task early on.
With Luck, anything is possible, and that’s why the Colts rank above the Cardinals on this list. Still, the Redskins should have the advantage as they look to start the season strong against an AFC foe.
13. Week 14 vs. New York Giants
The Giants aren’t necessarily a bad team. They do have a lot of talent and they would have been a middle-of-the-road team last season had they not suffered countless injuries. Still, they are one of the weaker opponents that the Redskins will face for one main reason.
Eli Manning is not the quarterback he once was. The two-time Super Bowl winner has been regressing for years, but last season he took a major step back. He doesn’t have the same arm strength and accuracy that he once did and he is now limit to being a game manager. That will limit the potential of the Giants offense.
Though Odell Beckham and Saquon Barkley will headline the receiving and running games respectively, it may not be enough to get them over the hump. Teams know that they can get pressure on Eli Manning, as the right tackle situation is still in bad shape. Ereck Flowers may not be the answer there, so Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith should take advantage of that.
On defense, the Giants still have a strong stop unit. But, without Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at the slot corner position their defensive backfield is looking a bit weaker. With Paul Richardson in the fold, the Redskins should be able to utilize their air attack to stretch the Giants defense thin. That should help Smith to find open receivers all over the field and move the ball methodically against a tough defense.
The games against the Giants will likely be close, but the Redskins should win the one at home. The Giants are probably the worst team in the NFC East, so if the Redskins want a chance to make the playoffs, they will need to beat them at home. Thus, this will be one of the easiest matchups for the Redskins to get motivated for and win.
12. Week 7 vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are still being talked about as a potential contender. This season, I just don’t see it. They’ve lost quite a bit of talent on both sides of the ball, and their offense is looking like a particularly weak unit.
Ezekiel Elliott is still a star for the Cowboys, but aside from him, the Cowboys don’t have much. Dak Prescott is merely average, and he benefits from excellent offensive line play and Elliott. Without top receivers Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten, Prescott could be in for a tough third season. He might be decent, but his upside is capped.
In the first meeting of the season, the Redskins will have a great chance of locking down the Cowboys offense. With their improved run defense, they should be able to at least contain Elliott and they will have a chance to stack the box because of the lack of outside weapons. Manusky will have that game plan ready and will certainly target Elliott as the main focal point of the Cowboys offense.
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On the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys do have a good, young unit. But, the Redskins have the talent needed to attack the one weakness on the Dallas defense. The defensive tackles. Maliek Collins and David Irving are both solid players, but the Redskins interior line should be able to challenge them. Along with Derrius Guice, the run game should lead the team’s offense.
The Redskins should have the advantage in this game at home. It’s possible that they will split the season series, but the Redskins should win this contest. They have the better personnel and should win the individual battles.
11. Week 8 at New York Giants
Again, the Giants are one of the weaker teams on the Redskins schedule and they are probably the worst in the NFC East. So, the Redskins have a legitimate chance of sweeping the season series against them.
The first Giants game of the season will be marginally more difficult than the matchup at home. The reasoning for this is simple. It’s a road game. And road games are always harder.
Aside from that, the Giants game is sandwiched between two contests that the Redskins will have to pay extra attention to. Thankfully, they are both at home, but the Cowboys and Falcons are two tougher opponents that will surround the Giants game. So, the Redskins could run the risk of looking past the Giants in their first Week 8 meeting.
Still, the Redskins are superior to the Giants. This will be one of the easier games on the schedule as a result, unless Pat Shurmur, another first year head coach, can get the Giants going to start the season.
10. Week 16 at Tennessee Titans
The Titans aren’t quite as strong a team as some believe them to be. While hiring Mike Vrabel as their head coach and parting with Mike Mularkey should help the squad, they are still a work in progress and may need time before they can be a true contender.
A lot of the problems the Titans have come on offense. Marcus Mariota has been a decent quarterback to start his NFL career, but he hasn’t been a big playmaker. He lacks receiving talent, unless Corey Davis can make the leap, and his running backs are good, but they come with issues. Derrick Henry hasn’t yet shouldered a full workload while Dion Lewis has been injury prone and ineffective outside of his time in New England.
Because of this, the Redskins defense, and their secondary in particular, will have a good chance of locking down the Titans offense. The focus for Washington will be to play strong coverage on each receiver on the field and if they can do that, they can stack the box to help render Henry ineffective. Then, Mariota and Lewis will be forced to win the game, and that could be tough.
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Of course, it is worth noting that the Titans did beat Alex Smith’s Chiefs last season in the playoffs. So, the Titans defense does know how to at least slow down a Smith-led offense, and that should only improve thanks to the addition of Malcolm Butler.
Given the arsenal of strong secondary weapons the Titans have, establishing a ground game will be important for the Redskins in this contest. Look for Guice, Samaje Perine, and Chris Thompson to help wear down the Titans front seven and possibly open up some options for quick passes that will generate yards after the catch.
The Titans are a strong team, but they are certainly beatable. Late in the season, Washington will have a full understanding of their offense and will be able to find a way to execute against a solid Tennessee stop unit. That and the Titans’ potential offensive deficiencies make this a winnable road meeting for Gruden and company.
9. Week 6 vs. Carolina Panthers
I’m not too optimistic about the Panthers improving from last season. They lack talent on the offensive line, especially after losing Andrew Norwell, and don’t have the receiving weapons necessary to make a big impact on that side of the ball.
Cam Newton is a very good quarterback. He can make big plays and is explosive thanks to his mobility. That said, he struggles with accuracy at times and without top level receivers, he can really have issues. First round pick D.J. Moore and a healthy Greg Olsen should help him find more success in 2018, but because of the major questions on the left side of the offensive line, Newton may be scrambling more than some want him to.
This is great news for the Redskins. They have a very strong pass rush and should be able to keep Moore in check. While they did have a lot of trouble covering tight ends last year, the emergence of Montae Nicholson should help them at least cover Olsen better. And once that happens, they just have to focus on slowing Christian McCaffrey, who is better as a receiver than a runner, and Broncos-reject C.J. Anderson.
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Defensively, the Panthers have a strong front seven highlighted by their elite linebacker corps and Luke Kuechly. But, their secondary can be a bit leaky, and they don’t have an established No. 2 corner across from James Bradberry. They will be hoping that rookie Donte Jackson grows into that role but by Week 6, he may be enduring growing pains.
For this contest, the Redskins should devise a vertical passing attack to help stretch the Panthers defense a bit thin. Paul Richardson can take the top off the defense, Jamison Crowder can patrol the middle of the field, and Josh Doctson can take on Bradberry in a physical battle. Those guys should be able to win some of the matchup and if not, guys like Chris Thompson will be available for short outlets.
And with the linebackers guarding the middle of the field and the underneath routes, good pump fakes and play action could do a lot to open up small pockets of space in those areas that Smith can take advantage of. Essentially, using the overaggressive nature of the Panthers to create space should be the Redskins game plan.
If the Skins can do that, they should have a chance to win. They have the personnel advantage and it’s a home game, so everything should work in their favor.
8. Week 17 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 17 could mean everything. Or, it could mean nothing. Given that the final game of the season is always a divisional clash, it has some sort of importance. It’s just hard to rank exactly where it falls in the grand scheme of things.
By Week 17, the Eagles could already have clinched a playoff spot. They could be on their way to the postseason and ready to rest their starters. Maybe they would even give Nate Sudfeld some playing time against his former team if that was the case.
Conversely, the Eagles could be on the verge of making the playoffs. Or clinching homefield advantage. Or, the Redskins could be a win away from qualifying for the postseason. There’s just no knowing what the final week will bring.
What is known is this. The Redskins roster is weaker than the Eagles. The reigning Super Bowl teams are one of the deepest teams in the NFL and while Washington has done a lot to improve in the offseason, they still aren’t at the same level as the Eagles. So, if the Eagles are putting forth their starters against Washington’s starters this week, the advantage would lie with Philadelphia.
That said, by the end of the season, the Eagles could be banged up. So could the Redskins. Either team could be in the postseason, trying to clinch a spot, or out of it entirely. The odds of resting starters in this week are probably 50-50 for both sides. And because of that, this game can’t be considered one of the biggest challenges of the year.
This game ranking in the middle of this list makes the most sense. It’s the true Wild Card contest on the schedule. It could mean everything, and it could be meaningless. The truth about the difficulty of this contest won’t be revealed until mid-December at the earliest.
7. Week 11 vs. Houston Texans
The Texans are one of the handful of sleeper teams that could have an excellent 2018 season. After an offseason of getting healthy, Bill O’Brien’s squad will have a real chance to compete for the AFC South crown, and they will certainly be a test for the Redskins.
The main reason that the Texans have any sort of hopes to be a Super Bowl team is their quarterback Deshaun Watson. The former Clemson product is a proven winner who thrived as a rookie before tearing his ACL. Once he’s back, he will be ready to prove that last year was no fluke. And with DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller at his disposal, that should be more than doable.
On the other side of the ball, the Texans defense is getting better as well as they are getting healthier. J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus are returning to help the squad’s sack attack while recent signee Tyrann Mathieu will help upgrade the secondary. When healthy, the Texans have a top five defense and one of the best coordinators in the league in Romeo Crennel (who is taking over for Mike Vrabel). So, this mix could work well for the Texans.
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The Texans will represent a daunting challenge for the Redskins. There are not many holes to be poked in this team, and the team has a short week after this contest. They could risk looking forward to a divisional clash with Dallas, and they can’t afford to do that against the Texans.
That said, the way to slow down the Texans will be to expose their offensive line. Houston doesn’t have much talent on the unit, and both of their tackles are young, upside based players who may not be ready to start. Expect Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith to pressure a lot during this game, and perhaps Manusky will call upon some blitzes to try and rattle Watson.
On offense, the Redskins will just have to stay balanced. If they keep the Texans guessing, that will make the defense a bit more hesitant. Then, Smith can pick his spot while Guice and Thompson generate yards on the ground. If that happens, then the Redskins will be able to please their home crowd and bring home the victory.
The Texans contest may look like an easy one when looking at last year’s records. But make no mistake. The Texans are a lot better than the 4-12 team that took the field last season, and they should give Washington a run for their money.
6. Week 9 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan. Julio Jones. Calvin Ridley. Mohamed Sanu. Devonta Freeman. Tevin Coleman. Those are the main skill position weapons on the Falcons offense. That seems to have the makings of a high-powered offense.
Last season, the Falcons offense wasn’t exactly as strong as many expected it to be. That was mostly due to the departure of Kyle Shanahan and the Falcons’ decision to replace him with Steve Sarkisian. Ryan never looked fully comfortable in Sarkisian’s offense, but Sarkisian is returning for another season.
Perhaps with another year under his belt, Ryan will be a bit more comfortable. And if that happens, he should be able to return to MVP form thanks to his weaponry.
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The Redskins are going to be hard-pressed to find defensive solutions for all the problems the Falcons offense might give them. Josh Norman may not be able to keep up with Jones, so Quinton Dunbar or Fabian Moreau may take that role on. In the slot, the Redskins still aren’t proven since they traded away Kendall Fuller. That could open things up for Sanu or Ridley, depending on how the Falcons decide to use their receivers.
And because of the two-headed monster at running back, Manusky and Jim Tomsula will have to prepare the front to be ready for two distinct running styles. That could be tough, especially given how young the defensive line projects to be.
That said, the Redskins will have to rely on their offense to try and beat the Falcons. That could be doable, but Dan Quinn is a defensive minded head coach and he finally has players that fit his scheme. This could make life hard for Gruden, Smith, and the rest of the Washington offense, but given that they are at home, they could have a shot at making the contest competitive.
Atlanta is one of four teams that the Redskins are playing this season to have played in a playoff game last season. They are one of the three teams that won at least one game. The Falcons have the personnel and coaching staff to be a problem, and if the Redskins were on the road, this game would probably garner top three consideration. This could be a contest that defines the season for the Redskins, depending on how they do leading up to this game.
5. Week 15 at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a tough team on paper. They have an elite defense and a top 10 head coach who knows how to get what he needs out of his team in Doug Marrone. However, they come in at No. 5 on this list because of one of their major weaknesses.
Blake Bortles is one of the most inconsistent quarterbacks in the entire NFL. One week, he will look like an above-average quarterback who is capable of leading his team on a deep playoff run. Other times, he is woefully inept and commits turnovers frequently. It’s impossible to predict which Bortles you’re going to face each week, especially in a late-season matchup like Week 15.
Late in the season, the Jaguars will be in one of two places. They will either be in the thick of the playoff race or in the midst of a disappointing season in which they fail to live up to expectations. If it’s the latter, Bortles could be out as the starter this late in the season, and Cody Kessler or Tanner Lee might get a shot at starting against the Redskins. But, that’s a big if, and it’s more likely that the Jaguars will be competing for something and won’t sit Bortles.
The way that the Jaguars might be able to beat Washington will be via their run game and defense. That’s the winning formula for Jacksonville. With Leonard Fournette set to make a leap during his second season, and the addition of stud guard Andrew Norwell to the offensive line, the Jaguars could generate some push up front and overwhelm the Redskins solid defensive front. That would be a way to get yardage and open up the play action, and that would make the defense’s life significantly more difficult.
As for the Jaguars defense, well, it speaks for itself. The squad has a ferocious pass rush headlined by Yannick Ngakoue, and that’s why they were dubbed “Sacksonville” last season. There’s no reason to think they will slow down, especially after adding Taven Bryan in the 2018 draft. Furthermore, their corners are able to shut down any receivers in the league, so the Redskins will have to find a different way to beat the Jaguars.
The only potential weakness for the Jags defense is at linebacker, and even that’s a stretch. If Gruden can get Jamison Crowder and Jordan Reed, or whoever the healthy tight end is in Week 15, open in the middle, that may be the only way they can generate consistent yards. Thankfully, Alex Smith knows how to avoid mistakes and throw into tight windows. So, this could be a possibility.
The Jaguars are certainly a tough opponent, and facing them on the road may not be easy. That said, Bortles can sputter at any time and if it happens against the Redskins, they will capitalize.
4. Week 12 at Dallas Cowboys
Though I don’t believe that Cowboys are going to have a particularly strong season, as mentioned earlier, the Redskins are still going to have a tough time beating them in Week 12. And the reason for that should be obvious.
Week 12 is the Thanksgiving game in Dallas. It will mark the third straight year the Redskins have played on Thanksgiving, and their success has been mixed. Practically, this contest will come on a short week for the team, so they may have to rest some of their players if any are dealing with nagging injuries. They did this last year against the Giants and were still able to win.
But, this Cowboys team is stronger than last year’s Giants team. And furthermore, this Cowboys squad has been the Redskins kryptonite in recent seasons. In the past five seasons, the Cowboys have an 8-2 record against the Redskins in their 10 meetings. They have won the last four, and generally have been able to overpower the Redskins in those matchups.
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This year, the Thanksgiving game against the Skins may end up being their Super Bowl. In a stacked NFC, the Cowboys are going to be hard-pressed to make a playoff push. And if they are able to, the Thanksgiving game will likely be a pivotal moment in their season, much like the team’s late-November matchup with Washington in 2017. So, this contest could mean a lot to the Cowboys.
While the Redskins have the personnel needed to beat the Cowboys, this will pose a challenge. It’s simply going to be very difficult for the squad to deal with the motivated Dallas crowd and their players. It makes it much harder on a short week, especially when it’s on Thanksgiving. Gruden will need to bring his best effort if Washington wants a chance to beat their top rival.
3. Week 3 vs. Green Bay Packers
This may seem a bit high for the Packers. Last season, they were just 7-9 and they decide to retool their coaching staff under Mike McCarthy as a result. That said, the numbers from last season are obviously skewed by one big factor.
Last season, the Packers were without Aaron Rodgers for most of the year. The long-time Packers starter suffered a broken collarbone and missed 9-of-16 games. Without Rodgers, the Packers were just 3-6 and struggled to compete on offense.
Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL when healthy. He has excellent mobility, a very strong arm, great accuracy, and very good instincts. He is the player that makes the Packers offense tick. And that offense could have a mini-renaissance with him back.
Though they parted with Jordy Nelson, the Packers still have Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. They also added Jimmy Graham in free agency and spent three picks on wide receivers. This infusion of youth and experience should give Rodgers some quality offensive weaponry. And if the running backs can chip in too, the offense should be well-balanced for the first time since Eddie Lacy was effective.
On defense, the Packers have made some big improvements to what was an underwhelming squad for the better part of five seasons. Mike Pettine will be the defensive coordinator, and that should really help their 3-4 defense start to improve. Also, by adding Muhammad Wilkerson to the defensive line and spending draft picks on Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, and Oren Burks, the team has ensured that all three units of their defense have been upgraded. So, they’ll stand a better chance of keeping opposing offenses in check.
The Redskins have the personnel needed to matchup with the Packers defense. Since they will be squaring off in Week 3, Pettine’s unit may not have gelled yet. For that reason, Gruden and the coaching staff should focus on developing a well thought out offensive gameplan to keep the Packers on their toes.
On offense, the effort will be much harder. The goal will be to limit Rodgers. You can’t fully stop him but if the offense can be slowed down, then the Redskins will have a chance to win. Thankfully, this tough test is a home game before the bye week, so the Redskins can feel free to pour everything they have into this contest to survive their first real test of the season.
2. Week 5 at New Orleans Saints
The Redskins will be coming off a bye week before their Week 5 meeting with the New Orleans Saints. And that’s going to be a good thing, as they’ll need every minute of that time to prepare for their opponent.
Simply put, the Saints have one of the most well-balanced offenses in the league and have done a lot to make their defense one of the top 10 units as well. That type of balance is going to make it hard to find any weaknesses in the Saints squad to expose.
On offense, Drew Brees is still one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. His elite level ball placement and accuracy should help him carry the Saints to the playoffs once again, and his efforts will only be aided by the weaponry that he is surrounded by.
Notably, the team’s running back corps should provide Brees some excellent support. Alvin Kamara proved to be one of the best do-it-all type backs last season, and should continue to serve as a three-down threat for the Saints. By Week 5, his running mate, Mark Ingram, will be back in the lineup as well, and he will be ready to run angry after being slapped with a four game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy.
That duo combined with Brees’ accuracy and ability off play action will make it very hard for Washington to slow down the New Orleans offense. Even with an improved defensive line, the Saints will be able to stretch the Redskins thin, target weak points, and pick their spots to dissect the team’s defense.
That said, the Redskins may have to try and win on the offensive side of the ball. That could be doable, but Alex Smith tends to be a mistake-free quarterback, not necessarily one who is going to be a big playmaker. Furthermore, the Saints have an excellent secondary and an improved run defense, so moving the ball on them could prove to be tough.
Let last year’s matchup with the Saints serve as a cautionary tale. The Redskins won on offense for most of the contest, putting up 31 points. They also were able to hold the Saints in check for the most part until the final six minutes. In that time, the Saints struck for two touchdowns and kicked a field goal to seal the deal in overtime. The Redskins played an excellent 54 minutes, but they still came out on the losing end.
Perhaps the Redskins will have their mind on revenge in this contest. Either way, expect the Saints to pose a tough challenge, especially in front of their home fans at the Superdome.
1. Week 13 at Philadelphia Eagles
There’s no question that the first matchup with the Eagles should be the hardest game of the season for the Redskins. After all, the Eagles are the defending Super Bowl Champions. And, they’re bound to be clicking on all cylinders by the time this game is played.
The first meeting taking place this late is tough luck for Washington, as it’s highly likely that Carson Wentz will be back at this point in the season. If they had a meeting in the first six weeks, there would have been a chance that Nick Foles would still be starting if Wentz was on the PUP list as he recovers from an ACL tear. And while Foles showed that he can still be a solid starter during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, he is less explosive than Wentz by a long shot.
In addition to Wentz likely being available, this contest will be a Monday Night game on the road. The Eagles fans will be hostile to the Redskins, and that will make this a bit more difficult for the team. The only saving grace is that they will have 10 days between their Week 12 and Week 13 games, as they will be in action on Thanksgiving.
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Still, a primetime road contest against a key rival that has arguably the deepest roster in the NFL is going to be a challenge. And for that reason, this will be the toughest game for the Redskins in 2018. It also might end up being one of the most important, especially if the team is once again in the thick of the Wild Card race.