Redskins Reality Check: Realistic predictions for the team in Week 3 vs. Packers

6. Reality is, the Redskins are better than they played against the Colts, but Gruden’s seat has to be feeling a bit warm, nonetheless.

I am unashamedly a pro-continuity apologist, and that puts me in the camp thinking Gruden should stay long-term. I don’t think his seat should be warm. I think he’s the type of person that you want running your football team.  He’s not a jerk, he’s not a push-over. The players like him, the media like working with him, and he’s done a heck of a job turning around this football operation during his time here even with the salary cap penalties and some of the terrible early-round selections made by the former general manager.

Quietly, Gruden has influenced the player personnel operation such that the Redskins have their best roster in years. He’s not perfect. He doesn’t manage the clock particularly well. He didn’t make good defensive coordinator choices on his first two tries. He hasn’t been able to quite get the team over the hump. But, neither have the other coaches out there who are available.

All that said, though, expectations for this team were that they could compete for a division title.  Jay himself said they were in “win now” mode. And to be in that place coming home 1-0 and lay an egg in the home opener last week was not a good look. Nobody in town believes that Bruce Allen and Dan Snyder are interested in the team looking bad, especially at home.

Another home-game dud this week would certainly lead to more consternation and uncomfortable discussions at the top of the organization, so Gruden needs to have his team ready to plan this Sunday. Win or lose, they can’t look embarrassing. While he has no control over the broader organizational narrative and the game attendance, he very well might be the scapegoat of an embarrassed owner and team president if attendance and on-field performance don’t improve dramatically from last week.

Prediction: This is a week-to-week league largely because players take their season one week at a time. Jay has rarely presided over back-to-back duds. I predict a much more focused, disciplined, and urgent effort from the Redskins this week, leading to a close game. But it won’t be enough.  The Packers will win 31-27, and the ‘Skins go into the bye-week 1-2 with lots of work to do.

Agree? Disagree? Connect with me in the comments below or on Twitter @TheRealityIs__.