Redskins Reality Check: Realistic predictions for the team in Week 5 vs. Saints

7. Reality is, this feels like deja vu from 2017, week 4.

The Redskins entered Week 4 last season at 2-1, coming off of an impressive performance against the Raiders, a team many had thought to be a true contender.  They went into Kansas City on Monday Night to face Alex Smith and a Chiefs team that was 3-0 and absolutely rolling after starting the season with an absolute beat-down of the Patriots in New England.

The Redskins were given very little chance of winning the game but were certainly garnering some nods of respect from the local and national media.  Some were even boldly saying this was the best the Redskins’ defense had looked in a decade or more, and that they might have a chance to challenge for the NFC East. Sound familiar?

In that game, the Redskins comported themselves admirably.  They hung with the Chiefs and had an opportunity to win the game if Doctson could have just held on in the endzone with under a minute left.  Instead, he dropped it after Gruden had taken an ill-advised timeout, which meant that after a Hopkins field goal tied the game at 20, the Chiefs had time to drive for the game-winning field goal.  So, in the end, a drop and a clock management mistake led to the loss last year.

This year, we can and should expect the Redskins to come out and give a similar type of gritty effort.  There would be no excuse for them to be flat or in any way not “up” for this game.  We should be disappointed if the Redskins come out with a bye-week hangover or if the offense can’t keep it close against a New Orleans team that has given up a lot of points so far this year.

Prediction:  It’ll be the Saints that look a little hungover after three straight wins, and the Redskins will open up an early lead, but the Redskins’ coaching staff will get conservative both offensively and defensively in the third quarter (and get out-adjusted at half-time by Sean Payton and his staff).

The Redskins will end up down a score going into the fourth quarter, but Smith and Gruden will work together to manufacture two scoring drives bookending a key defensive stop to give the Redskins the late lead. But this will end up as Drew Brees’ night as he drives the Saints into field goal range for a long kick to win it with time expiring. Saints win 34-33 and send the Redskins home at 2-2 to prepare for Carolina on the short week.  It will truly be deja vu from last year.

As a seasoned Redskins fan, I hate predicting wins…feels like a jinx, so I tend not to do it. But I think this game sets up well for them, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they pull this one out. But either way, I think we’ll walk away from this game with a realistic beat on who this Redskins team is going to be this year.

I’d love to hear your thoughts too, so comment below or hit me up on Twitter @TheRealityIs__.