Week 1 vs. Chicago
There were suggestions that it would be appropriate for New York to play Washington to open the season on September 11, but the NFL chose to pit the Skins against da Bears. A rematch of one of 2004’s most forgettable games, one that featured Mark Brunell and Chicago’s Jonathan Quinn combined to go 18 for 44 passing for 160 yards (3.6 yards per pass). Neither QB should be in the lineup for the opener.
Week 2 Monday night at Dallas
A major confluence of jinxes here with Washington having problems with Dallas in general , Parcells having it over Gibbs (eight straight), Gibbs’ mediocrity on Monday night (9-15). The Redskins haven’t won in Dallas since Heath Shuler led them to a 24-17 win there in 1995.
Week 3 Bye
Bye should be favored by a field goal. Sorry, an old one there. Pretty early for a bye, not many bumps and bruises to heal or regrouping to do. The schedule makers have been pretty good about having it more towards the middle of the year in the past, so they were due to get the early on.
Week 4 vs. Seattle
Since about 2000, the Seahawks have supposedly been the NFL’s up and coming team. If they are 1-2 coming in to this one, the deathwatch could already for Mike Holmgren’s coaching tenure.
Week 5 at Denver
Portis vs. Bailey. Of course, it won’t come to an individual matchup between the two, but that’s what will be talked about endlessly prior to the game.
Week 6 at Kansas City
The second of tough back-to-back road games against the AFC West. The Redskins have never won in KC and they haven’t even come close since 1971.
Week 7 vs. San Francisco
If the Niners do draft a quarterback with the first overall pick, this could be either Aaron Rodgers’ or Alex Smith’s first NFL start. San Francisco will be coming off of their bye week and assuming that Tim Rattay isn’t getting it done through the first five weeks, this would be a good time to make the switch.
Week 8 at NY Giants
Washington’s season took a decided turn for the worse at the Meadowlands in Week 2 last year. Patrick Ramsey threw three picks after coming in for an injured Mark Brunell.
Week 9 Sunday night vs. Philadelphia
The last three Eagle games at FedEx have been prime-time affairs. The first two were Eagle blowouts by a combined 68-14. Last year the Redskins had a chance to take the lead late, but Ramsey threw an interception and Philly was able to hang on.
Week 10 at Tampa Bay
Gibbs and Bucs coach John Gruden both have Super Bowl rings and both have tough roads to hoe to get another one. Which son of a quarterback will be calling the signals for Tampa Bay—Brian Griese or Chris Simms?
Week 11 vs. Oakland
This is the first of two straight home games against head coaches fired by Dan Snyder. Norv Turner returns and there’s no doubt that the Raiders will play awfully well, at least according to Norv.
Week 12 vs. San Diego
Following the Norv Bowl is the Marty Bowl. Perhaps if he’d abandoned his ultra-conservative style sooner he would still be coaching the Skins. The only Redskins team ever to lose to the Chargers was coached by Marty Schottenheimer.
Week 13 at St. Louis
In 2000 Norv Turner’s Redskins went into the house of the defending Super Bowl champion Rams and came out with a 33-20 win to raise their record to 7-4. They lost the next four in a row, costing them the playoff spot that seemed certain and costing Turner his job.
Week 14 at Arizona
Dennis Green’s team is aiming for the division title. Of course, in the NFC West that means a .500 record.
Week 15 vs. Dallas
This is the first of three straight division games to close out the season. If the Redskins are going to make the playoffs, or even have a respectable season, they will have to win this one.
Week 16 vs. NY Giants
It was against the Giants at FedEx that Ramsey got his first win as a starter under Gibbs last year.
Week 17 at Philadelphia
Perhaps the Eagles will have clinched everything that they can clinch and the Skins will be playing against Koy Detmer instead of Donovan McNabb.
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