Are the Redskins set for a playoff run?

By Rich Tandler

Yesterday I posted on what games the Redskins should be favored in and where they will be underdogs. I didn’t get into much analysis of what it might mean to the team’s chances of making the playoffs so let’s get into that discussion.

Here is how I broke it down. I figure they should be favored to beat the Panthers, 49ers, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Vikings. The games at FedEx Field against the Eagles and Jets are tossups. And the Redskins should be underdogs against the Bills, Patriots, Giants, and when they play the Eagles in Philly.

This is all subject to change on a moment’s notice, of course. Teams can all of a sudden get hot when things suddenly gel and injuries and other factors can send them sliding into a slump. So all of this is based on how things look right now.

The Redskins are 3-1 now and they should be favorites in six of their remaining 12 games and underdogs in four with the other two being tossups. Let’s play what if.

Let’s say that the Redskins drop one of the games in which they are favorites but win the other five. That would get them up to eight wins.

They should split the tossup games. Two games, both a coin flip, one should come up in the Redskins’ favor, one will go against them. One more win would give them nine for the year.

Nine wins could have them in the playoffs or just on the edge of them. The four games where they will be underdogs will determine what they can do.

If they can pull one upset, they will have 10 wins, a total that usually makes the playoffs (although two NFC teams, the Bucs and Giants, won 10 last year and did not make it). Two upsets, especially if they are against the Eagles and Giants, might give them the NFC East title just as Rex Grossman predicted in the preseason.

All of this is for recreational purposes only. Again, injuries could change the status of any team including the Redskins. But it is interesting to see that, as things stand going into Week 5 of the NFL season, the Redskins have a shot at having a pretty good year.

 

Comments

[skinsadvisor]

The Skins barely beat an awful Rams team and barely beat an awful Cardinals team. The only real gut check win I give them is the Giants which in Jersey would have been great, but if you're worth any salt at all you should win your home divisionals. That, however does not make you a playoff team. I hoped as everyone that things were real and their chances were good. I just do not believe it now. Their best chance is how terrible everyone else in the East. Not flattering, but REAL. I personally will still take it though. They could go on a lucky tear and win ten in a row. They could also easily lose ten. The Defense is gelling well and is something to be proud of. The offense can run on some teams. The passing game is stagnant and puts fear in no one.