Washington Redskins 2012 Regular Season Schedule

So the regular season schedules for all NFL teams has been released, and even though we already knew who plays who next year, we have learned when the games are being played.  Even though it is mid-April, and a few days before the draft, which means teams can and will change in the next few months, almost everyone that does anything with sports has come up with team records for 2012.  It is way too early to know how a team does, and everything is based on how they did last year, but it can be fun.  With that said, I will not do the same for the Washington Redskins.

WEEK 1 - @ New Orleans Saints

There is no way to know what the Saints look like week 1.  They will be without Sean Payton for sure, and their interim head coach, Joe Vitt.  As it stands now, Drew Brees is not under contract either.  They are going to have him under center come pre-season, but at this point in time, he isn't on the team.  Then there is the fact that the NFL might hand out suspensions to some defensive players on the Saints roster, due to the whole "bounty gate" situation.  With all of those things going on, the Saints are going to be going through a lot of turmoil.  Normally this would bode well for the Redskins, but recent years have shown that the Saints are a team that will rally together when faced with great opposition, be it man-made or natural.  The game is also being played in New Orleans, in a dome, with a crowd that is 100% behind their team and support them tremendously.  This also being, potentially, Robert Griffin III's first NFL regular season start, does not look too promising for the Redskins.  Granted, they have played well against the Saints in the past, but I do not see them doing so this time.  They will probably be in the game, but will not being able to pull out a win.

Record : 0-1

WEEK 2 - @ St. Louis Rams

The Redskins and the Rams have played a number of games in the past few years, and all of them have been horrible to watch and endure.  They are some of the ugliest games I've ever seen, and the scores reflect that.  Although the Rams are a team on the rise, and have made some great moves lately in getting better as a club, they are not there yet.  One can even say that the two teams are very close in where they are, and where they are trying to get to.  The Rams had been hoping to greatly improve their defense, by bringing in Gregg Williams as their defensive coach, but due to the previously mentioned "bounty gate", Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely.  This should not be a huge hit to the Rams, since Williams wasn't on the staff long enough to even start creating a defensive playbook, but it still sets them back some.  Their offense looks to be improved, with another year under Sam Bradford's belt, giving him more experience playing in the NFL, and coming together with his teammates.  The Rams are currently sitting at number 3 on the draft list, and some think they will pick up the stud RB Trent Richardson, specially if Cleveland picks up a QB at number 4.  If Richardson is not on the list, then the Rams will more than likely give Bradford another weapon in WR Justin Blackmon.

Regardless of what the Rams do on draft day, the game is going to be an ugly one once again, but I think the Redskins will be able to move the ball on the Rams poor defense, and being in their 3rd year in the 3-4 defense, the Redskins should be able to stop the Rams running attack, be it behind Richardson, or their veteran RB Steven Jackson.

Record : 1-1

WEEK 3 - Cincinnati Bengals

The home opener for the Redskins comes against the Bengals, who were able to get to the playoffs last year.  This is one of those teams that you never know how they are going to play.  They can be one of the better teams in the NFL, or they can play very sloppy and lose to almost any team.  This being the home opener for the Redskins, and the debut of RG3 in FedEx Field, I do not see how the Bengals are going to be able to pull out a victory.  I think the Redskins are going to be playing with a lot of emotion, rallying around their young QB, and the stadium will be rocking with all the fans wanting to see if the hype behind RG3 was legitimate or not.  It won't be a blow-out, I don't see too many chances for that this year, but it should not be a nail-biter either.

Record : 2-1

WEEK 4 - @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs came down to earth last year, finishing with a 4-12 record, after having a great year in 2010.  This was partly because the rest of the teams had figured out the Bucs, and also because of their success in 2010, giving them more difficult opponents in 2011.  They now have changed head coaches, and the former TB head man, Raheem Morris, is now a DB coach for the Redskins.  This most likely will not give any advantage to the Redskins, since the new coaching staff in TB will have changed almost everything about the team and their playbook and play calling.  Still, with Morris, and TB's safety, Tanard Jackson, joining the Redskins, it will give them an insight into the mindset of the Bucs.  The Bucs are also one of those teams that are in the process of rebuilding, but having changed head coaches will set them back a bit, what with the new regime bringing in their own program.  Even though the game is in Tampa Bay, and the Bucs do play better at home, the Redskins should be able to win this game without too much trouble.

Record : 3-1

WEEK 5 - Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons come to DC, and bring along a very potent offense, with Roddy White and Julio Jones catching darts from Matt Ryan.  Ryan has one nasty cannon for an arm, and not too many DB's can stay with Roddy White.  They also happen to have one hell of a RB in Michael Turner, and an elite TE in Tony Gonzalez.  Although their defense is not their greatest side, they are very good at stopping offenses, specially when the Falcons score quickly, and the other teams have to play catch-up.  In those situations, this defensive unit can be very dangerous.  The Falcons are a very good team, and they are only improving.  With the Saints going through the troubles they are dealing with, the Falcons know this is the right time for them to be aggressive and take the division.  The Redskins' defense will not be able to stop the onslaught of the Falcon's offense, and I do not think the Redskins offensive unit will be able to match the scoring drivers Matt Ryan will be putting together.  This will be the first home loss for the Redskins.

Record : 3-2

WEEK 6 - Minnesota Vikings

After having to deal with the Falcons offense, the Redskins are going to be able to breath a little once the Vikings come to town.  After having his season end last year in a game against the Redskins, Vikings star RB Adrian Peterson is set to return this year.  Even with Peterson on the roster, the offensive unit of the Vikings needs major improvement.  2nd year QB Christian Ponder will have his hands full, since the Redskins are going to do all they can to stop Peterson and force Ponder to beat them.  This will be a hard task for Ponder, since he does not have a top-level WR to throw the ball to.  The Vikings defensive unit has been known for many years as a great unit, but recently they have failed to stop teams from scoring.  This year will not be any different for them, as they continue to rebuild their team.  Look for the Redskins to win this one rather easily.

Record : 4-2

WEEK 7 - @ New York Giants

The Redskins have to wait until week 7 to play their first NFC East game, and it just happens to be against the Super Bowl champs.  Granted, the Redskins had the Giants' number last year, sweeping the eventual champs, but these things are normal when talking about NFC East opponents.  For some reason, regardless of records or standings, NFC East teams play each other differently, and the outcomes can cause one to take a moment and ponder what just happened.  Having said that, this is one that the Redskins can steal.  The Giants usualy start out strong, then fizzle mid-season, and then finish the year strong, and the Redskins just happen to catch the Giants towards the middle of the season.  The Giants are also without their bruising RB, Brandon Jacobs, whom they released, much to the happiness of Redskins fans since he had given Redskins fits in years prior.  Although the game is being played in NY, weather should not be a factor, and so the Redskins, if playing well, should be able to beat the SB champs.  It will most likely come down to the last play of the game, either the Redskins stopping Eli Manning and company, or the Redskins kicking a FG to win the game.



Record : 5-2

WEEK 8 - @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This game against the Steelers is a very tough one to predict.  For some reason, the Redskins have played very well against good teams in the past few years, so there is a good chance they will play well this week.  That, combined with the fact that the Steelers are now without their now retired star WR Hines Ward, who was very vital in bailing out Ben Roethlisberger last year, does seem to favor the Redskins.  However, the game is being played in Pittsburgh, which is a very difficult place to play what with the fans and their yellow towels.  The Redskins are coming off a tough win against an NFC East opponent, and coming into Heinz Field after a game like that will not end well for them.  I do not see the Redskins pulling out a win this week.

Record : 5-3

WEEK 9 - Carolina Panthers

This is one of the games that many people would be looking forward to.  A game between now 2nd year QB Cam Newton, and rookie QB RG3.  Many analysts have said that the two play a common style of football, both have a great and accurate arm, and both are very agile and athletic.  It is just too bad they are not going head-to-head in a one-on-one match up.  Instead, Newton will be facing the Redskins defense, who was, for the part of the game last year, able to keep him in check, until the 2nd half.  Newton is going to have his trusted, and very dangerous weapon, Steve Smith, on hand as well, so it will be a very tough test for the London Fletcher and the rest of the LB crew, and the DB's.  On the other side, RG3 will be facing a Panthers defense who can be very stingy and tough, but has been known to give up yards in the air.  This should be a good game, as the two defenses should be ready for the opposing QB's, since they practice against the same style on a weekly basis.  I think the Redskins will avenge their loss last year, and beat the Panthers in a very close game.

Record : 6-3

WEEK 10 - BYE

The bye week comes rather late this year, but that can be a good thing, giving the team to heal up from any injuries before they start the grueling part of their schedule.

Record : 6-3

I will do the 2nd half of the schedule in a few days.  Please check back next week for that.