Washington Redskins 2012 Regular Season Schedule

Part 2

Let us look at the second half of the schedule for the Washington Redskins in 2012.  If you missed part 1, you can scroll down or click here to see that post.  I believe the team's record will be 6-3 after the bye week.  This portion of their schedule is arguably the hardest part, since most of the games will be played against NFC East opponents, which can and will most likely have playoff ramifications.  Also, the teams in NFC East play each other at a different level than they do the rest of the league, and usually season records do not matter in these games.

Will the Redskins be able to make it to the playoffs in RG3's first year?  Let us find out.

WEEK 11 - Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles comes to town for the first game after a bye week for the Redskins.  In recent years, the Redskins have not performed well after a bye week.  The last time the Redskins won after a bye week was in 2007, when they beat The Lions 34-3.  Overall the Redskins are below .500 in games played after a bye week.  This year does not look too well either.  The Eagles had a disappointing year last year, after being the self-proclaimed "Dream Team", thanks to Vince Young.  The closest they came to being the "Dream Team", was dreaming about winning the NFC East.  But the nickname is not far off, since they do have a ton of talent on their roster, specially on offense.  With Mike Vick at the helm, and the likes of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin as WR's, and the dangerous LeSean McCoy in the backfield, this is a powerful offense that can score quickly.  DeSean Jackson is also very dangerous on punt returns, and can easily take one all the way to the endzone.  The one weakness the Eagles had last year, other than the offense not meshing fast enough, was their defense.  But another year together, with some additions, their defense looks to be stronger.  In the NFC East, most believe the Eagles to be the team to win the division.  Even with the prospect of RG3 on the team, I do not think the Redskins can beat the Eagles, coming off a bye week.

Record : 6-4

WEEK 12 - @ Dallas Cowboys

Thanksgiving day football!  It looks like the rivalry between the Cowboys and Redskins has been renewed, since they have been given the 4pm EST slot for one of the most nationally televised football gamedays in the year.  The last time the Redskins played on Thanksgiving day was in 2002, and they lost to the Cowboys 27-20.  In fact, the Redskins have played on Thanksgiving day 7 times in their history, and 6 of them have been against the Dallas Cowboys, in Dallas.  The interesting part is that the Redskins have a record of 1-6 on Thanksgiving day, the one win being against the only other team they have played on this day, the Detroit Lions, back in 1973.  Not much of a rivalry when it comes to Turkeyday between the Redskins and the Cowboys.  Nevertheless, this should be an interesting game, possibly the first time RG3 will face the Cowboys, and experience the rivalry between the two teams.

Having said that, I unfortunately think history will prevail.  Not only have the Cowboys had their way with the Redskins on Thanksgiving day football, but the Redskins have performed poorly in nationally televised games.  They have two strikes going against them this week, so I do not see them winning in Dallas.

Record : 6-5

WEEK 13 - New York Giants

Not only do the Redskins follow up a nationally televised game with another one, on Monday Night Football, but they do it against their NFC East rival, AND the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Giants.  Although the Redskins were able to sweep the Giants last year, and I believe would have won the first meeting between the two team this year, I do not think the extra rest between the Thursday night game and this Monday Night game will be enough.  As mentioned, the Redskins have a poor performance history on nationally televised games, specially Monday Night games.  Even though they are playing at home, I think they will struggle and extend their losing streak to 3 games, causing all sorts of panic for the fans, and slumping down to a .500 record, and possibly start to lose their grasp on a potential playoff appearance.

Record : 6-6

WEEK 14 - Baltimore Ravens

The Battle of the Beltway, regular season edition.  Since the Ravens were established in Baltimore in 2000, the two teams have played against each other a number of times, but mostly in preseason.  The close proximity of the two teams adds to the appeal of the game, and to the rivalry.  Granted, the rivalry is not so much between the players, but more the fans.  Most football fans from MD had been Redskins fans by default, since there were no other options close by.  But since the Ravens moved into town, the majority of the fans, specially those closer to Baltimore and the Eastern portion of MD, quickly changed sides and went with the Ravens.  These games seem to mean more to the fans than the players.  For the players, this is just another game, since some of them have been on both teams at one point or another, and they don't play each other in the regular season enough to have a rivalry.  There is also the fact that they are in different conferences, so there isn't much of a competition in positioning for a playoff spot.

As for the game itself, the Ravens were very close to making it to the Super Bowl last year.  Their defense has been their strong point for all of their existence, and this year is no different.  With aging key players like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, they know that they do not have too much time in getting to and winning another Championship.  So the defense is going to be very hungry.  The offense can only improve, with another year together, and bringing in new pieces.  Joe Flacco needs to stop worrying about what people think of him, and play the game, as he has some great weapons around him.  This game is not going to be easy, it will most likely be a defensive and low scoring game.  The advantage has to go to the Ravens, since their defense knows how to score when they create a turnover.

Record : 6-7

WEEK 16 - @ Cleveland Browns

The Redskins need to put an end to their losing streak, if they even hope to have a chance at a playoff spot.  Based on their schedule, this is their shot at it, since the next two games will be with NFC East opponents, and the Browns, although are on the rise, are still in the rebuilding process, and have an unproven QB with Colt McCoy.  They do have a pretty good offense, and a rising defense, but they are still a few years away from being a strong team.  With the Redskins reeling from their loses, I think they will pull it together in Cleveland, and no matter what the Browns throw at them, the Redskins should leave the dog-pound with a win, and return to .500

Record : 7-7

WEEK 17 - @ Philadelphia Eagles

The last time the two team met, a few weeks ago, it left a bad taste in the mouth of the Redskins players, so they are looking to avenge the lose at home to the Eagles.  However, at this point in time, the Eagles are more than likely trying to make it to the playoffs, and are going to playing very hard to win the game.  With a record of 7-7, I do not think the Redskins will be able to make to the playoffs, since most NFC teams would have improved, so a wild-card spot is unlikely, and although the Giants won the NFC East last year with a 9-7 record, I do not think the same will happen this year.  It looks like the Eagles are going to, once again, sweep the Redskins in the regular season, and close out any hopes of making it to the playoffs in RG3's first year.

Record : 7-8

WEEK 18 - Dallas Cowboys

The Redskins will close the 2012 season, and RG3's first year as the potential franchise QB, at home against their rival.  The only thing that would have made this game better would have been if it was for a playoff spot, or the NFC East title.  But, seeing as how both teams have a lot of work to do to become the great teams they were in the past, I think both will be out of the playoff picture and not much to play for.  Except for the fact that Redskins will be looking to make amends to having lost to the Cowboys on national TV, on Thanksgiving day nonetheless.  The Redskins are going to close out their season on a positive note, beating their long time rival, avenging their Thanksgiving day lose, and finishing the season with a non-losing record for the first time since 2008, and quite possibly not at the bottom of the NFC East.

2012 Regular Season Record : 8-8

As a big time Redskins fan, I sure hope that I am wrong about this, and the Redskins do a whole lot better, make the playoffs, and win the Super Bowl..... but I have to be realistic.  I have learned from so many years of bad performance, to not let the off season moves and hype raise my expectations of the team, and then bring me down week after week of losing.  I don't think I'm being too optimistic with these predictions, since you should be able to build upon what you did, specially when you bring in some talented players, top of which is at the helm of your team with Robert Griffin III.  But only time will tell, and as the old, and overly stated saying goes, "That is why we play the game".