As a series of articles, we look at game by game predictions for each NFC East team. Starting with the defending Champions; the Washington Redskins. Possibly one of the most difficult to predict after a strong showing last season, but some of the number do flatter to deceive.
So what will happen this season in weeks 5 to 8 for the Redskins:
Week 5 – Away @ Baltimore Ravens – LOSS
After a nice start, it’s back to reality with a tough loss away to Flacco and the Ravens, who a bit like the Steelers are being tipped by people to go under the radar as Superbowl contenders. Last season the Ravens suffered some huge injuries on offence and defense, and even though some are still lingering this season they still look a threat to the NFL. Mike Wallace could be a man to watch in this game with Wallace doing his best Torrey Smith impression stretching the field and catching a couple TDs over a very weak Redskins Safety group; but also Baltimore will have a fearsome RB tandem with Forsett, Allen, West and Dixon against a weak Redskins run D.
Week 6 – Home v Philadelphia Eagles – WIN
This will be a huge game for the Redskins as it either sets the Redskins on the right path onto a 4-2 record or slumping to a 3-3 mediocre record and slip into the pack; and Kirk Cousins will deliver the W here. It didn’t get much bigger than Week 16 Christmas Day away to the Eagles last year essentially for the division title and (random QB Kneel to end the first half, D’oh!) he delivered big time. Admittedly the Eagles D is improved but Jordan Reed is difficult to defend even for a strong Linebacking core and the Eagles offence will put up a stinker and be nowhere near as good as it needs to be here.
Week 7 – Away @ Detroit Lions – WIN
Another big game for the Redskins as it’s a stretch of games that they need to be putting up Wins if they have any hopes of contending against this season. The Redskins deliver yet again, carrying over their momentum from last week’s big win over the Eagles, although this Lions team has the potential to click if Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin step up and Ameer Abdullah having the look of a new breakout star so it will by no means easy to defeat the Lions. I think which offence can step up the best here will determine the outcome and the, oddly, the edge goes to the Redskins with slightly more track record after last year’s franchise record setting offence.
Week 8 – Wembley v Cincinnati Bengals – WIN
Week 8 brings the final of this three game stretch of middle of the road teams when the Redskins make their first trip across the Atlantic for a regular season game to face a difficult to predict Cincinnati Bengals outfit. However this is not the same Bengals team that wow’ed everybody to begin the 2015 season with Marvin Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson all departing; whilst the ageing defense which was formidable the last 2 seasons, gains a few more cracks. With me cheering him on behind the End-Zone, Cousins and Redskins imperious offence will hit their bye week with a pretty 6-2 record. Be warned guys, it’s not going to be as pretty after the bye week.