9/11 vs. Chicago
A 4th straight opening day home game for the Skins, and I anticipate it going the same way as the first 3 did, with the Redskins winning. Chicago is a similar to us, in that they had a good defense and a weak offense in 2004. However, I think that we have more talent than them on both sides of the ball, a better coaching staff, and of course, home field advantage. We outplayed them last year in Chicago, with their only TD coming on a deflected pass that was returned for a somewhat flukey TD. I don't think the return of Rex Grossman to the lineup will make a big enough difference to change the outcome of this meeting. Redskins win 20-6.
9/19 @ Dallas
As much as I would love to just say Redskins win easy here, I am trying to do an impartial and honest prediction of how I see 2005 playing out. Without going into much detail (DAMN YOU PATRICK CRAYTON!!!!!!) we all know that Texas Stadium has been nothing short of a house of horrors for the Redskins over the last several years. I'm afraid that even if we outplay them the way we did last year, something will happen, whether it be an unforunate bounce of the ball, a bad call at a really, really bad time (see: the MNF game) or just plain bad luck. I have to go with recent history here. They have owned us, especially in Dallas. Cowboys win 16-13.
A 3rd week bye to rest up for 14 straight weeks of NFL action.
10/2 vs. Seattle
I have seen a lot of people picking Seattle to come into our house and beat us in this game, and I really don't understand it. Sure, Seattle is a very talented team that on paper should be able to win this game. However, they also happen to be arguably the most gutless team in the entire NFL. They may have talent, and a head coach with a big name, but they have no idea how to win, especially on the road. Despite making it the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, the Seahawks are just 6-10 on the road during that time, including a 27-20 loss in Washington in 2003. That win was the final win of the Spurrier era other than the win at the Meadowlands (an embarassing game for both franchises) and came at a time when the Redskins were in disarray. A Joe Gibbs team, fresh off a bye week, should be able to take care of business at home in this one. Redskins win 24-14.
10/9 @ Denver
I think we all remember the last time we visited the Broncos. Playing Martyball behind backup QB Kent Graham, the Redskins (a 2 TD underdog) shocked the Broncos and the entire league with a stunning road victory. Denver's defense is full of castoffs from other teams (including our own Champ Bailey) and the Skins may be able to steal a win here if they can get the ground game going behind a fired up Clinton Portis. Unfortunately, Denver had a very tough run defense last year, and we may be playing right into their hands in this one. As much as we would all love to beat Champ, I don't see it happening in this one. Broncos win 20-10.
10/16 @ Chiefs
This is not a game that I am looking forward to. Kansas City revamped their defense with some key acquisitions (Patrick Surtain, Kendrell Bell, Derrick Johnson just to name a few) and they already had one of the best offenses in the NFL. Arrowhead Stadium is a very tough place to win for road teams and winning here is probably asking too much of our boys in Burgundy and Gold. Hopefully, we can control the clock with our ground game enough to keep it close into the 4th quarter. However, I do not see us winning at Arrowhead. Chiefs win 27-17.
10/23 vs. 49ers.
This is something of a gift from the schedule makers. After a brutal two week stretch on the road, the Skins return to their faithful hometown fans, and the worst team in the NFL is waiting to meet them. The Skins trounced the Niners last year on the road by a deceptively close score of 26-16. That one was never in doubt. I'm sure that Gregg Williams and company will have some special packages schemed up for Alex Smith (or whoever is starting at QB for SF, it really doesn't matter) The Niners are a pathetic team and they should prove to be just what the Redskins need at this point in the season. Redskins win 33-10.
10/30 @ NY Giants
Last year's game in the Meadowlands still gives me nightmares. The 1-0 Redskins took the ball right down the field on their opening drive, capping it off with a 2 yard TD pass from new QB Mark Brunell to rookie H-Back Chris
ey. That moment was the high point of the 2004 season for Washington. From that play on the team seemed to do absolutely everything in their power to give the game away to a weak Big Blue team. The Skins turned it over everywhere from deep in their own territory, to right in the Giants end zone. However, despite being at home and being the beneficiaries of 7 turnovers, including one that was returned for a TD, the Giants could barely beat the Skins, 20-14. I expect the Redskins to be much more efficient on offense by midseason 2005 than they were in Week 2 2004, and that could spell trouble for the Giants. Redskins win 20-13.
11/6 vs. Philadelphia
It will be another night game between the Skins and Eagles this year as the defending NFC champions and their highly intellectual fanbase will descend on the nation's capital (well, close to it) on the first Sunday of November. All I could think about after last season's Eagles-Skins game was how close we were. After Patrick threw that pick to Dawkins I was as devastated as I have ever been. I really thought we had them. The Eagles are going to be good once again in 2005, and they are clearly the class of our division. Any outside hopes of winning a division title must include a win over the division's top dog on our home turf. This will be the kind of game that makes or breaks our entire season. A win here shows the entire NFL that the Redskins are for real, and that they are a real threat to make the postseason. I'm going to say right here that we will win this game. You can call me a homer if you want, but the fact is that we should have beat them last year at home. Redskins win 24-21 (OT)
11/13 @ Tampa Bay
As one of many Redskins fans who made the journey to Tampa Bay for our most recent playoff game, a heartbreaking 14-13 loss in the divisional playoffs, I hold a certain disdain for the men in Pewter. They played us very tough on opening day last year at home, in a game they could have very easily won. Keep in mind that I have the Redskins coming off an emotional, overtime win on a Sunday night over their bitter rivals from the city of Brotherly Love here. I don't see us going down to Tampa Bay and winning this one. Although they have not been up to a playoff level over the last two seasons, the Bucs have continued to be a tough out in Tampa, posting some impressive home wins. Bucs win 17-14.
11/20 vs. Oakland
Washington returns home for an interesting two week stretch in which they host two AFC teams coached by former Redskins head bosses. Norv Turner will lead a talented Raiders team into this one but unfortunately talent can only take you so far. The Redskins will employ a physical two man coverage scheme on disgruntled Oakland WR Randy Moss (come on you know he'll be disgruntled by November 20) that will prominently feature Sean Taylor. Oakland's run defense was 22nd in the NFL last season, and they now find themselves another year older. This could be a big day for Clinton Portis. Redskins win 26-14.
11/27 vs. San Diego
I was one of the very few Redskins fans that always liked Marty Schottenheimer. I was never for firing him or hiring Steve Spurrier. Marty did a brilliant job coaching the Chargers to a 12-4 record last season (his most recent playoff chokejob notwithstanding). San Diego is a team that does a great job of stuffing the run (ranking 3rd in the NFL last season behind only the Steelers and our own Skins) and they have offensive players like Brees, Tomlinson, and Gates that know how to move the chains. There is nothing that Marty would love more than to win a game Washington, with Dan Snyder looking on, that will hurt the Skins playoff chances, and enhance those of San Diego. Unfortunately, I think he has just the team to do it. Chargers win 24-16.
12/4 @ St. Louis
I don't like this matchup at all for the Redskins. Although, we did add some speed at WR, we are a team that is built to win physical football games on the ground. We are not built to win aerial shootouts in domes. Much like the Kansas City game, the Skins will need to control the clock on the ground in this one, in order to keep it close into the 4th quarter. The Skins will most likely try blitzing Marc Bulger frequently and hope to press him into making some mistakes. If we can force some turnovers and run the ball successfully, I think it is possible we could take this one. However, a lot would have to go right for us, and recent history suggests that it won't. Rams win 27-21.
12/11 @ Cardinals
I have the Redskins coming into this game at 6-6, which would make this game absolutely pivotal to any hopes of reaching the postseason. Arizona showed signs of improvement last year under Coach Dennis Green, and they could also be in a position to make the postseason, coming out of the pathetic NFC West. However, this matchup appears to play right into the hands of the Burgundy and Gold. The Cardinals love to pass the ball with their collection of talented WRs, and the Skins ranked 2nd against the pass in the NFC last season. On the other side of the ball, Arizona ranked just 27th in the league against the run, and their weak defensive front should be pushed around all day by our OL, opening up big holes for Clinton Portis. Expect another big day for Portis in this one. Redskins win 31-24.
12/18 vs. Dallas
These guys again. The pressure will be on the Big Tuna as the 2005 season winds down. The Cowboys signed several veteran free agents to big contracts as they took a Dan Snyder-esque "win now" approach to this season. If they fail to make the postseason again, Parcells may ride off into the sunset, having never won anything without Bill Belichick by his side (who is the real genius?) I am not normally one to complain about the officiating, but anyone watching the MNF game between these teams last year could see that the Redskins were absolutely HOSED by two pass interference calls at the most crucial of junctures in the game. The first, a 3rd down play in which Terry Glenn pulled Walt Harris to the ground at the goal line, resulted in Dallas having the ball on our 1 yard line. The second, a non-call, in which Terence Newman grabbed Rod Gardner with such force that he pulled his jersey off his shoulder pad to stop him from getting to the ball. IN THE FREAKING END ZONE. If these two plays are called correctly Dallas punts the ball away instead of having a 1 yard TD run, and the Skins get the ball at the Dallas 1 instead of getting nothing out of that drive. In a game that was decided by 3 points, these two massive breaks were too much for Washington to overcome. Dallas will have to hope for lightning to strike twice if they plan to overcome a rowdy, playoff starved Redskins team and crowd on the road in December. It won't and neither will they. Redskins win 23-10.
12/24 vs. NY Giants
By the time this Christmas Eve contest comes around, the Giants playoffs hopes should be over, and the team should be planning for 2006, with or without Head Coach Tom Coughlin. However, this game will be a huge one for the Redskins, who are still hoping to finally return to the postseason after a 5 year absence. The Redskins dominated Big Blue at home last December, and I see no reason to think the same thing won't happen again this winter. While the Giants did make some nice free agent pickups (especially Kareem McKenzie) this team still needs to make a lot of improvements to their defense before they can legitimately contend for a playoff spot. Redskins win 30-10.
1/1 @ Philadelphia
It's New Years Day, the final day of the season, and we are in Philadelphia to play our good friends the Eagles. I'm sure most of you had the same reaction as me when you saw the schedule, whether you admit it or not. I thought how great would it be if the Eagles had already clinched home field advantage in the NFC going into this game, and they rested all their starters. However, with the T.O. situation up in the air, the Birds look vulnerable. This is a team without a durable, every down type of a RB, who would be starting Greg Lewis and Todd Pinkston at WR if T.O. doesn't resolve his contract disptute. Lewis is a nice player but he's nothing special, and Pinkston is practically a woman. This doesn't give "Five" a whole lot to work with. The Eagles will be very good in 2005, and will win the NFC East once again. However, I don't see them running away with the NFC to the point where they can rest everyone in Week 17. Isn't that just typical of the Redskins recent luck? The Eagles will be good (better than us again), but not good enough that they won't need to beat us on the last day of the season to improve their playoff position. The Eagles will avenge their loss to us in November here. Eagles win 27-13.
This would leave us at 9-7. Last year the two NFC wild card teams both finished the season at 8-8. The NFC will continue to be clearly the weaker of the two conferences this year, and a 9-7 record should be enough to secure a wildcard berth for the Redskins, most likely against the champion of either the NFC North or NFC West. The Skins would have a good chance in such a contest, however it is very unlikely that they would win again in the divisional round, on the road, against the elite of the NFC. Still, this would be a big step forward for our franchise and a great springboard to a deeper run in 2006.
Pro Bowlers:
RB Clinton Portis
T Jon Jansen
LB LaVar Arrington
FS Sean Taylor
I'm eager to hear what everyone else thinks about the coming season! Obviously, I can't wait!
