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I was led to believe that teams with bad records from the year before got a more favorable schedule the next season to give them a chance to get better. I don't believe that to be true anymore.
First of all, every team in the NFL can win football games. Secondly, the normal divisional opponents are already determined. What is also determined way in advance is the other divisions a team will play. For the Redskins, we knew months ago it would be the NFC South and the AFC North. In short, this 5-11 team from a year ago has a schedule with trouble littered all over it.
The Redskins start off with the Saints in New Orleans. Even with all the offseason problems, Drew Bress will be under center and the Saints will put up points, lots of them - just to stick it to the NFL for all the bountygate fallout. Not a good team for the Redskins to open up with.
St. Louis on the road is up next. If it seems like the Redskins play the Rams every year, it's because they do. This will be the fifth straight season and I don't like this game for the Redskins either, with a rookie quarterback still finding his feet in the NFL.
Later in the first half of the season come scary road games at the Giants and Steelers in Weeks 7 and 8, but that is nothing compared to the four-game stretch right after the bye week. The Eagles in Dallas for Thanksgiving, the Giants on "Monday Night Football" and then the Ravens. Can you say, ouch? The season ends with a trip to the Eagles and home against the Cowboys. Six divisional games after their break - now that is going to be a man-size November and December.
I have 7-9 for the first year of the Robert Griffin III era, possibly 8-8. It should be fun to watch this amazing talent match wits with some of the better quarterbacks in the league. I'm looking forward to all the games, but two in particular: home to Cam Newton and Carolina and RGIII's first shot at the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. First time on Turkey Day since 2002.
What record do you have for the Redskins this season and what game on the schedule are you most looking forward to seeing?
