Photo Garrett Campbell, Redskins.com
Redskins Capital Connection’s resident futurologist Mark Phillips has done what he continues to do each year; rubbed his crystal ball, recited the magic words, and cast his eye forward to determine who Redskins fans should be rooting for in all the other games that matter! The Redskins are very much still alive in the playoff hunt, but there’s always a few results that would help Washington inch closer to clinching a spot, and here they are…
We are at that time of year where unless you are at the very top or the very bottom of the conference standings just about every game matters to your team. For example, for Dallas even if they lose this week they will remain in the #1 spot in the NFC going into week 11. At the other end of the spectrum even if San Francisco wins they will remain in the #16 position.
For most every other team a lot of games have significance this week. Our own Redskins sitting in the #6 position are within a game and a half of having the 2nd best record in the NFC and the 14th best record in the NFC. So, what works well for us and what doesn’t.
Let’s look at the games that matter to the Redskins this week. I will look at them from what I perceive as the game having the least significance to the team up to the one I view as having the most significance….
11. Los Angeles at New York Jets
The Rams are on their annual drive for 7-9. Obviously if you have read me before you know rule #1 for me is always root for the AFC team over the NFC team. The Rams schedule is brutal after this game with Miami, at New Orleans, at New England and Atlanta following this game for them. Obviously, I hope they lose and Todd Bowles was a Redskin so I pull for him but this kind of feels like one of the 7 wins for the Rams
10. Seattle at New England
This game is only on the list because it is a great game. Someone has to win the NFC West and that is probably going to be Seattle so whether the Seahawks win or lose here is somewhat irrelevant other than the fact that I hate them and I would enjoy watching them lose. Pull for the Seahawks to lose here and I think they will. Patriots are on another level right now.
9. Kansas City at Carolina
Carolina isn’t dead. They’re the movie monster you don’t walk up to and poke. They have won two in a row and can get to 4-5 with a win here. Their schedule isn’t easy but this was a 15-1 team last year. Again, always pull for the AFC team over the NFC team but Carolina is a scary team if they get on a roll. I do think Kansas City wins this week but they aren’t great at the QB position so a Carolina win wouldn’t be shocking. We need another nail in their coffin.
8. Chicago at Tampa Bay
Both teams are teetering on the edges of remaining relevant. Chicago at 2-6 is probably done with a loss. You can’t come back from 2-7 but their schedule is manageable. Tampa is 3-5 so with a win they are still in the thick of things. After this though Tampa plays at Kansas City, Seattle, at San Diego and New Orleans. Hard to see them doing well in that stretch. As a result, I think I am pulling for Tampa to win this game. I want Chicago killed off and I think Tampa will end up killed off by their schedule over the next month. Either result isn’t bad for the Redskins here.
7. Dallas at Pittsburgh
Anyone but Dallas. As always the AFC over NFC rule applies but Dallas is two and a half games ahead of the Redskins so we need them to lose at least two more games in addition to beating them when we play. Dallas remaining schedule is fairly manageable with the most difficult remaining road games being this one and against the Giants in Week 14. They do have home games against the Redskins and Detroit and they plat at Minnesota in Week 13. The Vikings might have things turned around by then. I want Pittsburgh to win obviously but I think Dallas. Hope I’m wrong here.
6. San Francisco at Arizona
San Francisco is done. At 1-7 they are basically irrelevant in the playoff picture and I don’t see a run in them. Colin Copernic hasn’t provided the needed jolt even though he isn’t necessarily the problem either. Arizona is a game behind the Redskins so it would be nice to pin a loss on them here. That said Arizona needs this one as their next four games are at Minnesota, at Atlanta, Washington and at Miami. I expect Arizona to win here but we should be rooting for San Francisco
5. Denver at New Orleans
Another AFC vs NFC matchup. FYI the NFC currently leads the series this year by one game. There are seven AFC vs NFC matchups this week so it makes rooting easy. We want Denver to win this game and I think they are the better team but if Brees can put up points I don’t like Denver to keep up with them. Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower are playing well and that makes the Saints dangerous. I do think the #1 pass defense of Denver prevails this week.
4. Green Bay at Tennessee
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. AFC vs NFC matchup. Green Bay is one of the prime contenders for a wild card spot and while I hate the idea of playing Green Bay on a three-game losing streak it would offer a chance to finish them off next week. I am obviously pulling for the Titans here and maybe our old friend Brian Orakpo can finally get a sack that matters to the Redskins. That said I expect the Pack to win.
3. Atlanta at Philadelphia
Someone must win the NFC South. May as well be Atlanta. I think we as Redskins fans will find ourselves rooting for the Falcons a lot for the rest of the season. They have six games remaining against NFC Wild Card contenders. They lead the South so go ahead and run away with it and help the Redskins while you’re at it. The only way we regret this is if Dallas goes on a losing streak and the Redskins go on a winning streak but that would be a good problem to have. The Eagles are in free fall and I expect that to continue this week.
2. Cincinnati at New York Giants
AFC vs NFC etc, etc, etc. We beat the Ravens for you Bengals so do us a solid here. The Bengals are pretty consistent in that they beat the teams they should have beaten, lost to the teams they should have lost to and I guess tied the teams they should have tied. A win here by Cincinnati hopefully moves the Redskins into 2nd place. The Giants with a win here are officially on a roll as it would be their 4th straight. Tough game to call but I am going with the home standing Giants here hoping I am wrong.
1. Minnesota at Washington
Obviously….. HTTR!
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