2013 Washington Redskins Preview

2013 Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins are the fourth and final team in the NFC East, the division of which they are the defending champions. It took one season for Robert Griffin the Third to turn into a superstar, and if he wants to build on his success, he will have to do so coming back from a torn ACL that he suffered in January. RGIII has become larger than life in the city of Washington and is revered in the mainstream media. He took the league by storm with his late season run to lead the Redskins to the playoffs, and seems ready to handle the enormous expectations that are being thrust his way. However, it is yet to be seen if his team will be as up to the task as their quarterback. Alfred Morris had a truly shocking rookie season, posting top-flight running back numbers while providing plenty of relief for RGIII. I’m afraid that only one season into his career, we’ve probably already seen the best of him. Pierre Garcon is their lone real receiving threat, albeit oft-injured and slightly unreliable. He does have, though, undeniable chemistry with Griffin, so if Garcon is on the field, he has a chance to put up huge numbers. Griffin III was lethal running the football, but his designed runs will have to be hampered in order to spare his knee some wear and tear. This will force him to pass the ball more, and while he is a very talented quarterback, I think that he will not be as successful throwing the ball as some of his peers (Luck, Romo, Newton, etc.). The defense is a huge question mark, especially in the passing game. The entire defense is average, except for a very talented linebacking core. Brian Orakpo is back from injury, and Ryan Kerrigan will line up opposite from him to create a dangerous pass rush duo. They are still (STILL!) led by possibly the most underrated athlete of the last fifteen years, middle linebacker London Fletcher. This team seems ready to take the next step, but with so many expectations, and continuous discontent between RGIII and Mike Shanahan, the Redskins could be another Washington team that crumbles under the hype. Sorry, Nationals fans.

Schedule

I’ve already expressed some reservations I have about this Washington Redskins team. I don’t hate this team by any means, and I think that Robert Griffin III will be an incredible player (and future MVP) in years to come. I just don’t think that they can live up to the pressure of being crowned prematurely. Remember, before this team won the division last year, they were 3-6 and struggling to find their way. Griffin’s numbers will regress (slightly), as will Morris’s, and the defense is still vulnerable. This year, there is tape on RGIII, they play a relatively harder schedule (their divisional teams are improved, and they have to play the other first place teams in the NFC), and teams, fairly or not, will target Griffin’s knee. I’m not expecting any Adrian Peterson heroics from him. The Redskins will be competitive in 2013, but can they return to the playoffs and beyond?

Week 1: L vs PHI

Week 2: L at GB

Week 3: W vs DET

Week 4: W at OAK

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: W at DAL

Week 7: L vs CHI

Week 8: L at DEN

Week 9: W vs SD

Week 10: W at MIN

Week 11: L at PHI

Week 12: W vs SF

Week 13: W vs NYG

Week 14: W vs KC
Week 15: L at ATL

Week 16: L vs DAL

Week 17: L at NYG

I always thought that I would pen the Redskins in at 8-8, but I feel bad now that I have them losing the last three games to choke away the division. ESPN is going to have a field day with that. Anyway, I think that Washington will finish with a .500 record, which will be considered a massive disappointment to them and people around the league. I think that I probably will be wrong about at least one of the teams in the NFC East, because I don’t think that all of them will finish at least .500, but I’ll take care of that another day. For now, I have the New York Giants winning the NFC East, with the Dallas Cowboys as a contender for a wild card spot. Truly, though, anything could happen in this division. The one prediction that I will hold on to, though, is that the Washington Redskins will disappoint in 2013.

Bold Prediction: Robert Griffin III will pass for fewer than 3,000 yards and 20 TDs, and Alfred Morris will rush for less than 1,200 yards. On a happier note, Brian Orakpo will have at least 15 sacks.