With so much in sports up in the air right now, it is nice to see the NFL schedule come out yesterday. Sure, no one knows if the schedule will go as planned but it is still something to see an attempt at a concrete plan when so much is fluid.
So let me take a look at the Redskins schedule.
WEEK 1 - Philadelphia
Another opener against the Eagles. Only this time at FedEx Field.
WEEK 2 - at Arizona
I remember back when the Cardinals were in the NFC East and the Redskins seemingly headed to Phoenix in September several years. Back then the only time we wore our burgundy uniforms was at Arizona and Dallas. Ah, memories. Interestingly, the Redskins have won 3 of the last 4 road openers.
WEEK 3 - at Cleveland
The last time the Redskins were in Cleveland was the one where Kirk Cousins filled in for an injured RGIII and won a big game en route to that last season playoff push. Funny how Washington is 7-2 against the Browns over the last nine meetings after goine 5-31-1 in their first 37 matchups. By the way, this will be the second straight week facing a quarterback taken with the #1 overall pick.
WEEK 4 - Baltimore
Of course this is a huge game due to the proximity of the two franchises. The Skins own a 5-3 record against the Ravens. And after facing #1 picks Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield ... we only get defending MVP Lamar Jackson.
WEEK 5 - Los Angeles Rams
It seems as if the Redskins and Rams always meet up during the season despite being on opposite ends of the country (well, now). The Rams and Redskins have played 11 of the last 15 seasons. Of course this one is against Sean McVay, which every Skins fan wishes was our coach right now. Look, another #1 overall picked quarterback in Jared Goff!
WEEK 6 - at New York Giants
We've played no one more than we've played the Giants. Both teams are trying to climb out of a tough 2019 season.
WEEK 7 - Dallas
Cowboys week.
WEEK 8 - BYE
It is nice to have a bye smack dab in the middle of the season. Also note that the NFL has made all matchups in Week 2 have the same bye week. So if the Arizona game gets moved, it will be played here.
WEEK 9 - New York Giants
Here is one of my two gripes in scheduling. One, I hate when you play a division opponent twice in a three of four week span. The Redskins-Giants games will take place in Week 6 and 9. Ugh.
WEEK 10 - at Detroit
It also seems as if the Lions are always on our schedule. If Matt Stafford isn't injured, this is the 4th different quarterback taken #1 overall that the Redskins will have faced.
WEEK 11 - Cincinnati
The matchup of the two top picks in the NFL Draft. Hopefully Chase Young knocks down Joe Burrow a few times in this one. Oh yeah, the 5th different quarterback taken #1 overall. On a personal note, I am Redskins fan who lives in the Cincinnati area so I really want the burgundy and gold to win this one.
WEEK 12 - at Dallas
The Thanksgiving Day game! Nice since it is the lone time the Redskins are on national TV all year long. This is the 4th time in the last five years the Redskins have been on Thanksgiving -- too bad we're just 3-8 on Turkey Day in our history.
WEEK 13 - at Pittsburgh
It has been a loooong time since I've seen the Redskins beat the Steelers. The last time it happened? Back in 1991 ... the last time we won a Super Bowl.
WEEK 14 - at San Francisco
Three straight road games and likely the toughest stretch of games all year. Going up against the defending NFC champions is a tall task after big games at Dallas and Pittsburgh. Nostalgia, again, puts me back to the Redskins heyday of the 1980s when these two franchises (along with the Giants and Bears) wrestled for the conference's supremacy.
WEEK 15 - Seattle
Another tough game. Somehow, someway the Redskins kind of own the Seahawks. Washington has won 7 of 8 regular season games against Seattle ... though that RGIII playoff game in 2013 was a Seahawks win.
WEEK 16 - Carolina
This will be a big game since our new head coach used to be the Panthers old coach. Ron Rivera will likely want to win this game despite where the Redskins are heading down the stretch of the season. With several former Panthers on our squad, this game may have a little more passion behind it.
WEEK 17 - Philadelphia
Here is another gripe. Why do we play Philly to open and close the season? So we play the Giants twice in a month's time then go the entire season between meetings with the Eagles?
No Sunday night games and no Monday night games. That's odd but frankly we don't deserve to be on any of them. We were bad last year and don't really have any bankable stars to get people buzzing. Add in that there is a lot of star power elsewhere and some great matchups and I totally understand why the Redskins will be under the radar. Hopefully this defense and a vast improvement from Dwayne Haskins will turn the franchise around and make them a must-see in 2021.
