Tied for 5th best record in NFC

[jsarno]

Judging by alot of the negativity around here lately, I think people are forgetting we are still in this.

Division leaders:
Cowboys 8-1 (we WILL beat them)
Packers 8-1 (we SHOULD have beat them)
Bucs 5-4 (we WILL beat them)
Seahawks 5-4

In the hunt:
Giants 6-3 (we SHOULD have beat them and will beat them next time)
Lions 6-3 (we creamed them)
Redskins 5-4
(5 others at 4-5)

We beat the Cowboys next week, not only are we in this, we are front runners for wild card.
If any team knows that records are thrown out the window when these teams play, it's us. We've beat them when they went to the super bowl, and vice versa. We've beat them when they have had better teams, and vice versa. Throw out everything you know, this will be a Skins victory this week and we WILL make the playoffs.

[SmootSmack]

If we lose to the Cowboys what needs to happen? Do we need to win out?

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

It's hard to get a clear idea of what the playoff picture will look like right now. But I don't think we need to win out if we lose to the Cowboys. I think we are going to have to end up with a record of 10-6 given our poor conference record. It's definitely a tall order, but we could go 5-2.

[MTRedskinsFan]

Thanks for the post jsarno. I keep telling myself things should get better: Thomas will be back; Gibbs' teams usually fly in December; how long can the fucking Packers and Cowboys maintain their win streaks, etc. I just want to see us get a shot at the playoffs at this point.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

It's hard to get a clear idea of what the playoff picture will look like right now. But I don't think we need to win out if we lose to the Cowboys. I think we are going to have to end up with a record of 10-6 given our poor conference record. It's definitely a tall order, but we could go 5-2.

It does depend on who happens to wind up at 9 or 10 wins with us at the end of the year, but we already hold head to head tiebreakers against two serious WC threats, and still play two more.

We don't have to be great down the stretch to make the playoffs. Merely good will get it done. With all the injuries, merely good is pretty much the extent of this teams talent though.

I'm willing to step out and guarantee that this team will make the playoffs, but to be honest, I've already sort of have one eye on the offseason. I hate to say it, but the 6th seed and an early playoff exit is not a very successful season.

I was too optimistic on Campbell this year, and I'll be the first to admit it. He's still very young, and very mistake prone. The defense was a pleasant surprise early, but what we've seen the past 3 weeks is more in line with what I thought we would be on that side of the ball. Too small in the front seven to stop the run, not quite an elite pass defense. Special teams has been pretty good, but the offensive line (especially the uninjured side) hasn't gotten it done this year. Lots of young talent on this team to love, but we need to make a few critical moves to get better.

If we beat Dallas, my whole attitude changes just like that, but until then, I'll have to be forgiven for looking ahead.

[JWsleep]

We don't need to beat Dallas in Dallas to get a WC. We need to beat TB, Buf, and Chi, and then Minn, and either NY on the road or Dallas at home, IMO. Maybe we can even drop one of these, depending on how it goes around the league. I see 9 as pretty reachable (barring more sickening collapses!), and 10 as a possibility, especially if ST can come back, and THomas, perhaps as well.

TB is a MUCH bigger game than Dallas in Dallas. I hate them, but it's going to be very tough. Could happen. But we're not dead by any respect if it does. Big question whether 9, or even 10 in some scenarios, will get you in. But it could go the other way as well.

Take care of all business at home and win a tough road game or two. Dallas may be a bridge too far without Taylor, IMO. But Tampa Bay is not.

[djnemo65]

A better thread title would perhaps be tied for 7th seed in the NFC, since that is what matters. I do think it's possible but it's going to be tough, especially with our battered roster. If we can move the ball as consistently as we did on Sunday I think we will have a good shot to win 4-5 games over the home stretch, but if we regress back to earlier form I think the days of our defense covering for us our pretty much over. We have seen mini-offensive explosions several times during the Gibbs 2.0 era and they have never seemed to carry over - the key exception being the epic run to close the 05 season. Let's hope Sunday was a revelation for the players and playcallers alike.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

If we lose to the Cowboys what needs to happen? Do we need to win out?

Well, either the Lions or Giants will lose this week, since they play each other.

Originally Posted by djnemo65

A better thread title would perhaps be tied for 7th seed in the NFC, since that is what matters.

Nice to see your cup is half empty.

[#56fanatic]

look, I am all about the Skins making the playoffs, but lets get real people. We are 1-2 in our division, play Dallas twice and NY "football" Giants. Plus we are on the road in Tampa, Minnesota. I am sorry, but I dont think there is anyway in hell we beat the Cowboys. They are too damn good. there is something to say for being die hard fans, but at some point that becomes crazy when you talk about "when we beat the cowboys and giants and this and that" What gives anyone any reason to think we can beat any of those teams? We have not shown anything that gives an impression of being a quality team that can win big games. We fold at the end. Good teams dont fold.

I am sick of hearing the cowboys will start losing, and Green bay will start losing neither can keep up their win streaks.... THEY ARE GOOD TEAMS!! There is a difference there, they find ways to win, make plays when they have to. We find ways to lose and let other teams make the plays. Until we make a change philisophically, this is who we are. Dont you think if anything was going to change it would have all ready. Its been 4 years of the same crap.

[Jamaican'Skin]

fanatic,

remember that it was a costly Santana Moss fumble that caused us to lose the GB game. They were not outplaying us by any means. The Giants game was a complete second half collapse, and we STILL should have one that game. For the past few years, our record against Dallas has been pretty darn good. Don't count us out yet. Didn't we lose 5 straight in '05? Didn't we then make it to the second round of the playoffs? Oh ye of little faith, we're gonna make some noise come this week, straight thru to December. Trust me, that ain't the Kool Aid talking.

[sandtrapjack]

Detroit is slipping big time losing 3 in a row. Washington beats the G-men, and they own the tie breaker over Arizona (yeah they are still in the hunt). Carolina has big time QB issues and will not get the WC.

If Washington beats the Giants and takes care of business in the NFC, then they should be a front runner for the second wildcard. I just do not see anyone else in the NFC that can do it. The only teams you need to watch are New Orleans, Arizona and Detroit.

But lets say the Giants get the first WC, if Washington is tied with Arizona and Detroit after week 17, Washington wins the head-to-head. So the one you really need to watch is New Orleans. That is why Washington needs to circle the Dallas game at FedEx to end the season. IF (and I mean IF) Dallas secures the #1 seed in the NFC, then they will not play the starters in that game a FedEx and it might be a win you need to secure that second wildcard.

[MTK]

Last week was such a golden opportunity to solidify ourselves in the playoff race. Oh well, time to move on I guess.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

Detroit is slipping big time losing 3 in a row. Washington beats the G-men, and they own the tie breaker over Arizona (yeah they are still in the hunt). Carolina has big time QB issues and will not get the WC.

If Washington beats the Giants and takes care of business in the NFC, then they should be a front runner for the second wildcard. I just do not see anyone else in the NFC that can do it. The only teams you need to watch are New Orleans, Arizona and Detroit.

But lets say the Giants get the first WC, if Washington is tied with Arizona and Detroit after week 17, Washington wins the head-to-head. So the one you really need to watch is New Orleans. That is why Washington needs to circle the Dallas game at FedEx to end the season. IF (and I mean IF) Dallas secures the #1 seed in the NFC, then they will not play the starters in that game a FedEx and it might be a win you need to secure that second wildcard.

Would you want the team to rest the starters? Even if the Redskins were the #1 seed, I couldn't stomach losing to the Cowboys and allowing them to get into the playoffs.

[hagams]

Having the 5th best record is great, but the play we have is not the 5th best in the NFC. We dropped to games that would have ESPN talking about us as a sleeper (GB, and Philly). We haven't been playing good, we've been playing good enough.
Sorry, I didn't mean to bring negatives to the thread. I'm happy with the winning record though. We need to keep winning. Bring on the Cow-girls.

Q: "You know what you call a drug ring in Dallas?"
A: "A huddle."

[Schneed10]

Having the 5th best record means squadoosh. We need to have the 2nd best record amongst teams not leading their division. That puts us behind the Giants and Lions, with the Panthers Saints Bears Cards and Eagles all one game behind us.

We've got work to do, especially with so many injuries.