Football Outsider win predictions

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

11-5? I hope so, but then reality will sink in by week 6-8 that we are average. Everyone is talking about our young Wrs and rightly so. They are a big wildcard in terms of if we are going to be successful. The prognosticators seem to think Thomas is going to breakout, but they are not too keen on the others. Also they do make a big point about our rather aged offensive line. Those guys collapsed last season, and the FO did not address this glaring need for an upgrade. Haynesworth ard Orakpo will bolster our D, but then again our D was rated 4th while our O was 28th in scoring. I can see us getting lucky at 11-5 only if Kelly and Randle El contribute significantly this year, along with Thomas, and our O line doesn't get busted up by the mid way point of the season. Hard for JC to get these guys the ball if he is getting sacked all the time.

Given our first 8 opponents, I doubt we will be shown as average; I expect that most media will be pointing at our 6-2 start last year, and comparing our 6-2 or 5-3 start to it, saying that we will probably collapse again. Again, our biggest difference is that instead of playing D's like Pitt and Balt, we will have Oakland, SD and Denver in the final 8. I am very optimistic, and our O-line, though not heavily improved like most of us hoped, will not see the likes of R Lewis, or T Polamalu coming hard on blitzes.
I will admit I always am optimistic at this time, but I believe there is the an absolute reason to be.