Losing Seasons in Washington Affect Prime Time Games
Two decades of bad football have finally caught up to the Redskins. Known as one of the stronger franchises over the course of NFL history (won five championships (three Super Bowls, two NFL titles)), Washington will not have a single primetime game for the first time since 1982.
It really didn’t matter how poor the team was playing, as the Redskins always managed to get one primetime game per year. Those days are now over unless you count the Redskins / Cowboys matchup on Thanksgiving. Turkey Day will be the only time a national audience will get to watch the Redskins this season, which is a depressing moment for a once admired franchise.
Coincidence? Not really. The Redskins have been less than mediocre for some time now, but have been masked by the prowess of the NFC East for the last several decades of play. They lack star power, although acquiring No. 2 overall pick Chase Young does boost their defense. Dwayne Haskins hasn’t been able to prove himself, and Terry McClaurin isn’t quite ready to be showcased on the big stage. New head coach Ron Rivera has a lot of work cut out for him to turn this team around and bring them to their former glory.
Washington’s pass offense was among the worst in the NFL, averaging 175.8 yards a game (last in the league) and 5.9 yards per pass (29th). Washington was last in points per game (16.6) and 31st in yards (274.7), which highlighted the struggles of Haskins early in the year.
Owner Dan Snyder has been under scrutiny for the past decade, as the Redskins have had 12 losing seasons, 3 division titles, and only two playoff victories since he bought the team in 1999. It doesn’t help that the coaching staff has been an ongoing carousel recently, either.
With the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the NFC East, the division sets up nicely for primetime slots, but these matchups have been one-sided over the past few years. The Redskins haven’t beaten the Eagles since 2016 and are 1-7 against the Cowboys in their last eight meetings, making it hard to pin them against the division’s best in a primetime slot. Another thing to mention is that upon Tom Brady’s arrival to the NFC, the entire primetime balance of power has shifted greatly. Washington is just one team that has suffered during the scheduling process, as the Detroit Lions also do not have a primetime game outside of their normal Thanksgiving A.M. bout.
While nothing is pretty for Redskins fans, there should be some hope surrounding the young talent of Haskins, Young, McLaurin, Montez Sweat, and Ryan Kerrigan. You can currently get +1400 odds on the Redskins defying all odds and taking down the NFC East.
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