Hog Heaven Previews the Redskins: Part III, Seven Wins in 2011

Greg Trippiedi:

Anthony Brown:

SEP 11, GIANTS @ REDSKINS

If not now for Washington, then when?
It will be darn close.  The talent on the field is pretty even on both sides.  I’m hesitant to give the Skins the nod at home.  Why?  Because Mike Shanahan has won his division just once since 1998, when he won the super bowl with the Denver Broncos.  History says it’s troublesome to expect better than 3-3 in the NFC East this year.  And a good step in getting to that mark would be to win a game at home against New
York with a depleted roster.  I like this game to be within four points either way.  Which means that on some level, Eli Manning and Rex Grossman will decide the game.
LOSS

The Giants have won six of the last six games against the Redskins, but have never been more vulnerable. Veteran CB Terrell Thomas, LB Jonathan Goff, rookies DT Marvin Austin and CB Prince Amukamara are on IR. E Osi Umenyiora is OUT. The Giants usually reload on defense, but today is Washington’s best chance in three years to match up.
WIN

SEP 18, CARDINALS @ REDSKINS

Home game.  Teams that spread the Redskins out gave them fits last year.  But the Cardinals OL is dreadful, and the Redskins can put the heat on Kevin Kolb early and often.  And as far as matchups for the Redskins offense go, this is one of the better ones of the season.
WIN

WIN

SEP 26, REDSKINS @ DALLAS

The Redskins will go into this game as an underdog, but you know what? I like the matchup for them.  I think they’ll get pressure on Tony Romo and have him guessing.  I don’t think Felix Jones will get loose. I actually think DeAngelo Hall could have a good game.  It’s really the first point in the schedule where we could entertain thoughts of a healthy LaRon Landry.  I don’t expect the Redskins to look good in the first two games, but this one will have the pundits guessing.  And frankly, a 3-0 win start is in reach.
WIN

The Redskins were the first to burst the Cowboys’ bubble last season.
They can split with the ‘Boys this year, too. It doesn’t figure to be at 
Jerryworld.
LOSS

OCT 2, REDSKINS @ RAMS

I expect the Redskins defense to shut down Sam Bradford on the road, but this defensive line for St. Louis is the real deal and will pressure Grossman into at least two bad mistakes as the chants for the John Beck era get louder.
LOSS

A tough opponent for the past two seasons. Steve Spagnuolo is a year ahead of Mike Shanahan in developing his team. The Rams’ 
quarterback situation could not be more different than the ‘Skins.
LOSS

OCT 9, BYE

OCT 16, EAGLES @ REDSKINS

Grossman starts at home after the bye in a game that’s a very important game for the Redskins.  The Redskins hit Michael Vick a season high 10 times in this one with a pressure based gameplan.
Problem is, LeSean McCoy gets loose for 130 yards from scrimmage and two long TDs.  The Redskins offense runs the ball well in the first quarter, but the passing game never gets going.
LOSS

The Redskins split with the Eagles last year. That doesn’t figure to 
happen this year.
LOSS

OCT 23, REDSKINS @ PANTHERS

At this point in the year, the Panthers are juggling their quarterback situation trying to decide whether Cam Newton is playing or better of sitting a few games.  The Redskins are making a switch to John Beck at QB.  This game will not sell out.  Beck gives the Redskins passing game a shot in the arm and also adds 40 yards rushing from the QB position as the Redskins win by 10 points to even their record.
WIN

You know and I know…and Rex knows…that his status as Redskins’
starting quarterback is week to week. The Panthers game is the 
prize for finishing division fourth-place. It is a MUST-WIN game for the 
‘Skins. Watching Cam Newton will be fun, though.
WIN

OCT 30, REDSKINS @ BILLS (TORONTO)

A surprisingly strong record Bills team comes off bye and beats the Redskins down in the first half in Toronto.  John Beck doesn’t look good at all after being battered around and taking 5 sacks.  Mike
Shanahan sticks with Beck as his quarterback after the game.
LOSS

The Bills are in worse shape than Washington on the roster and team
structure. The only question is how well the Redskins travel when 
they go to other countries.
WIN

NOV 6, 49ERS @ REDSKINS

Colin Kaepernick gets his first career start for the 49ers and the Redskins knock him around at home.  Brian Orakpo scores his first career defensive TD in a lopsided 20 point victory.  Despite many unanswered questions, the Redskins are a respectable 4-4 for a second straight year.
WIN

West Coast teams tend not to play well when travelling west to east.
WIN

NOV 13, REDSKINS @ DOLPHINS

The Dolphins and Redskins struggle for their playoff lives, generally not a good omen for the road team.  It’s a low scoring game, but current Dolphins QB Chad Henne vastly outplays former Dolphins QB John Beck as the difference between the two comprises a six point margin of victory.
LOSS

Winnable, if you contain Brandon Marshall.
WIN

NOV 20, COWBOYS @ REDSKINS

A must win game starts out promising when the Redskins jump out to a 13-0 lead at home over the Cowboys, despite some red zone failures which could have easily seen the Redskins ahead 21-0 in the early
going.  In the second half, Romo leads the Cowboys back against the Redskins defense that has struggled with the pass mightily in three of the last four weeks.  3 second half passing TDs are the difference.
LOSS

WIN, unless they win in Dallas. If so, then Loss here.

NOV 27, REDSKINS @ SEAHAWKS

The Redskins are a slight favorite on the road against the struggling Seahawks, but the pass rush abadons the Redskins while Tarvaris
Jackson hits Zach Miller down the seam on consecutive drives for touchdowns.  John Beck leaves in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and Grossman tosses a game clinching INT down 20-15 with under 3 minutes to play.
LOSS

The Redskins have not done well against the ‘Hawks in Seattle.
LOSS

DEC 4, JETS @ REDSKINS

With Grossman back in the lineup due to injury, everything clicks for the Redskins at once on this one December Sunday.  A max cover strategy with head coach Rex Ryan backfires hard as Grossman throws
for 350 yards and 4 TDs in just under 50 attempts, and Mark Sanchez is intercepted twice and losing a fumble.  The Jets drop to 6-6 and third place in the AFC East.  The Redskins keep their slim playoff hopes
alive one more week.
WIN

The J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets are the start of a killer schedule.
LOSS

DEC 11, PATRIOTS @ REDSKINS

Grossman’s success doesn’t stick this week as the Redskins seek vengence for the 2007 blowout loss to the Patriots.  The defense is up to the task, keeping Tom Brady out of the end zone by air, though they
do allow two rushing TDs.  The rushing offense gets going in the second half, decreasing the margin to a touchdown, but the Patriots sit on the ball and run out the clock.
LOSS

The Redskins stand between Belichick and the playoffs. That’s a bad place to be.
LOSS

DEC 18, REDSKINS @ GIANTS

With Beck out and Grossman ineffective, the Redskins turn to recently activated Jonathon Crompton to play quarterback.  Tim Hightower rushes for 100 yards against a weakend defensive front for New York, and the Redskins take a one point lead into the fourth quarter.  But when New York hits a field goal mid-way through the fourth quarter, the Redskins are unable to mount any other form of offense, and lose a heartbreaker.
LOSS

LOSS

DEC 24, VIKINGS @ REDSKINS

With Beck at the helm coming back off of injury, the Redskins throw for 370 total yards (including a 26 yard TD pass to Jabar Gaffney from Roy Helu), getting into a shootout with the Vikings and Donovan cNabb, who have an outside shot at an NFC Wild Card spot.  If nothing else, the Redskins spoil a second team’s playoff hopes, as the Vikings fall to 7-8 on the season.
WIN

I believe in the Snyder jinx, that kismet thing that allows discarded
players to return to FedEx and stick it to the owner. If McNabb starts 
for the Vikes, we lose.
LOSS

JAN 1, REDSKINS @ EAGLES

The Eagles are playing every last one of their starters at home a week after clinching a playoff berth trying to seal up the NFC East title. But the Redskins are just too good at the end of the season.  The
running game gets going early as both Hightower and Helu rush for 80
yards a piece.  John Beck completes 70 percent of his passes with a touchdown.  Michael Vick is sacked 6 times, three times by team defensive MVP and pro bowler Brian Orakpo.  John Beck ends the season
with 590 yards passing in his final two games and the Redskins win back to back games for the first time since Week 3.  The Eagles are knocked down to the wild card spot when the Giants beat the Cowboys at
home to clinch the NFC East.
WIN

See comment for Eagles game 1.
LOSS